5 learning styles:

My five learning styles were visual, applied, spatial, independent, and pragmatic.

Visual: A visual learner is someone who learns by reading or viewing pictures. By sight, things

can be remembered and visual learners can picture something in their mind. If a teacher knows

that their ELL student is a visual learner they should match the English word with a picture so

that the student can match it to memory. This is an advantage for the teacher because they are

able to target which strategies will work for each student and include each in the lesson.

Strategies for visual ELL students could be making sure the student sits close to the board so

they can better see what is on it instead of relying on listening, using pictures and diagrams in

lessons, color coding since colors are something universal, and using flashcards for study so that

the student looks at one visual at a time.

Applied: Applied learners learn best through a direct application of skills, theories, and models.

Students take what they have learned in class and are able to apply facts to actual activities. They

prefer practical, real-life examples and objects right in front of them. For an ELL student it

would benefit the teacher to give the students objects to work with and teach them in context in

which they will be learning real life examples. It may even be helpful to draw on the students'

experiences transitioning to a new school or class and use what they are going through to teach

lessons so that what they are learning is meaningful and current to their daily life.

Spatial: Spatial learners are good at seeing how physical objects work. These students may be

good at drawing or assembling items. An ELL student who is a spatial learner should be taught

through real life objects and things they can manipulate. It would be a good method to use

diagrams, charts, graphs, or manipulatives in lessons with these children.

Independent: Independent learners would like to work and study alone and could be

overwhelmed when working in a group. A new ELL student who is an independent learner

should work mostly alone, because moving to a new school or being in a new environment is

already overwhelming enough. In a group, this child may need to be assigned a specific role in

order to better interact with the group or class. A teacher can allow this student to assess their

own goals for learning or talk to the class about what motivates them, instead of drawing upon

what motivates the class as a whole in order to motivate the student.

Pragmatic: Pragmatic learners are practical and systematic learners who enjoy logic. A teacher

with an ELL student who is a pragmatic learner should give the student a clearly formatted list of

directions for an activity or assessment. This list may be in English as well as their native

language so that they can see how the directions transfer.