If your child is struggling with their homework, it could be that they need a helping hand – and an encouraging nudge in the right direction – away from the classroom.<\/p>\n
As any parent who’s spent an evening\u00a0with their head in a book in a bid to help<\/a>\u00a0with key subjects like Maths<\/a>, English and Science knows, helping your child in the way they need can be challenging.<\/p>\n There are plenty of things you as a parent can do to help your child learn and develop, but as ever, knowing where to begin can be tricky.<\/p>\n Start by taking some time out to consider what it is your child actually needs \u2013 and then go from there.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve put together this definitive guide to your child\u2019s studying, to help you work out which unique teaching method will work for your child .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your child\u2019s personality will shine through from an early age, with many parents seeing unique characteristics in their little ones from as young as a few weeks or months old.<\/p>\n Paying attention to your child\u2019s personality \u2013 along with their general needs and wants \u2013 will help you assess how they might learn to their best advantage. Here are a few personality types your child might fall into:<\/p>\n It was Hippocrates who laid the foundation for discussions about personality, by identifying distinct types some 2,500 years ago. Here are the four main types<\/a> and most recognised characteristics. What group is your child in?<\/p>\n By now you\u2019ve had chance to look over the four key personality types and you\u2019ve no doubt nodded your head at one of them at least – an indication that your child or children fall under that category. Of course, there\u2019s nothing stopping a child possessing a mix of qualities from each category, but as a general rule they will display more characteristics in one key group.<\/p>\n So, how do these personality groups translate into an effective means to teach your child away from the classroom?<\/p>\n As an adult, you will find that a particular gym class or evening course, for example, plays to your strengths and personality, due to the particular way in which it is put together or presented. Your child will respond well to teaching that keeps their skills in mind too.<\/p>\n You might find, for example, that your own concentration wanes after 45 minutes, or that you work well \u2013 in that gym class or night school course \u2013 when things are kept varied.<\/p>\n If your child is an introvert, for example, they are unlikely to do well when put on the spot in front of a full classroom.<\/p>\n Or maybe your outgoing teenager responds better when he\/she is pitted against fellow students? While some kids love the competitive element of school-based learning, others will feel that they don\u2019t quite make the grade.<\/p>\n So, what can you do to ensure they ace their next exam?<\/p>\n You\u2019ve worked out your child\u2019s personality type. Now let\u2019s use it to ensure an after-school learning plan is developed to firmly keep their characteristics in mind.<\/p>\n <\/a>A true leader, the choleric child seeks to be in control of situations. It\u2019s interesting that, when it comes to the choleric child \u2013 or adult \u2013 that this need to \u2018rule the roost\u2019 goes back years. With regard to our ancestors, the choleric members of the pack would be the alphas, the leaders. Commanding their subordinates and asserting their dominance using force, they might respond by getting angry if challenged regarding their ability.<\/p>\n Nothing\u2019s changed there then! Today, the choleric child loves it if they\u2019re ahead of their peers in class work, or simply the first to put up their hand to answer a difficult question. They thrive at being the best and on top and have a certain level of confidence in their own abilities.<\/p>\n So, what methods of learning would suit this seemingly confident, self-assured child? The truth is, he or she will most likely excel by using almost any method \u2013 and it isn\u2019t because they\u2019re necessarily any brighter, but simply because they believe in themselves that bit more.<\/p>\n While your child will be quite happy learning on his\/her own and in their own time, you may find, that a mixture of teaching methods is the way to go.<\/p>\n Of course; no child is absolutely perfect after all. The choleric child is unlikely to worry about their work \u2013 and the fact that they\u2019re still struggling with that maths problem \u2013 which may mean they need a little push when it comes to actually getting on with their studies in the first place.<\/p>\n That said, they love competition and hate to lose, so test-based, competitive learning might work for them. Here\u2019s what you can try:<\/p>\n When it comes to learning, the choleric child needs little encouragement. So confident in their abilities are they that they rarely need a \u2018pep talk\u2019 from family or friends and simply get on with the task in hand.<\/p>\n In terms of homework or test preparation, while it can be a good idea to leave your teenager to it, it\u2019s always worth sticking your head around the door every now and then. Often, a confident learner can be too sure of their own abilities and would do well with a refresher from an adult at regular intervals.<\/p>\n If your child is pouring over their school books for hours on end, for example, make sure to break up their learning with a stop for a snack or drink, or switch to more visual-based teaching methods. This will help keep things interesting for learners of any age and ensure you can keep an eye on how they\u2019re getting on.<\/p>\n For the child that does need to break up his or her studies, online tuition<\/a> provides a great alternative to simply holing themselves up in their room under a mountain of books.<\/p>\n So, we\u2019ve touched on the fact that a choleric child gets a lot out of the competitive element of learning. If, then, you\u2019d like to encourage them to be less competitive with their peers while still being proud of their own achievements, test-based teaching methods are a great idea.<\/p>\n What we mean by test-based teaching is simply keeping a track of your child\u2019s learning by devising a series of tests they can complete on, say, a weekly basis.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve most likely disciplined themselves to do the studying in the first place, so make sure they\u2019re learning at a pace that puts a smile on your face too by printing out some online test papers<\/a> and checking their progress.<\/p>\n The good news is you\u2019ll find everything from official GCSE mock maths tests to English Literature papers – and a lot more. You can then check your child\u2019s work later<\/a>, before giving them some handy hints and tips on how they can improve.<\/p>\n This one-to-one time with you will help them see where they might be going wrong, as well as give them the chance to discuss any concerns when it comes to their progression. The \u2018sanguine\u2019 student will be playful and talkative \u2013 great traits in general but perhaps not always so ideal when you\u2019re trying to get them to listen up and learn!<\/p>\n Often, the sanguine child will be reprimanded for \u2018disrupting the class\u2019 with too-much chatter \u2013 and thanks to their imaginative and creative characteristics is likely to be better at subjects like drama and art.<\/p>\n They may also display a real passion for literature and will probably find areas where they need to apply logical thinking \u2013 such as maths or science<\/a> \u2013 a little trickier to get their head around.<\/p>\n Yes \u2013 and we\u2019ve touched on them a little already! The sanguine child will cause you few problems as a baby, toddler or even during primary school, due to the fact that they\u2019re so outgoing you\u2019ll have no worries when it comes to them fitting in and making friends.<\/p>\n Challenges will, however, present themselves when it comes down to them actually learning and retaining facts. With that in mind, there are a couple of educational methods you can try to help them better focus their attention:<\/p>\n If your child is easily distracted when it comes to traditional classroom-based teaching methods, the chances are they\u2019ll appreciate different ways to learn.<\/p>\n Visual learning techniques are generally employed from a young age, from the very first time you teach your child letters, numbers or colours via those small picture-based books. Such is the effectiveness of visual aids that they can be valuable in high school and university-age children too.<\/p>\n YouTube videos might be a good bet as a starting point, as there\u2019s a host of educational aids on there \u2013 from discussions on essential secondary school literary texts to tips on solving maths problems. Failing that, DVDs focusing on key syllabus topics can also be purchased easily online.<\/p>\n Alternatively, put together your own visual aids \u2013 especially useful for younger children \u2013 from handy diagrams to flow charts – and pin them up around the house to ensure facts and information really sinks in.<\/p>\n Of course, thinking more traditionally now, books<\/a> still offer one of the best ways to ensure important test prep comes easily to your child.<\/p>\n In terms of revision, start as early as possible and make sure your son or daughter has the right material to aid their studies.<\/p>\n For children that find it hard to concentrate, one-to-one time \u2013 either with yourself or a dedicated course tutor \u2013 can prove absolutely priceless.<\/p>\n One-to-one tutorage works because the child has the attention of a teacher entirely to themselves. Lesson plans and strategies are therefore designed to fit in with them and their own preferences when it comes to learning. The \u2018melancholy\u2019 child, according to Hippocrates, is persistent, respectful and orderly. More than that though, they\u2019re detailed, which is a great trait to have, particularly when it comes to their studies.<\/p>\n Again, yes \u2013 but very few! While a melancholy learner can benefit from becoming more sociable and using this to their advantage in terms of group-based teaching, there\u2019s a lot to be said for a child who is happy to learn unaided.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re pretty sure your child falls into this particular personality category, you\u2019ll know that they\u2019re also attentive and adaptable to any given situation. Sounds like the dream scenario as far as studying goes, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n But like any child, the melancholic learner still requires a helping hand from time to time, which is why we\u2019re bringing you two ways your child can benefit from non-classroom based learning.<\/p>\n Like the sanguine student, the melancholic child will appreciate a change of pace when it comes to traditional classroom learning.<\/p>\n A visual (or spatial, as it\u2019s often referred to) learning style sees students use images, pictures and maps to organise information and communicate with those around them. It suits the melancholic child for one simple reason: they\u2019re generally more attentive than children who fall into one of the remaining three personality groups.<\/p>\n A whiteboard, or handy tear-off whiteboard style sheets<\/a> are a great idea, especially for those who get a lot out of scribbling and doodling down their thoughts. It\u2019s a good technique if your child is struggling to grasp a particular concept or theory too; noting down some image-based methodologies may help them learn something new. Plus, it\u2019s long been known that many of us do much better when we picture something we need to retain in our minds.<\/a><\/p>\n The really great thing about the popular verbal method of learning<\/a> is that just about anyone can use this to great effect.<\/p>\n Regardless of whether you have time yourself to devise after-school learning plans, or if you need to rope in the help of a private tutor<\/a>, verbal learning will work well for you and your child.<\/p>\n Involving both the written and spoken word, this style of learning allows your child to express him\/ herself more easily and will work really well when it comes to learning English books or texts.<\/p>\n Outside of school, verbal teaching skills can be put to good use in public speaking, debating or even politics, while anyone wanting to enter the journalism industry will also find it\u2019s of benefit. Phew! If you\u2019ve made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back \u2013 this is a long article! That said, we hope it\u2019s been a great source of information when it comes to your child\u2019s learning.<\/p>\n So, you have a \u2018Phlegmatic\u2019 child \u2013 good for you! According to Hippocrates, this is a child that is thoughtful, controlled, adaptable, attentive and diplomatic. \u00a0With that in mind, they\u2019ll most likely to respond to classroom-based learning as well as they might with one-to-one methods.<\/p>\n Some phlegmatic children, while happy to get on and learn by themselves, can also be quite introverted. What that means for you is whenever there\u2019s an opportunity to help them develop their social skills, you should jump at it.<\/p>\n So where to begin? There are a couple of great teaching methods most phlegmatic children will enjoy outside of their usual daytime classes, so read on\u2026<\/p>\n While you may find they\u2019re reluctant at first, the phlegmatic child will soon thrive given the chance to participate in group-based learning sessions. The key here is simply to hit on the subjects they enjoy the most \u2013 and then track down after-school classes in your area which have a positive, friendly and encouraging ethos.<\/p>\n While for some kids, group-based learning can encourage their already quite competitive nature, for others the chance to learn from peers can be motivating in itself.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t find a local class or after-school activity, why not think about setting up an after-school club of your own? Your child might get a lot from learning with friends in his or her own home \u2013 and because it\u2019s in your own house, this method of learning benefits from being a little more controlled than other forms.<\/p>\n There are few personality categories in this piece that one-to-one learning doesn\u2019t apply to \u2013 and it\u2019s because given the time to really focus on a subject, every child will shine.<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
Let\u2019s First Look at Personality<\/h2>\n
\n
Matching Personality and Learning Styles<\/h2>\n
For the \u2018Choleric\u2019 Child<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Are there disadvantages?<\/h3>\n
Solo Learning<\/h3>\n
Test-based Teaching<\/h3>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nFor the \u2018Sanguine\u2019 Student<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Are there disadvantages?<\/h3>\n
Visual-based Learning Techniques<\/h3>\n
One-to-One Time<\/h3>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nFor the ‘Melancholy’ Learner<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Are there disadvantages?<\/h3>\n
Visual Learning<\/h3>\n
Verbal Learning<\/h3>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nFor the \u2018Phlegmatic\u2019 Pupil<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
Are there disadvantages?<\/h3>\n
Group Learning<\/h3>\n
One-to-one Teaching<\/h3>\n