05_BT_May 2022

BT Guide
10
Characteristics of
Right-Brain Learners
1. T hink intuitively and respond well to
open-ended activities.
2. Employ a common-sense approach to
problems.
3. Remember faces rather than names
4. Make subjective statements.
5. Are spontaneous, impulsive, flexible, and
creative.
6. Solve problems through synthesis.
7. Express themselves candidly.
8. Prefer essay tests
9. Lack a strong sense of time and
structure.
10. Tend to see “the big picture.”
Source: Dr Antonio Maurice Daniels, Research Associate in Education, University
of Wisconsin-Madison
Taking these characteristics into consideration, education
and learning techniques for right-brained children would
require a different and creative approach. Parents can still
help their right-brained kids learn effectively by identifying
their unique brain characteristics early on and using
appropriate learning techniques.
Reading Strategies
Right-brained children learn words and letters better with
visualisation rather than by memory. Start with helping them
recognise words and sounds. This would create a strong
foundation for their reading skills. Below are some effective
methods to try:
• Sounds and stories: You can start by introducing sounds.
Using stories and visuals will help you introduce them
effectively. All sounds should be displayed from the
start. Practice each sound one at a time. You should
use stories, body movements, and images to teach the
sounds rather than chanting or memorisation.
• Appealing materials: Ensure the child is reading
material that interests them. Those who are rightbrained
dominant need to find meaning in what they
do. Otherwise, they have difficulty following a set of
steps or following through a process if they do not
understand why it’s important. Thus, go for stories or
books with a strong plot and details to facilitate clear
visualisation and meaning.
• Picture-oriented teaching: Teach reading with pictures.
Right-brain oriented children, who see the world
holistically and intuitively rather than in parts, benefit
from phonics programs that incorporate visual images
in the reading materials. It’s a good idea to write the
name of the word on top of a picture or incorporate the
written text of the word into the picture. For example, a
stick figure person sitting down on a chair can represent
the words “chair” and “sit”.
• Colourful presentation: Using colours can also help your
right-brained child remember words better. To teach
specific phonics sounds, colour the letters differently
from the rest of the word. Using this method will tap
14 BabyTalk | May 2022