If your child has a visual learning style, there are many ways to meet his learning needs without using printed materials. There are posters, graphic texts (with lots of pictures, diagrams, and drawings), educational videos, DVDs, and online learning tools.
Our Science section contains links to many sites with animated or visual content. The sites present new concepts using visual elements, sometimes have accompanying audio presentations, and are often fun for children. The student can play and learn simultaneously.
Recently, a new tool appeared on the Homeschool Horizon.. Educational Video/DVD Libraries. There are also stores where you can purchase great educational videos, often at a significant discount:
- **ACT
Advantage - A non-profit organization which you can join for an
annual membership fee. You can rent videos, three at a time, for an
additional cost.
- **Discovery
Education's United Streaming Video - This is an online, streaming
video-on-demand service containing thousands of Discovery Channel
videos with unlimited access for a year with a paid subscription.
- **The
Discovery Channel
has many great educational DVDs and videos which often go on sale. We have been able to enhance our learning library significantly by watching for super sale prices.
- Fogware's Learning System is a wonderful, supplementary teaching tool, particularly for children with specific learning disabilities. Complimentary samples of the programs were sent to us for review, and are developed by a businessman who grew up with dyslexia, and who truly understands the need for multisensory teaching methods. The Fogware's Learning System products provide interactive, computer-based learning units with visuals, audio, and text-to-speech content provided for each and every unit. The visual reinforcement of concepts, along with the text and text-to-speech content, make these programs effective AND fun! The interfaces are simple, and consistent across all units in a subject, although the interface can change from subject-to-subject. The interfaces are uncluttered and self-explanatory. While these programs are not "complete" curriculum programs, they have a lot of wonderful content that will reinforce topics your child is studying. There are many topics within each level including Science, History, Math, Geography, Reading, Literature, etc. Given the modest price of the software products, your child will undoubtedly get your money's worth out of the programs just by watching and interacting with some of the learning units.
Another great teaching tool is games! Many children learn a great
deal by playing games, and educational games reinforce learning through
creative, hands-on repetition.
