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Product Review Last Revised February 27, 2009 |
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by Lori Coeman from Mott Media, L.L.C.; 17 pages, reproducible packet 
This is a companion resource to my book, How To Teach So They Can Learn, that explains each component of a child’s learning style. In that book, I include what I call “clue sheets” that give parents clues to identify that element in their children. The focus of the book is to show how learning styles impact teaching and offer tips for choosing and adjusting curriculum to fit a child’s profile.
I opted for the clue sheets because I wasn’t satisfied with most of the assessment tools available for “measuring” learning styles. They tended to be too short and limited options in order to identify a particular profile. Working with many families in homeschooling and in consultations, I found all sorts of combinations. I didn’t want parents trying to label their children and forcing them into man-made “boxes” or descriptions. Yet many families wanted a more systematic way of identifying their children’s profiles. So I came up with the Discovery Zone. It is divided into four parts that assess personality type, preferred sense (modality), thinking style, and expressions or “intelligences.” Each part is divided into sections, with each section dealing with a particular way learning. The format is similar to a questionnaire. There are a series of statements and the student (and/or parents) checks any statements that describe him or her. The stronger the learning profile, the more checks. I have parents read through the entire survey – not just the sections that scored the highest – because these secondary traits help distinguish the child from everyone else with a similar profile. Typically, students ten years and older can complete the form for themselves (although some may need help with vocabulary). That’s because a child’s thinking style often does not become clear until around that age. Plus, most young children are hands-on learners and usually do not display their particular profile before this age. Some parents opt to complete the form for their children or record their responses, too. I have found that when they discuss any differences with their children, both sides learn something. Incidentally, I encourage both spouses to complete the survey. It can help explain a lot of communication problems and differences in decision-making. You are allowed to make enough copies for your immediate family only, without breaking copyright laws. Lori Coeman KEY WORD: learning style, discover, zone, Coeman, Coleman, personality
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