How Your Child Learns Best

September 1, 2008
Willis, Judy. How Your Child Learns Best: Brain-Friendly Strategies You Can Use To Ignite Your Child's Learning and Increase Success. Sourcebooks. Sept. 2008. c.336p. index. pap. ED~ With 15 years' experience as a practicing neurologist prior to becoming a teacher, Willis is qualified to integrate brain research into her discussion of learning strategies. Public libraries should have this valuable information for parents of children in the school system or who are being homeschooled. This is also a good addition to professional development collections in academic libraries serving teachers. Background Willis's latest work (after Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom) is clearly intended for parents, although classroom teachers will find many excellent teaching strategies here as well. She opens with an optional chapter that summarizes the neurological foundation upon which the teaching strategies are based. The second chapter describes various learning strengths and categorizes them into two broad groups: auditory-sequential learners and visual-spatial-kinesthetic learners. The book's remainder presents strategies in the areas of reading, math, social studies, and science that are based on the two learning groups and also subdivided by age ranges. She offers numerous examples of tools, activities, and approaches that will enhance learning and build children's confidence in their ability to identify and consistently use their learning strengths. Consistent, informed engagement with the child's learning is key to successful implementation of these suggestions. Although the strategies are targeted for children 12 and under, readers will find many of them useful with older children, and even adults. A detailed glossary and extensive resource section follow the text; however, no citations to the relevant research are provided.--Paula McMIllen, Univ. of Nevada Las Vegas Libs..