Opening Bibliography

The following is intended to be a research tool for anyone - parent, teacher, or student- to dig deeper into an understanding of what visual spatial learning means, how it is identified and what tools can be employed to assist the visual spatial learner (VSL) to achieve academic success.

The following books are excellent starting resources to understand how a VSL learns and what unique talents and academic challenges these individuals experience.

Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual Spatial Learner by Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D.

(This is the definitive tool and many note it as a life changing discovery to read)

If You Could See the Way I Think: A Handbook for Visual-Spatial Kids by Alexandra Shires Golon

(A great resource for VSLs and parents to learn about self-advocacy and how to communicate to others about this learning style)

Visual-Spatial Learners: Differentiation Strategies for Creating a Successful Classroom by Alexandra Shires Golon

(Another excellent resource with many useful strategies for working with VSLs)

Unicorns Are Real: A Right-Brained Approach to Learning by Barbara Meister Vitale
(This book contains a collection of techniques for teaching VSLs and most are very easy to use at home)

Visual Math:  See How Math Makes Sense by Jessika Sobanski 
(This excellent resource demonstrates mathematical concepts from basic number sense to probability, algebra and geometry and measurement)

Math for Smarty Pants by Marilyn Burns
(Burns presents an assortment of math techniques such as shapes for math, logic puzzles, and big math concepts which are presented visually and boost the confidence of math learners who struggle with basic memorization but need the challenge of the broader concept.)

Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child
(Freed offers a unique insight into tools, strategies and approaches that can benefit the VSL child.)

Of course, you will have noticed that I used color to differentiate the books in my list above.  That happens to be a great technique to use to help the VSL memorize or identify bits of learning that might otherwise escape his or her memory.  Color can be used to keep material interesting and engaging or to separate varied concepts into color coded chunks.  It can also be used as an effective organizational tool.

LINKS
Following are some links which are highly informative and useful resources to understand the VSL and how to assist them in learning in the style in which they learn best.  The list starts with a link to the Gifted Development Center (www.gifteddevelopment.com).
Below you will also find a link to the Visual-Spatial Identifier which is located at the site Visual-Spatial Resource.  The identifier is a great starting tool to determine if you or someone you know is a visual-spatial learner.


http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/Visual_Spatial_Learner/articles.htm
The above link accesses a host of articles from the Gifted Development Center


http://www.visualspatial.org/index.php
This site offers a comparison and contrast chart of Visual Spatial Learning and Auditory Sequential Learning as well as the Visual Spatial Identifier


http://www.visual-learners.com/
This is the link to Alexandra Shires Golon's website which offers books and resources

I Think in Pictures, You Teach in Words

The above link will access an excellent article which synthesizes so much of the current understanding and research on VSLs and how best to modify instruction. 

 

http://www.thersa.org/

The above site links to a broad range of topics that support a visual form of communication and interpersonal and emotional awareness concepts

Above is a small collection of resources to assist someone who is beginning to explore the visual-spatial learning style.  In the posts to follow, I will offer further reflection and access to resources and information that might shed more light on how to assist the visual-spatial learner struggling within an auditory-sequential educational model.

In closing, please view the YouTube video of picture note taking by Sir Ken Robinson.