Left-Brain Learners

Left-brain learners are a logical bunch. They tend to look at the world objectively. They like to analyze and organize.

As I explained in Left-Brain, Right-Brain, Whole-Brain Learning, all learners use both hemispheres of the brain to learn, however many people have a dominant side that they rely more heavily on in many learning situations. Being aware of your child’s dominant hemisphere (if he has one) will make it easier for you to teach him more effectively.

In this post, I’m going to share with you the unique characteristics of left-brain learners as well as some tips for helping you teach a left-brain learner effectively. It is my wish that sharing this information with you will provide you with useful strategies for teaching your child.

*This post contains paid links. I earn a small commission from the sale of products purchased via these links. Please see my disclosure for details.

Characteristics of Left-Brain Learners

Below are traits of left-brain learners. Keep in mind that not all of these characteristics will be true for all left-brain learners. However, if you find that the majority of them are true for your child, he may be a left-brain learner.

Left-brain learners:

are analytical
prefer to plan
remember names
like to take pieces of information and put them in a logical order (sequential)
are realistic
want to know what the rules are so that they can follow them
make lists
understand cause and effect
like to achieve goals and feel a sense of accomplishment
control their feelings
solve problems methodically and systematically
are rational thinkers
like to play it safe rather than take risks
find the differences in things
think concretely
like to understand the how and why of things
tend to be auditory and/or visual learners
like controlled experiments
understand symbols easily (i.e. letters, numbers, math symbols)
are usually on time
prefer to look at details
are strategic
prefer to be practical
are inclined to be good listeners
like to read
like to write
favor structured assignments to open-ended ones
would rather answer true/false, matching, and multiple-choice questions
are organized
prefer deductive reasoning
favor a consistent, structured environment
can work well by themselves
may memorize best by repeating things either in writing or orally

Tips for Helping Left-Brain Learners

If you use a regular curriculum to homeschool your child, you may find that there are few adjustments that you need to make to help your left-brain learner. That’s because traditional curricula are typically geared towards left-brain learners. However, the tips below can help you set up a good working environment for your child as well as provide helpful information on how to instruct your child.

Colorful Pinwheel School Planner Dry-Erase Whiteboards

Colorful Pinwheel School
Planner Dry-Erase Board

Provide a structured environment for your child to learn in
Use a parts-to-whole approach when teaching concepts
Provide information in logical or sequential steps
Allow your child to make or use lists when appropriate for learning
Let your child do sequencing activities
Use a schedule
Give your child a list of daily assignments on a dry-erase board like the one at right or in a planner
Let your child listen to lectures (yours and others)
Give written or oral directions
This child may favor a quieter environment to work in with either classical music playing in the background or no sound
Let your child use planners, binders, calendars, folders, etc. for staying organized
Have oral discussions about concepts
Provide concrete examples for abstract concepts to make them more real
Encourage your child to find effective strategies for problem solving
Let your child do puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, and anagrams
Give your child more structured assignments and less open-ended ones
Let your child conduct controlled experiments for Science
Keep in mind that left-brain learners like to know the how and why of the way things work. Try to point that out when you are teaching your child.