• Kinesthetic people are “movers and shakers”—ones who can’t sit still and are movement oriented. They are frequently athletic and very competitive. Very little holds their attention. They are the hardest to teach because they don’t stay still long enough to learn. They frequently get labeled ADD or ADHD.

  • Tactile people are “huggers” and “touchers.” They are your cuddlers and “lap children.” They immediately reach for the toys on a shelf, caressing each one carefully, running their fingers over its contours or stroking the fur of stuffed animals. (If they turn it over in their hands and examine it visually, this indicates visual, not tactile, strengths.) Most kinesthetic learners are tactile, too.

  • Olfactory people are very sensitive to smells (as are many gifted children). These people must depend on other modes of information gathering. Since you can’t learn to read by sniffing, however, we will skip this category.

    • This is Part 1 of a series of five articles.

    Mrs. Letz Farmer, wife and home schooling mother (since 1989), holds her undergraduate degree in special education and mental retardation. With graduate work and experience in learning disabilities, gifted and talented, emotional disturbance, and deafness, Letz spent 7 years as a teacher and curriculum developer in a public school K-8 resource room. She owns Mastery Publications.