LEARNING STYLES,VISUAL LITERACIES,AND A FRAMEWORK FOR READING INSTRUCTION

This paper addresses the need to alter existing instructional reading paradigms by teaching to each of four basic learning styles. The argument proposes that by doing so each of the four modalities will be more frequently evoked. The argument proposes that there are discrete sets of reading activities that are specifically related to learning styles, and that a balanced program of reading needs to involve all students in reading activities in each of the styles. Such instruction validates the student's individual style, and challenges the student to greater reading achievement in the other styles. The argument suggests that since intuitive‐feelers tend to be the most creative, and tend to get the highest scores on measures of high‐level cognition (Piaget's formal operations) that those same achievement behaviors be evoked for more students by using each of the modalities and style presentation techniques in our instruction. Finally, I've argued that a new basic‐skills emphasis must include a concentrated emphasis on evoking the seven visual discrimination skills since visual discrimination tends to be a prerequisite to most forms of higher level cognition