Note: This is one of a 10 blog series on learning traits. Read about all 10 learning traits here.

Verbal reasoning is the skill most highly correlated with academic achievement in grades K-12. If you want to help your students succeed in school, keep reading.

What is Verbal Reasoning?

Verbal reasoning is the ability to understand what you read or hear. It enables us to draw conclusions from limited information and understand how new ideas connect to what you already know. It’s a skill everyone uses in and out of school.

Why is Verbal Reasoning so important?

Most of in-school learning involves listening to the teacher or reading, skills that rely heavily on verbal reasoning: following directions, learning to read, and reading to learn.  As you might guess, verbal skills can be just as important in math and science class as they are in English and history. In fact, verbal reasoning is the skill most highly correlated with standardized test scores in math all the way through high school!

Is my student struggling with Verbal Reasoning?

You might notice a child who doesn’t follow along in conversations. She might ask you to repeat things or ask for clarification more often than expected. This child may be reading books below grade level or taking longer to read than expected. In math you might notice difficulties understanding new concepts or answering word problems.

What to do if you think your student needs help with Verbal Reasoning?

Given the importance of verbal reasoning, if you suspect your child is struggling with verbal reasoning you should discuss your concerns with a school counselor or your pediatrician. Since difficulties with verbal memory, abstract reasoning, or working memory could look like verbal reasoning difficulties, use an objective test, not just observation. If you are uncomfortable talking to someone but have concerns, try our at home assessment and then make a decision if you need to speak with a professional.

How to Support Verbal Reasoning

If your you’d like to strengthen verbal reasoning, try word association games. Reading aloud and discussing the story will also develop verbal reasoning. Also rely on their stronger skills. If your cognitive screener indicates that their visual reasoning skills are stronger, teach them how to use pictures and visual imagery. If they have stronger memory, rely on that. Every student is different, and the strategies will depend on their unique combination of strengths and needs.

Discover how your child learns best.