Every student learns a little differently. Some retain information best when they write it down. Others need to hear it out loud, talk it through, or see it in action. When middle schoolers understand how they learn, they become more confident, more independent, and more willing to try again when something feels hard.

The Learning Styles worksheet from Everyday Speech introduces five learning styles and gives students a chance to reflect on which style fits them best. It’s a free printable activity that works well in advisory, health class, or any setting focused on building self-awareness and classroom confidence.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Why teaching learning styles helps build confidence
• A breakdown of the five learning styles
• A step-by-step plan for teaching this in your classroom
• A link to download the worksheet

Why Teach Learning Styles in Middle School?

Confidence often grows when students feel equipped—not just with knowledge, but with strategies that work for them. That’s especially true in middle school, when academic demands increase and students start to internalize ideas about what they’re “good at.”

Understanding their learning style helps students:

• Recognize that everyone learns differently
• Advocate for themselves in classroom settings
• Try new strategies when something isn’t clicking
• Gain confidence by matching study habits to their strengths

This lesson also helps shift the narrative. Instead of “I’m bad at this,” students start to say, “I need to learn it a different way.”

What’s Inside the Learning Styles Worksheet?

The worksheet introduces students to five learning styles:

• Visual – prefers images, maps, and diagrams
• Writing – retains information by taking notes
• Reading – learns through books, articles, and written text
• Auditory – enjoys discussions and verbal instruction
• Kinesthetic – thrives with hands-on, physical learning

Students match each style to a corresponding learning preference. The activity is short, simple, and perfect for jumpstarting a larger discussion about how students approach schoolwork, group activities, and independent tasks.

How to Teach This Lesson

Here’s a simple three-step plan.

1. Introduce the concept of learning styles

Start with a classroom conversation:

• What does it mean to have a learning style?
• Have you noticed that some people like to watch videos, while others prefer reading instructions?
• Why do you think knowing how you learn best could help you?

You can also ask students to think about the last time they really understood something quickly. What made that moment click?

2. Complete the worksheet

Distribute the Learning Styles worksheet and walk through each definition. Let students complete the matching activity individually or in pairs.

Then, ask follow-up reflection questions:

• Which learning style do you think fits you best?
• Do you ever use more than one learning style?
• Is there a learning style you’ve never tried but might want to?

3. Connect it back to confidence

Explain that understanding your learning style isn’t just about school. It’s about knowing what you need and being able to ask for it.

You might say: “When you know how you learn best, you’re more likely to feel confident in class, to ask for what you need, and to keep going when something feels tough. That’s what confident learners do—they know themselves.”

Encourage students to try out a strategy this week that aligns with their preferred style.

Why We Recommend This Resource

This worksheet helps students:

• Build self-awareness about how they learn
• Practice reflection in a low-stakes way
• Advocate for their learning needs
• Feel more confident in academic settings

It’s a great fit for any middle school class focused on goal setting, identity, executive functioning, or confidence-building.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

Everyday Speech is a no-prep digital curriculum that combines evidence-based video modeling, interactive web games, and digital and printable worksheets to make teaching social skills easy.

We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like confidence-building. 

Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching learning styles from our curriculum: