Being a parent is by far the most fulfilling and challenging job one can do. One way to make parenting a little easier is to know a child's strengths and weaknesses. The importance of knowing a child's strengths and weaknesses is reflected in the short stories "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker and "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen. Assessing a child's strengths and weaknesses is an activity that teachers have been doing in the classroom for a very long time. Techniques used by teachers in the classroom can also be used by parents at home. By recognizing a child's strengths and weaknesses, a parent can understand their child better, which in turn will create a positive and stronger bond. Teachers assess a child's strengths and weaknesses in the classroom to determine the best way for the child to learn. The theory is that children learn in three ways: visually, aurally, and kinesthetically (Fliess, paragraph 1). So how do teachers identify student learning types? According to Dr. James Keefe, former research director for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, only ten to fifteen percent of schools use formal testing to determine learning styles. However, most teachers, especially at the elementary level, closely observe their students to determine learning styles. Next, teachers use learning style strategies that individualize instruction to take advantage of each student's (personal) learning type. Understanding students' learning style is imperative to establishing a strong bond between teacher and student. Once a teacher has identified the students' learning style, they can adapt the teaching according to their needs. Students learn more effectively and succeed...... middle of paper ...... and Web. January 19, 2012. http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Ed_Learning_Working/.Fox, Jenifer. "10 Tips for Discovering Your Child's Strengths. Paragraphs 2,10." Huffpost Healthy Living. Np, September 16, 2009. Internet. January 19, 2012. .Olsen, Tillie. I'm here ironing. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. 706-710. Print.Staff, Eduguide. "Types of learning styles. Paragraph 2." EduGuide. Np, and Web. January 19, 2012. “Understand your child’s uniqueness.” Paragraph 2. » University of A Division of Agriculture. Np, November 30, 2011. Web. January 19, 2012. http://www.arfamilies.org/family_life/parenting/insight/understanding_childs_uniquens.htmWalker, Alice. Daily use. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. 743-749. Print.