I'm having a problem with studying tips for my 11 year old son.Any Tips?

My 11 year old son hates to read/study etc.... I was told by his 4th grade teacher that he was a visual learner. Only recenetly have I started to look into that and came across this book, it is full of info about visual-spatial learners, very interesting, check your local library for this book ~

Upside-down brilliance : the visual-spatial learner / Linda Kreger Silverman

As it's mostly reading and English, I'd ask if he's ever had any testing done or ever had an evaluation by a reading specialist? How well does he in fact read? We all read in our different ways but students who are slower readers always have trouble retaining the information in the reading. If he's not reading at grade level, textbooks would be then doubly hard to read for the kind of writing used in textbooks is always above the grade level in which they're used.
Without knowing his actual reading level and strength of his reading skills, suggestions become general ones that couldn't hurt and might help. My first would be - pay extra attention in class - many teachers do go over the information in class - sometimes several times - and if the assigned readings haven't been retained, a student can glean the same information through class activites and class discussions.
The other suggestions would depend on how much he'll let you help. It's very possible for an adult with good reading skills to read the chapter and then give a brief synopsis to the student. Teachers are often sadly reluctant to do this but it can be done by any adult and it can help any student. So much of the information in any chapter of a textbook is really 'filler' - and pulling out the key main points can help that chapter to make better sense to a student.
Also- looking at past tests, how does the teacher test? You can make up sample tests for the current chapter based on the structure of past tests given. Taking sample tests at home can help a student prepare for the coming test at school.
Raw memorization is hard for most people. The human brain isn't set up to memorize vast amounts of meaningless information - the brain is set up to discard such information and to only retain that which makes sense. Helping a student to see the sense of the chapter or the material helps that student's brain to retain the information. Often if you ask a student - what was this chapter about? - you'll get an 'I don't know.' Because they really don't 'get' what it was about.
Every chapter should be making one key point - the rest is details. If we can isolate the one key point, it gives the brain a 'hanger' to hang the details on. Rather like a closet - we can't organize a closet and know where things are, unless we put some hooks and hangers in there.
If you post back when your son has an upcoming chapter to read or an uncoming test, and tell me roughly what the chapter or test is on - I'm happy to make up a sample outline and sample test. I've taught English and social studies and science - and had to do all of these things to help my son be successful in school.

How are your son's overall grades? Has he ever had a comprehensive educational evaluation for possible learning disabilities or attentional issues? I have a very bright son, who also happens to have ADHD and dyslexia and dysgraphia. (The latter two are problems with reading and writing.) I can't help but wonder if your son may have a weak "working memory" or be more of a visual learner than auditory, etc... If you know your child's strengths, you can help them learn accordingly.

Yes, its mainly Reading and English, he has had difficulties in the past....I'm more concerned with him retaining the information...he's about to start Jr. high and I know the the work will be more challenging for him. I just would like some tips on helping him retain the information so he can get a better understanding when its time for testing and class work in general.