1. Creating confident learners
Builds a positive attitude to learning. It begins with children feeling loved, safe and supported. It incorporates a ‘growth mindset’; which emphasises that people aren’t born with a fixed amount of intelligence. Instead they can always take their abilities to the next level with perseverance and playfulness. It also helps children see mistakes as a guide for what needs to be learnt next.
In short, it swaps ‘I can’t’ with ‘I can’t YET’.
Read the evidence about creating confident learners.
2. Thinking about thinking
Helps your child to understand how they learn best. It includes strategies for solving problems and for coming up with new ideas. It involves knowing how to track progress, reflecting on what is going well and what could be done differently. Being aware of your thinking is a great way to learn more productively.
In short: “It’s like being a driving instructor for your own brain.”
Read the evidence about thinking about thinking.
3. Practice makes perfect
Reminds us the learning brain works like a muscle; it only grows with practice. We need lots of effort to grasp new concepts and skills, and we can easily forget them without reinforcement. But once they’re automatic, they can be effortlessly drawn on when going it to the next level of challenge.
In short, ‘mastering the basics so you can enjoy the fun of learning more’.
Read the evidence about practice makes perfect.
4. Meaningful conversations
Shows how good dialogue in the home strengthens what is being taught in school. It starts with just talking, and building language and reasoning skills through expressing ourselves. It develops into effective ways to give feedback– not just praising talent or effort but recognising specific achievements and suggesting what to do next to improve. And later it creates the space for respectful discussions on the more challenging topics through adolescence.
In short; ‘Thanks, I’ve learned something new today. Have you thought about …?’
