Thinking back to my time working in schools, this is what I wish we could tell children to help them learn.
- You have a marvellous brain. Think of how many things you can do. What are you proud of? Don’t worry about others being smarter than you, or feel superior because there are also a few people who aren’t as clever as you. We are all clever simply because we are human; human beings are the smartest animals on the planet.
- We take in information through all our senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. The more senses we use at the same time, the better we learn. For example, if you are listening to something someone is saying, write it down too – it will help you listen better and remember what they have said.
- We work best if we learn to figure out things in our own time, and in our own way. But if you get stuck it’s also important to ask your teachers questions if you need to.
- Trust your common sense. You are smarter than you think and being curious makes you smarter.
- Making mistakes is a very important part of learning. It helps our brains grow.
- None of us knows everything – not even teachers - they are learning too. You may be able to do something better than your teacher, or even teach him or her something new. We never stop learning.
- I understand that if you can’t see a good reason for what you are doing your brain can’t work very well. When you are given a choice, find a project that interests you. We want to make school interesting for all of you, but it is your responsibility to choose an activity that you would like to do.
- Sometimes we have to do what is called ‘rote learning’– this is the hard bit. Stick with it. If you want to learn to play an instrument you need to practice first, and maths is easier if you learn your multiplication tables.
