The Hidden Lives of Learners

I have been  reading a book by Graham Nuthall called “The Hidden Lives of Learners”. Graham was a very well respected and internationally acclaimed educational researcher based at the University of Canterbury until his death in 2004 (http://www.nuthalltrust.org.nz/profile.shtml). 

A useful idea for us to understand from his research is that children must experience new learning at least three times for it to transfer to long term memory.

Now I’m sure, if your children are anything like mine, you will realise that when it comes to things like tidying their bedrooms, putting their clothes in the washing basket or brushing their teeth, that it takes considerably more than three experiences for them to have a new behaviour automatic.  But I thought it was a useful reminder to us that just because a child hears something once that will not be enough for that learning to be cemented in their brain. For many children it will take many more experiences and interactions with a new learning concept.

One of the ways you can help with this is by asking your children to explain what they learnt during the day. Having them think about their learning and talk about it with you will help reinforce those new ideas. 

I know, I know. The usual after school conversation in my house often goes something like this…

Me: Did you have a good day?

Child: Yeah.

Me: What did you do today?

Child: Nothing.

Me: Did you learn anything new today?

Child: Nah.

Me: (with slightly desperate tone) You must have learnt something!

Child: Can I have something to eat?

Be reassured this is quite normal. Persevere though and you will help your child to become reflective and improve the chances of their learning sticking.

I’m  trying to learn how to ask better questions so that I get a better response. Here are a few to try

(not all at once or they will completely ignore you)…

1. Tell me about the best part of your day.
2. What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
3. If you could do today over, what would you have done differently?
4. Tell me about what you read in class.
5. Who did you play with today? What did you play?
6. Do you think maths [or any subject] is too easy or too hard?
7. What's the biggest difference between this year and last year?
8. What rules are different at school than our rules at home? Do you think they're fair?
9. Who did you sit with at lunch?
10. Can you show me something you learned (or did) today?