#24 Different Perspectives

Hi Everyone

Around the world, teachers are working hard on a daily basis to educate the next generation, hoping to improve their life chances as a result. Despite all that dedication and hard work, why do so many young people still leave school without the skills they need for a successful adult life? Most teachers put their heart and soul into trying to make that happen, but they are trapped in a system that doesn't allow them free reign to move outside of a hefty curriculum.

We owe it to the children and young people currently living out a goodly portion of their lives within that less than ideal system, to try and negate some of the harm that such narrow parameters are causing. In order to 'get through' the prescribed curriculum, so much of the learning in school comes from being 'taught' facts that will be required later for assessment. There's not enough time for the students to gain the kind of personal experience that leads to stronger memory traces, and they therefore struggle to remember what they have been told.

Both employers and institutions of higher education have been complaining for years now that some of the young people applying for jobs or university places lack the ability to work independently, and wait to be spoon fed information. They don't know how to think for themselves, are unable to rise to challenges or take informed risks. That's because for years, we have made them sit still and be quiet whilst we teach them what we think they should know, squashing their natural enthusiasm for learning through personal curiosity.

It doesn't have to be that way! You know the saying 'give a man a fish and you feed him for that day, but teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime'? Well the same principle applies here. Teach a child 'what' to think and you set them up to pass that day's assessment, teach them 'how' to think and you set them up for a lifetime! Helping a child to develop metacognition is vital, both to their academic progress, (which is why it's now a buzz word in some schools), but also for their ability to make wise decisions as they get older.

Despite it's buzz word status, even schools who have embraced the idea of metacognition are not always clear on how to implement it. That's because in school settings we've become used to controlling what we consider to be 'teaching and learning', with much of of teacher's vocabulary nowadays revolving around formulaic ideas for making sure that learning happens. If we really want learning to happen, then that focus is in the wrong place!

Metacognition is all about what's going on inside each learner's head, and is very unique to the individual. It's not something that can be controlled or applied from the outside, so what we should be focusing on is; helping children and young people to develop metacognition so that they can think effectively for themselves. Only the most able learners in any school have learned to think that way naturally, but the rest need to be taught 'how', and that's not difficult to do.

Under the banner, 'Be in Their Corner', I am encouraging the 4 groups of adults who have the most influence over the development of a child to consider how they can support the development of metacognition in students. Parents and Carers, School Leaders, Teachers, and Support Staff all have a really important part to play. Each has a completely different perspective.

There is so much that parents or carers can do at home to ensure that their child starts to think in a metacognitive way. School leaders need to be prepared to consider a whole school approach so that the development of metacognition isn't left to chance. Teachers can do so much to precipitate metacognitive thinking in the classroom through the environment they create there and through minor changes to the activities they provide. Support staff can have a great influence on the development of metacognition in those they support through the way in which they communicate with students.

If you really want to make a difference to the mental health and academic progress of children and young people, please make a point of finding out more from the perspective of your role. I can help with that, and provide a series of on-line events to support each different perspective, so please get in touch, or stay tuned for more through this newsletter!

(Next event; Tues 22nd Nov, 10.00am; Classroom Practice That Supports Metacognition - 3hour training course for Teachers)

Please register here; https://events.lizkeable.com/teachers-course

Warm regards

Liz