"If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." – Ignacio Estrada

‘Hands on’ is what it’s all about in a child’s world. Getting stuck in. Making the most of every minute. Learning... and enjoying it!  

Children are so inquisitive and excited in the way they engage with the world around them. They acquire skills and understanding at a rapid rate.

So how do we exploit their innate ability to be ‘in the moment’?

The answer is to understand the way they think. By doing so we can harness their enthusiasm and channel it.

Getting Stuck In

I remember reading a story to a reception class. It didn’t go well.

Halfway though, one of the boys gave a huge yawn, put his head on to his knees (as if he’d lost the will to live) and said: “I’m sooo bored!”

Oh dear... not ideal... (but I have to admit I secretly found it quite funny at the time!) Perhaps I was bored too.

The point is that I’d failed to engage him and his outburst was the result. Children like to be involved. They like to do the things they like. 

Thinking about what these things are and doing them can make a real difference to teaching even the most complicated and mundane concepts.

It makes everything interesting and worth knowing – allowing children to come on board and experience that Eureka moment!

Making It Happen

How can you make things...

• visual?
• colourful?
• tactile?

Start with this in mind and children will want to get stuck in. They will move things around. Explore. Share and rehearse ideas. Have freedom.

Colours, images and symbols help children to develop strong positive connections to the things they are learning about.

They build memory.

Helping children to process, internalise and recall their understanding in this way builds strong foundations for future learning.

Discover Mighty Writer

Find out how to transform your childrens' literacy results almost overnight, with our free, downloadable guide.

Learn more about Mighty Writer and how it can improve literacy results in your school.

Find out:

• What Mighty Writer does
• How sentences are composed with Mighty Writer
• Progression in the use of Mighty Writer
• How to incorporate Mighty Writer into the day
• And much more!

Learn just why this literacy resource is award-winning and loved by head teachers nationwide! Click below to download.