Building Learning Power
Tenterden Infant School: Building Learning Power
Building Learning Power’s main focus is on helping children to become better learners, enabling children to become emotionally engaged, use resources to the full, engage socially and take responsibility for their own learning.
One of the key things about the “BLP” ethos is the fact that not only is it ok to get stuck or not know the answer, but that it is a recognised good tool for finding out the answers.
The key words for parents to look out for are: RECIPROCITY, REFLECTIVENESS, RESOURCEFULNESS and RESILIENCE. They represent the four aspects of learning; Emotional, Cognitive, Strategic and Interpersonal.
The four dispositions explained:
Resilience
includes: TOUGH TORTOISE
Absorption – becoming engrossed in learning
Managing distractions – recognising and reducing interruptions
Noticing – observing patterns and details
Perseverance – keeping going when things get difficult
Resourcefulness
includes: SUPER SQUIRREL
Questioning – being curious and asking questions
Making Links – making connections between events and experiences
Imagining – using the mind to explore new ideas and experiences
Reasoning – working things out step by step
Capitalising – making good use of people and resources
Reflectiveness
includes: WISE OWL
Planning - deciding what to do in advance
Revising – changing and monitoring plans along the way
Distilling – selecting the most important information and
carrying it forward to use in new experiences
Meta-learning – knowing yourself as a learner and being aware
of how you learn best.
Reciprocity
includes:
ACTION ANT
Interdependence – knowing how to work independently and with others
Collaboration – working with others as a team
Empathy – considering the feelings of others
Listening – paying attention to what others are saying
Imitation – copying good behaviours, habits and attitudes from others