10 Steps to Develop Great Learners: Visible Learning for Parents

What can concerned parents and carers do to ensure their children, of all ages, develop great learning habits which will help them achieve their maximum at school and in life? This is probably one of the most important questions any parent can ask and now John Hattie, one of the most respected and renowned Education researchers in the world draws on his globally famous Visible Learning research to provide some answers.

Writing this book with his own son Kyle, himself a respected teacher, the Hatties offer a 10-step plan to nurturing curiosity and intellectual ambition and providing a home environment that encourages and values learning. These simple steps based on the strongest of research evidence and packed full of practical advice can be followed by any parent or carer to support and enhance learning and maximize the potential of their children. Areas covered include:

• Communicating effectively with teachers
• Being the ‘first learner’ and demonstrating openness to new ideas and thinking
• Choosing the right school for your child
• Promoting the ‘language of learning’
• Having appropriately high expectations and understanding the power of feedback

Anyone concerned about the education and development of our children should read this book. For parents it is an essential guide that could make a vital difference to your child’s life. For schools, school leaders and education authorities this is a book you should be encouraging every parent to read to support learning and maximize opportunities for all.

John Hattie is Emeritus Laureate Professor at the Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. He is one of the world’s best known and most widely read education experts and his Visible Learning series of books have been translated into 29 different languages and have sold over 1 million copies.

Kyle Hattie is a Year 6 Teacher working in a primary school in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Over his 10-year career, he has taught at many year levels, from Prep to Year 6 in both Australia and New Zealand. Kyle has held various leadership titles and has a passion for understanding how students become learners.

 

“John Hattie has devoted his life to helping children learn—and enjoy learning. This book is chock full of great ideas for how parents can help their children become eager and effective learners.”

Carol Dweck, author of ‘Mindset’ and Lewis & Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology, Stanford University, US

“A provocative new look at how parents can best support their children’s learning underpinned by both in depth research evidence and hands on parenting. From the man who used mass research to show teachers how to get the best out of their teaching and his schoolteacher son, an irresistible combination and a fascinating insight for parents.”

Wendy Berliner, author of ‘Great Minds and How to Grow Them’ and ‘How to Succeed at School’

“The most precious gift we can give our children is the confidence, capacity and appetite for learning. To not shy away from things that are challenging, changing and complicated is the foundation for a fulfilling and adventurous life. But how best to lay that foundation? In their new book, father and son team John and Kyle Hattie offer sound, practical advice that is based on an irresistible blend of solid scholarship and wise first-hand experience. One of the best parenting books I have ever read.”

Guy Claxton, author of The Learning Power Approach and The Future of Teaching

“As a father of three and an educationalist, I have read many books on family education. When I got John and Kyle Hattie’s manuscript to read, something happened that has never happened before: I couldn’t stop reading! From my point of view, the book is a treasure trove of helpful hints and vivid examples, full of life experience and scientific foundation. The latter is worth emphasising from my point of view: everything that is presented in the book can be scientifically proven – and that without having a scientific duct. In my opinion, this makes the book stand out in the long line of parenting guides that often spread more myths than truths. In other words, it is a book in which research and practice merge and parents get the help they need to give their children the best possible education.”

Klaus Zierer, Professor of Education, University of Augsburg, Germany