Dale Gordon's manifesto on helping students learn

One teacher, (Gordon, 1992) in reflecting on how she learns, has written a manifesto for how she will help children to learn in her classroom:

I will show children what I do to learn, I will demonstrate my learning because learners need to see how it is done.

I will make sure that materials and resources are always available and easily accessible, because learners must have the resources they need to learn when they need them.

I will be available to support children in their learning, when it is important to give them help.

I will allow children plenty of time in which to learn and in which to practice what they learn because learning needs both time and practice.

I will always remember that every learner is different. They will learn different things at different rates. I will monitor each child's learning and make decisions about each one individually.

I will plan learning programmes with children in order to meet their needs.

I will always let children know what I expect them to learn because I believe they can. If learners really believe they can do it, they are prepared to 'have a go'.

I know that learners make mistakes and that analysing mistakes helps them to develop better strategies for the next attempt. Therefore I will make children aware of their strategies which are successful, and which are not.

I will be an aware and supportive audience for each child. I will be ready to respond positively and as appropriately as I can to their learning needs.

Learners need to know how others think they are going. (pp4-5)

Dale Gordon goes on to say: 'Everything that happens in a classroom has an impact on everything else that happens. I always keep in mind the factors that help me learn best. Then, when I am teaching, I can ask myself, is this classroom activity going to help children learn? How would it help me learn? If I cannot justify the activity by saying how it will help, then why am I doing it? ' p6

Gordon, D. (1992) One Teacher's Classroom Eleanor Curtain Press, Melbourne