As a parent, I'm always looking for books that will inspire me to get better at this whole parenting thing. That's why John Hattie and Kyle Hattie's book 10 Steps to Develop Great Learners struck me. This book offers a 10-step plan to help concerned parents and caregivers encourage positive learning habits in their kids.
Both authors (a father and son duo) bring varied perspectives to the book. They've lived around the world, from New Zealand to the United States, and both men are teachers. They've also collaborated on a research program called Visible Learning, where they discovered all the different influences on student learning and which ones had the most impact.
I did highlight or underline several passages throughout the book, such as giving kids a more concrete expectation to show kids what success looks like. "For example, instead of 'clean your room', say 'in cleaning your room there should be nothing left on the floor, everything is put away in drawers, and your bed is tidy.'" (p. xxxii)
I also found the pair's assertion that play doesn't necessarily lead to learning, something that goes against everything I've been told as a member of the toy industry and a Genius of Play ambassador.
Like I said, there were interesting parts of the book. Is this a compelling read for the average parent? Not really. It took me a really long time to finish this book because as much as I wanted to read it and understand the 10 steps, it felt like the book was written in too clinical a style. Yes, there are some good takeaways from the book, but I've read other parenting books (some of which are mentioned in this book) that are a little more user-friendly.
10 Steps to Develop Great Learners is published by Routledge and is available to purchase now. I received a free review copy.
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