Encourage learning – young children need to enjoy the process of learning instead of focusing on performance. When adults think about hope for advanced readers, the concept of wisdom, awareness and  self-efficacy comes to mind. We want all children to know what it means to learn something. We want them to have the experience of working hard and seeing the rewards. In all grades, but especially in the primary grades, we want children to learn that the effort they put into work and play makes a difference — you are proficient at something because you spend lots of time trying something, at-times failing, and then practicing to improve.

When Albert Einstein was a child, few people—if any—anticipated the remarkable contributions he would make to science. His language development was delayed, worrying his parents to the point of consulting a doctor. His sister once confessed that Einstein “had such difficulty with language that those around him feared he would never learn.” How did this child go from potential developmental delays to becoming, well, Einstein?

Part of the answer to that question is symbolized in two gifts that Einstein received from each of his parents when he was 5 years old. When Einstein was in bed all day from an illness, his father gave him a compass. For Einstein, it was a mysterious device that sparked his curiosity in science. Soon after, Einstein’s mother, who was a talented pianist, gave Einstein a violin. These two gifts challenged Einstein’s brain in distinctive ways at just the right time.

Curiousity is a powerful tool.

Begin a discussion. What is the:

  •  element of the character,
  • setting,
  • problem,
  • solution,
  • theme

Ellen Usher and Frank Pajares wrote:

“Although failure may occur periodically, when students notice a gradual improvement in skills over time, they typically experience a boost in their self-efficacy. Mastery experiences prove particularly powerful when individuals overcome obstacles or succeed on challenging tasks.”

“Professor Scry has published four books, blogs about the importance of literature and the impacts reading makes on a child.”