Aims: To equip the children with a variety of strategies for learning and an ability to apply different spelling strategies.

For the children to learn a range of planning ideas for story writing, including ICT. To make the children independent learners through acquiring a deeper understanding of Multiple Intelligences and an understanding about how we learn; how factors such as diet and environment can affect our learning performance and how we can take control of a larger proportion of our own learning.  Based on the principles promoted by the University of the First Age

The Project

Twenty year 6 pupils from a Junior School in Kettering took part in a ‘Super learners Club’. It took place over six, 3 hour sessions. Attendance was not compulsory; indeed it was the voluntary nature of this club that was to prove to have a powerful psychological effect. It meant that it had to be good fun, not at all like school.

The project was set up in collaboration with the UFA Manager in Northampton, the Headteacher and staff at the school and the county Literacy Consultant.

The children were identified not simply by their literacy abilities, but as those who might also benefit from a boost in self confidence. All the children were what are often described as a ‘level 3/shaky level 4’. All the children had taken last years spelling SAT’s test as part of their mainstream class work, which was a useful baseline.

Despite the club taking part on school premises the environment for learning was enhanced with motivational posters, re-arrangement of furniture and colourful stimulating resources. Music was also used at various points throughout the session as an aid to concentration or to enhance group discussions. Creating a colourful, visually stimulating and motivational learning space was essential, brains like it!

The materials for the course were based on a larger pilot project undertaken in Leicester EAZ. It was the significance of the results from the Leicester project that prompted Northants to run a small scale project in the school. Teaching strategies and materials were based on the principles promoted by the UFA. UFA Northamptonshire actively promotes the vision and core principles of the UFA model. 

Examples of activities

Children built a human brain using their own bodies as representation of different parts of the brain. Through this living sculpture they learnt many facts about the brain but also that you have to feel safe, happy and in a state of relaxed  alertness’ in order to learn most effectively.

They were introduced to the different intelligences that lie within us all and were pleased to learn that they were all intelligent in one way or another. It was this knowledge that was then applied to their spellings and how to plan more effectively for their story writing. 

A circus of spelling activities was set up for the children to explore how to learn words using visual kinaesthetic and auditory strategies. All the children were able to achieve success; they made letters with their bodies, invented mnemonics and used musical instruments to beat the rhythms of the words.

The children learnt the power of mind maps, not only to   record and review their learning but also as an invaluable planning tool for their stories. They understood that mind maps mirror the way the brain likes to view and learn information, with colour and pictures adding to their effect. 

The results

With SATS fast approaching the pupils found these techniques a timely boost to their learning repertoire and confidence. Many children reported feeling much more confident as learners at the end of the six sessions and believed themselves to be ‘Super Learners’.

All the children completed the course and were enthusiastic throughout and they were much less afraid to tackle unknown spellings at the end of the course.

Class teachers reported a greater engagement with class activities. The children themselves said it was a worthwhile club and would recommend it to others.

The materials for the course were based on a larger pilot project undertaken in Leicester EAZ. It was the significance of the results from the Leicester project that prompted Northants to run a small scale project in the school. Teaching strategies and materials were based on the principles promoted by the UFA. UFA Northamptonshire actively promotes the vision and core principles of the UFA model. 

Comments from participants included:

"Great, now I know I AM clever - I never thought I was smart before"

Knowing that there are different ways of learning means I can have another go, instead of giving up"

Please contact Sue Dixon, Study Support Coordinator, for more information:

Tel: 01604 236423