Supporting your son to be an effective learner
The language of learningEvery parent wants their son to be a confident, motivated learner. Research shows that the most effective learners are those who approach learning with the right attitudes, habits, and support structures.
At Brighton Grammar, our Effective Learner Model provides a framework to help students understand what it means to be ready to learn, how to learn well, and how to contribute to a community of learning. Parents play a vital role in this process — by modelling positive learning habits.
Here are the four areas of the model and how you can support your son at home:
- Learning Dispositions – Help your son prepare mentally and physically for learning. Sleep, nutrition, and organisation all contribute to success. Encourage him to set reminders, build routines, and embrace difficult tasks.
- Learning Processes – Talk with him about what he’s learning at school. Ask questions like, “Show me what you’re learning in Mathematics today,” or “Tell me about a character in the book you are studying in English?”
- Learning Design – Support him to act on feedback and share when his next key assessments are occurring. What’s one area of this subject you are finding tricky?
- Learning Culture – Celebrate effort as much as achievement. Reinforce that learning happens best in community — when students contribute, collaborate, and support one another. Ask, “Who helps you with your work?” or “What’s one small thing you can do this week to improve?”
When parents, teachers, and students all use the same language of learning, it strengthens the culture of growth across the whole school community.
To learn more about the Effective Learner Model and how you can support your son’s development, please visit the Crowther Centre website.
Dr Mark Dowley
Associate Head of the Crowther Centre
Staff Development and Consulting