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Let Kids Self Correct!

One of the key areas I focus on with pupils is self correction. Self correction improves confidence and increases independence in learning. When it comes to learning, I allow children to make mistakes and I don't always jump in to correct them at the time. Instead, I focus on the positive outcome of their learning and create an environment for self correction. This could be as simple as keeping a dictionary handy or a poster with the correct answers which they can check themselves. The analogy I usually use is this:

Imagine your little one makes you breakfast in bed on Mothers' or Fathers' day. The child walks up to you carrying a tray of food, beaming excitedly. They search your eyes and wait for your songs of praise for what they've done! And then you respond, with a smile of course, "thank you [insert name], how thoughtful of you. You've done a really good job, but look there are visible egg shells in the omelette, you spilled juice in the plate making my toast soggy, the bacon is burnt, the sausages are uncooked, plus you know I don't like a fry up!" 

Watch the excitement turn to tears! Even when you try and backtrack, I can imagine they will be inconsolable for a while. You would also agree with me that this child is unlikely to want to make you breakfast again, EVER!

Fine, I exaggerated! You probably would never say those things to your child. You don't need me or anyone to tell you that it wouldn't be advisable. We know this when it comes to most things, but when it comes to academic learning we don't let our children make the same mistakes as they would making us breakfast. We are quick to jump in and correct every 3 and 5 facing the wrong way, the b and d that don't know where to turn, the s that looks like z and the t that is usually an f and the list goes on! We worry that if we don't correct this mistake, the child is doomed to the backward 6 and awkward 2....for LIFE! So we stop them mid-flow, with corrections. In the middle of our praise, we correct! Our faces freeze at the sight of a g that is written as p, and all the child hears is I'm wrong again. I'm always wrong!
 An example from Learn Tree: After we discussed the link between multiplication and division, the pupils were left to write out and solve some questions themselves. One of the boys wrote all the steps correctly and it was clear he understood the link. However, every time he wrote the division sign, he drew two lines and two dots instead of one line and two dots. I watched him do this but did not correct him. Why? Because he was getting the much harder task correct and I didn't want to put him off and spoil his momentum by correcting this error. I was also confident that he could self correct, given his level of understanding in other areas. Plus, I had a massive poster with the division sign on it. Sure enough he looked up and said, "Am I writing this right? Is it one dash or two?" I smiled and asked him to look up at the poster. He took one look and corrected all the other division signs he'd written. 
In summary
  • When children are given the time and space to correct themselves whilst learning, they are able to retain and recall the information better.
  • As mentioned above, they feel confident enough to try and try again. If I am constantly corrected and not allowed to discover answers for myself, I am more likely to expect your correction and so I depend on it. Hence, I stop trying to figure it out myself, I stop thinking (which of course is a critical factor in learning).
  • Interestingly, children are more open to correction when it is not freely offered on a regular basis! 
  • Constant correction also leads to a reluctance to learn which may occur if the child takes the correction to mean everything they do is wrong.
  • Correction can also be a problem when they are not ready for it. When my 3 year old says 7 + 7 is 2, I don't correct him...he's just not ready for it!
  • In some cases constant correction could lead to a complete shut down in learning! The child loses confidence and does not want to continue trying, after all...they would probably get it wrong!

Learning is Fun! Let's keep it that way 
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