I was working with a seven year old boy today who is struggling to spell well. During our half hour together it became clear that he talked to himself in patterns of ‘I can’t’, ‘It’s hard’ and ‘it’s a problem’.
I could have responded with words such as ‘yes you can’ or ‘it’s really easy if you try harder’ or ‘don’t think like that.’ We say these phrases with good intentions. Yet the words do not always shift the learner into a more positive place or affect their learning or behaviour...
