How Children Learn

This is a timely book as it looks at the complexities of the modern world in which education operates. The author considers the role of the family and education in the pre-school years at a time when, for instance, the balance between play and more formal learning is being debated. He writes sympathetically about specific difficulties like dyslexia and autism and the problems of dealing with them. I would certainly recommend this book for anybody following PG and CPD courses in education. -- Margaret Barr, CPD Tutor for Dyslexia Action
Very well written book that is easy to understand. Would recommend as an essential item on any educational psychology course. -- Dr Katherine Cartmell * drupal *
very good overview of different Schools of thaughts -- Dr Tanja Kirn * drupal *
I found this book very clear and accessible. The case studies were very helpful in illustrating the theory in practice. -- Gillian Jack * drupal *
I found this book very clear and accessible. The case studies were very helpful in illustrating the theory in practice. -- Gillian Jack * drupal *
I found this book very clear and accessible. The case studies were very helpful in illustrating the theory in practice. -- Gillian Jack * drupal *
Really good for the course, students are able to dip in and out of the book with ease. -- Miss Annette Trilk * drupal *
This is a good supplementary text that I would recommend for level 4 but more suited to students with some previous knowledge of theory and children′s learning. Level 5 would benefit from the analytical text. -- Miss Catherine Farnon * drupal *
This is an easily accessible book for Fd students. -- Miss Fiona Hall * drupal *
Fabulous book for all learners of Childhood Studies -- Miss Karen Bezerra * drupal *
Excellent book suitable across all levels on all early years courses. -- Miss KATY MEREDITH * drupal *
Useful book for undergraduate early years students -- Miss Lorna Wardle * drupal *
Compliments all modules. Easy to read overview. -- Miss Nicola Wilson * drupal *
A good resource that will help trainee students appreciate their pupils and affect pedagogy positively. -- Mr Gwyn Ellis * drupal *
How Children Learn provides an interesting and engaging overview of learning from a variety of perspectives.

This text begins with the introduction of philosophical and classic theories of leaning which help contextualise our current thinking and practice in educational settings.

The reader will be introduced to ideas that provide the foundation for further reading and exploration.

Undergraduate students studying Early Childhood Studies or Education Studies will find this text to be a particularly useful and relevant starting point in understanding learning from an inter-disciplinary perspective. They will be encouraged to reflect critically in relation to theories of learning with an awareness of alternative concepts, perspectives and ideas.

-- Mr Jonathan Reid * drupal *
Good overview of learning. Good link of theory to practice - theory in action section. Like the layout and the exercises act as good think points. -- Mr Madelaine Lockwood * drupal *
A wonderful book. It will form a cornerstone of my PGCE reading list -- Mr Mark Jenkins * drupal *
How Children Learn is easy to read and achieves its goal of locating educational practice in psychological theory and social & cultural philosophy. It offers an excellent introduction to undergraduate learners and a helpful revision for postgrads. -- Mr Tim Cooke * drupal *
Excellent textbook of use to all those studying childhood -- Mrs Annabel Yale * drupal *
Used this as part of my reading list for the students when covering development and theorsts -- Mrs Carol Darwin * drupal *
Supports learning across an ITE curriculum. Easy to access and would be ideal for student teachers. -- Mrs Catherine Carden * drupal *
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it a comprehensive read. I liked the way the aims of the chapters are clearly laid out and also the summaries at the end of the chapters. The chapters on learning theories will be extremely useful for our students as they are written clearly and comprehensively. -- Mrs Dawn Rigby * drupal *
This book has useful reading on theories of learning. The chapters on Communities of learning and Additional Support needs are also good. -- Mrs Gill Fry * drupal *
An excellent text, highly accessible and now recommended as essential reading on the PGCE. -- Mrs Helen Lewis * drupal *
Excellent resource for my students will recommend they all use this for their course -- Mrs Helen Middleton * drupal *
Excellent resource for my students will recommend they all use this for their course -- Mrs Helen Middleton * drupal *
Really useful book- introduces the readers to different theories of learning – helpful summary of different pioneers/theorists/approaches. Would have liked to see reference to some more contemporary/current thinkers/pioneers. Up to date with reference to academies as a community of learning – useful for promoting discussions. Liked the examples and exercises. -- Mrs Janet Harvell * drupal *
Very good book for learners to gain an understanding of children′s learning. Author uses accessible language for level 4 learners. -- Mrs Janice Grinstead * drupal *
The book gives a good understanding of theories of child development for undergraduate learners. -- Mrs Jeenal Desai * drupal *
An up to date and easy to navigate book containing relevant text to children′s learning. In particular the section ′learning theories in action′ will be beneficial to practitioners and students as they can link the theory to observational practice. -- Mrs Julie Clarkson * drupal *
Well written book suitable across all levels on all early years courses. -- Mrs Kerry Clayton * drupal *
A good range of theorist with clear descriptions of theory and good links to practice. -- Mrs Marion Farnworth * drupal *
This book offers a useful overview of learning theory for our level 4 students, with some helpful case study examples. The wider age range means that it is not a recommended text for our early years students but the chapter on thinking and learning in the early years will be particularly relevant. -- Mrs Mary-Louise Maynes * drupal *
This book offers a comprehensive guide for undergraduates. It includes a detailed overview of theorists and their theoretical perspectives. It also offers case studies which I will use in seminar sessions. -- Mrs Melanie Mackinder * drupal *
informative and clear to read. Especially for those working with children. -- Mrs MINE TANA * drupal *
Excellent clear examples of practice given to support explainations. Very useful if studying key concepts dealing with child development. -- Mrs MINE TANA * drupal *
Fabulous book which covers the expected areas but also gives new insights into less common areas, such as special needs. -- Mrs Nicola Stobbs * drupal *
Great book for stimulating student′s thinking. Lots of examples and exercises to extend learning and thinking. -- Mrs Nicola Stobbs * drupal *
How Children Learn presents an excellent range of different concepts around children’s learning. The book offers an insight into the key philosophies and learning theories. Furthermore MacBlain reveals children’s learning and brain development, including the importance of play and the family’s role as an educator. In addition the book explores the nature of intelligence and additional needs. Best of all, the book invites the reader to reflect and consider his/her own practice through examples and exercises. This is an essential book for anybody working with children. -- Mrs Paivi Valtonen * drupal *
How Children Learn has been beneficial when looking at child development. It helps to identify how children learn and what makes them individuals. -- Mrs Pamela Canning * drupal *
nicely presented with helpful examples and exercises -- Mrs Pavla Boulton * drupal *
excellent book, easy to read and to follow. -- Mrs Petra Chipperfield * drupal *
This is a really useful book in supporting students in looking at how past influences have influenced to current policies and practices today. A really useful book -- Mrs REBECCA WALTERS * drupal *
This is a very accessible text which is clearly laid out to enable the reader to access specific topics should they wish.

It has helpful examples and exercise′s throughout which encourage the reader to apply the theory that they are learning about in order to promote depth of understanding.

The summaries at the end of each chapter are also helpful as a brief check of both learning and understanding. -- Mrs Sian Templeton * drupal *
This is an excellent book, covering a range of aspects impacting on children′s learning. Ideal for Initial Teacher Education students and lecturers. -- Mrs Sue Fraser * drupal *
An essential book for anyone who wants to understand the theories of how children learn. It looks at different aspects of learning and gives suggestions for further reading. -- Mrs Suzanne Strawford * drupal *
Particularly like the section on importance of language. Like the fact that exercises are interspersed to ensure understanding and underpin learning -- Mrs Tanya Richardson * drupal *
Good text. -- Mrs Tracey Dobbs * drupal *
This book has been excellent for my learners. Examples provided have allowed discussion of topics and the exercises have further developed discussions. I have also found the recommended reading for each chapter helpful. -- Mrs Tracey Dobbs * drupal *
This book has widely used by students at Level 4 on our FdA Early Childhood Studies, demonstrating its accessibility and that students found it useful and relevant to cite in their summative assessments. -- Mrs Tracey Herbert * drupal *
Excellent resource for my students will recommend they all use this for their course. -- Mrs Tracy Stokes * drupal *
This book covers all the esential elements of how children learn with an emphasis on key thories and contexts. Well presented material andto a sufficient depth for first year UG. -- Ms Adeela Ahmed-Shafi * drupal *
A great supplemental reader which will help students to focus on the individual and their needs.
Useful summaries and exercises -- Ms Dionne Ross * drupal *
MacBlain has written about this wide and complex subject in an accessible way. The text is clear and jargon-free and each chapter is organised so that the reader is actively involved.This is a timely book as it looks at the complexities of the modern world in which education operates. The author considers the role of the family and education in the pre-school years at a time when, for instance, the balance between play and more formal learning is being debated. He writes sympathetically about specific difficulties like dyslexia and autism and the problems of dealing with them.
I would certainly recommend this book for anybody following PG and CPD courses in education.
-- Ms Jan Seabourne * drupal *
An invaluable text, wide-ranging in its scope and highly relevant to its target audience. Theories and research are explained clearly and considered critically. -- Ms Kate Allott * drupal *
A thorough overview of key issues. Accessible for masters level study. -- Ms Louise Lambert * drupal *
An accessible text for trainees. Easy to navigate and comprehensive in its coverage.
-- Ms Louise Lambert * drupal *
The style of this book is inviting and theories of learning are explored via useful examples of case studies. The inclusion of exercises per chapter support the student reader′s developing understanding. -- Ms Veronica Towers * drupal *