Natalia Kirilina
Techniques of Effective Learning
Illustrator Alyona Bondarenko
© Natalia Kirilina, 2024
© Sergei Kirilin, 2024
© Alyona Bondarenko, illustrations, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0062-7960-5
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Introduction
A question that concerns many parents is whether or not they should help their children learn and how they can find the time for it.
In our project “Glad to Learn”, we teach parents how to help their children learn more effectively, delegate homework responsibility, improve memory, and reduce study time.
Unfortunately, parents are not always able to set aside time in their fast-paced lives to help their children with their schoolwork. Likewise, children do not always listen to their moms or dads without having something to say.
Some parents think that teaching their children themselves is out of the question for them.
In this book you will learn whether or not children should be helped with their learning process and how this can be done in a time-efficient manner.
Ideally, the main goal of an adult is to help the child organize their time and divide their energy.
Parents should not do their children’s assignments for them, give answers, or hover over them for hours making sure they write each letter correctly.
However, practice shows that this is what actually happens.
Parents sit with their children all evening doing homework, explaining the material, learning poems and foreign words, doing crafts and pictures.
The role which used to be fulfilled by the teacher is now being put on the shoulders of parents.
This naturally leads to the question, why do we even need school at all?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to incite quick change on the education system.
That is why we must accept the rules of the game and play by them.
Busy parents wonder how they can free up time for themselves instead of spending it all on teaching their children.
The first option is to find a good school which can be given full responsibility for educating their child, and thus leaving the parents out of the equation.
This only works well when the child can study in a school where teachers are invested in their students. Schools like this which also offer free tuition are becoming fewer and fewer with every year, while the number of private schools is increasing.
If you have the ability to send your child to such a school then do your best to send them there. The money that you will put into this kind of education will be paid off by the free time you will gain.
The advantage of this solution is that the responsibility for the results is taken on by the school.
The main disadvantage of this solution is the cost.
The second option is to hire a tutor.
The advantage of this option is that your child will be taught individually, and the tutor will focus on their specific problems. If you find a good tutor, they will certainly help with most of your problems and save you time.
However, this option has a few drawbacks of its own relating to the quality of tutors nowadays.
Furthermore, most tutors are interested in long-term work and will tell you right off the bat that the process will be long and costly.
The second issue is that once the tutor is removed, results are lost. All of the tutor’s knowledge leaves with them and the child only knows what they know. Without a tutor, students can rarely continue learning the subject further very well.
The third issue is that the parent must make a choice of which subject to give preference to if the child has problems with a large number of subjects since hiring a tutor for 8—19 subjects at one time is very wasteful.
The fourth issue is that no one will hire a tutor for subjects the child is doing well in. In the end, the child will only progress in their weak areas, and their most important strong points will practically stop developing.
The third option is to teach the child how to learn. As one famous cartoon puts it, “Better to learn all day and then fly for only half an hour.”
The advantages of this approach are:
The child will get a foundation of knowledge and skills which will allow them to memorize important information from the first try and process it and apply it. Later in the future, they will be able to at least feel like a fish in water in the world of information, and they will be able to understand the things around them.
Moreover, mental work is always paid several times higher than physical work.
A tutor simply gives your child a fish while you will be teaching your child how to fish. This way, no matter who the teacher is, your child will be able to easily learn and master any information, prepare for exams, receive scholarships for university, etc., without any interference and without your involvement.
The biggest disadvantage to this solution is that it requires setting aside additional time for the child to learn, as well as diving into the process yourself and helping your child make the first steps in the beginning.
There is simply no time or energy left to put in additional learning time into an already full schedule.
However, herein lies the most insidious problem of teaching children: the use of outdated methods of learning which take up significantly more time than needed.
It can be compared to chopping a tree with a dull ax or sawing wood with a dull saw. It requires more effort, but produces less of a result.
What you can do to help your child learn better:
Use methods for improving concentration
Use the general to specific approach and special schedule organizers (helpers) for presenting information
Use image-based principles for memorizing formulas, dates, definitions
Use techniques of structuring information for presentations, summaries, and recitations
Use techniques of delegating homework to the children
Use methods of memorizing foreign words
Use mnemonic devices
All of these techniques are taught in the book you hold in your hands.
You will learn the techniques of effective learning, how to work with information correctly. You will gain skills for quickly taking in new information. You will learn how to effectively help your children learn how to memorize a large amount of information over a short period time and how to do homework on their own. You will also free up time for yourself and fulfill your wishes while your children are learning happily on their own.
Happy Learning!
Reviews
I am not good at promoting things, but this is perhaps the best book for parents of young students. The book describes a large number of techniques for making the learning process easier. You no longer need to go in search of, collecting bit by bit, whatever might help you in the learning process.
Everything is included in this book:
How to memorize large amounts of information and difficult names
How to learn foreign words
How to correct mistakes in vocabulary words
How to increase reading speed
How to quickly summarize a paragraph, focusing on the main idea
How to remember numbers, dates, telephone numbers, and much more
Besides this, the book also describes the psychological aspects of learning.
How to talk with the teacher the right way
How to increase a child’s self-esteem
How to motivate, and so on.
Our brains (and the brains of children) are capable of a great number of things, we only need to know how to correctly memorize, reproduce, repeat, present. If we do this using specific algorithms then we will waste significantly less time and effort and have guaranteed results.
I am writing this with such certainty because I myself am studying and applying the techniques of effective learning and I can see they work.
Now my oldest child is only in preschool but we are already using some of the techniques with him.
“Green pen” for motivation
Mnemonic “Cartoon” for foreign words
Correct repetition according to the “forgetting curve” of Ebbinghaus for optimum memorization
Mind maps for structuring information and training connected speech
“Funnel” technique for eliminating mistakes
“Artist” technique for memorizing poems
And many others.
After trying these methods for myself and my child I am convinced that learning can be easier, faster, more interesting, and produce better results.
To all parents who see this, if you do more than just read this book and actually implement at least part of the recommendations in your life, you will immediately notice positive results and see how much the learning process of your child has improved in school.
It will boost your child’s school performance and self-esteem while at the same time reduce the time spent on homework.
Parents will spend less time stressing about the process and will save money on tutors.
Teach your child how to learn and it will be the best investment for your whole family.
Svetlana Grigorieva
I was fortunate to be able to read the book Techniques for Effective Learning. Encyclopedia for parents of schoolchildren. I could relate to every line and it brought back memories of my own school experience, causing me to analyze and rethink the motives behind the actions and teaching styles of the teachers. There were some things from the book which I had already applied instinctively myself back then, for example, associations, and these techniques have always worked. The book is laid out very nicely. I enjoyed the description of the four ways people take in information. It is very comprehendible and clear. It is written in a way that is very easy to read and understand with many examples of practical uses of the techniques. The book is a wealth of tools for teaching any school subject and more. It reveals how to set attainable goals and reach them, and also how to improve self-esteem, something some adults could learn as well. The descriptive mnemonics are truly marvelous. The most important thing is that they are easy to master and can be used in a playful manner. Practically any problem that a family could face when teaching a child is shed light on. The only thing left is to open the book to the right page and try to implement what is written in your situation. In a word, the book is wonderful. I am glad I have it.
Vera Zakharova
The current state of the education system can be summarized in one word: CHAOS. There is a complete lack of any actual kind of system. While some try to hold on to the Soviet system (at least there was something back then), others look five steps ahead and go in search of a new way of doing things. I don’t know about other students, but my son could not be interested by the Soviet system; they tried but it didn’t work :) We had to look forward. For a long time (two years) I searched for different approaches, methods, systems, and I found a lot in the American education system. Despite how Americans might be criticized, it was a necessary measure for me. I found small bits of information which strangely worked, and worked successfully. Thanks to these I later found myself on Renata Kirilina’s blog where she (which I am really thankful for!!!) describes and explains the innovative methods in detail, clearly and concisely.
The book Techniques for Effective Learning from A to Z, in my opinion, is the education system of the future. If anyone is looking five steps ahead then this is the book for them. All the methods work, and many I have already tested myself during lessons with my son. Some of the techniques in the book were like a new discovery for me, and we are sure to try them out.
I will definitely buy the paper version of the book as soon as it is out. I highly recommend it for any parents of school-age children.
Ira Greeva
I want to tell you about the book Techniques of Effective Learning from A to Z. Encyclopedia for parents of schoolchildren by Renata Kirilina and Sergey Kirilin. It is a dream come true! Finally there is a book which contains all known techniques for effective learning. I was very interested to read Renata Kirilina’s articles on VK and was worried that a lot of time would need to be spent finding the right article at the right time. Now everything is in one book with very concise headings, as always by these authors. My daughter is going into the first grade next year and this book is like a gift to me. I have become more confident and relaxed. I know how to help my daughter with her future in school.
The book is just great! It is difficult to even pick out some articles as they all contain very useful observations.
I regret not knowing a lot of it myself when I was a student and wasting a lot of time.
I can’t wait for the printed version. I recommend it not only for parents of school-age children but also to university students and school teachers!
Sveta Ryazanova
I have decided to review the book Techniques for Effective Learning from A to Z by Renata Kirilina. It is truly a wealth of information.
Although we already knew part of what was written and had implemented it in our lives and in the learning process (again from publications of @rkirilina’s “Glad to Learn”), we also discovered something new and intend on trying it and getting more results.
It is especially valuable that all the techniques are given in a playful format which is interesting for children.
It is a big advantage that all the techniques were created keeping in mind the individual psyche and maturity level of the children.
The information is given in a structured, albeit condensed, format. These guidelines should be enough for any parent who thinks and cares about their child to understand and apply to their own lives.
I recommend it!
Natasha Litovkina
The book Techniques for Effective Learning from A to Z is simply a treasure trove for parents who want their children to learn more easily and with interest. It contains many helpful techniques which make it much easier for children to learn. The step-by-step description of every helper explains what and how to do in the specific technique. I read the book in one go. I recommend this book to all parents. The advice in this book can help you make it easier for your child to take in information when learning, thereby helping them remember the information forever.
Svetlana Belykh
No 1 expert in teaching children effectively in school. Mom of two school-aged boys and one daughter. Renata started homeschooling her sons in 2016.
Worked her way up from teacher to principal of a public school and knows all the pitfalls of the education system.
Practitioner; all the techniques of effective learning have been tested by thousands of children.
Creator of the methods “The complex put simply” and “Techniques for effective learning”.
The students’ geography covers all of Russia, countries of the former Soviet Union, Europe, USA, and Canada.
Founder and director of “School for Smart Kids” and “School 60 minuts”
Author of the blog “Glad to Learn” http://gladtolearn.ru/blog/
How to develop a child’s mind and help them learn
Fundamentals to help you learn how children take in new information and develop new abilities and skills
If you are worried about the development of your child then remember that there are learning strategies and methods which can help them learn more easily.
I suggest a quick dive into the theory behind how the brain works and how new information, abilities, and skills are built into it.
Later we will look at the best learning strategies at every level of a child’s brain development.
First, though, here are some important facts:
Children learn by creating connections between brain cells which are called “neural pathways”.
The more often these neural pathways are used, the stronger they become. For this reason, practice helps improve skills.
Creating the circuit system of the brain
Every brain cell (neuron) looks like an ordinary tree.
When children learn information about the world, their neurons branch out and create connections between each other. The resulting neural pathways are similar to electrical wires. Each neuron can have several connections with other neurons.
These “wires” do not touch each other.
Instead, they release information in the space between neurons, known as “synapses”. The brain’s chemical elements (neurotransmitters) help the system communicate.
How neural pathways work
Each neuron pathway is like a schematic. When electricity goes through the circuit, it receives an answer.
For example, when you flip a light switch, the light turns on. Some brain circuits, like those for breathing and blood circulation, are already developed at birth. Other schematics are dependent on activity.
They need input to work, and the more input data they receive, the better they work. This input is more complex than simply flipping a switch.
This occurs for every experience and event a child goes through.
Sounds, sights, tastes, smells, as well as feelings and emotions help the brain release neurotransmitters and control these schematics.
Pruning or forgetting
Neural pathways which are frequently used become stronger. This is similar to a paved road versus an ordinary path.
Schematics which are not used become weaker and disappear over time. This process is called “pruning” or simply forgetting.
This is normal. Everyone has more schematics than they need. “Pruning” occurs gradually over one’s whole life.
Children’s minds are fairly flexible in order to constantly work to create new schematics and improve frequently used neural pathways. This process is known as “plasticity”.
Strength of plasticity
“Plasticity” is especially important for children. Their brains process information differently but do not always use the brain’s chemicals efficiently.
These differences make it more difficult to create or reinforce some neural pathways.
Teaching children the techniques of effective learning and information processing makes it possible to show children how to use their brain’s plasticity.
Children not only learn better and more easily, they also experience less difficulties and stress.
Learning through feelings
Children do not need to think about neural pathways.
This occurs naturally when they experience the world and learn about it.
The Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget created a well-known theory about how children develop skills of recognition and thought.
Initially children use their senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell to start establishing connections. They taste, shake, and throw items. They also start to roll, reach for objects, and in the end, crawl and walk.
All these actions help build neural pathways which control things like movement, sight, and language development.
For example, children start mimicking sounds which grab their attention.
Later, they continue tasting and discovering the world which surrounds them. They continue to move around to places they want to see. The brain strengthens these schematics and the child continues to develop.
Learning through speech
Between the ages of two and seven, language development increases with children learning to talk and understand more words and using more complex sentences.
This is a critical time to create a rich speech environment for the child.
At this stage, the more the child is spoken to, the more words they will use and learn. Likewise, the more new skills they will try, the more neural pathways they will form.
At this point, children can be more creative in how they play with objects.
For example, you might see your child using a big stick as a horse or turning a box into a rocket ship.
Social skills develop slowly at this age, as children are not ready to understand logic, reasoning, and other people’s views.
They often experience difficulty being around unfamiliar company and can likewise openly criticize or say what they do not like or comment on the behavior of other people.
Learning through logic
From the age of seven until middle school, children begin to think more logically.
At this stage children are able to make connections between things. They become “detectives” who are capable of seeing clues and able to connect them.
Socially speaking, children develop the ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and understand that actions have consequences.
At this stage, adults can support children by helping them think through things like the cause or effect of any event.
Learning through reasoning
Transitioning into adolescence, children start to think more abstractly and with more complexity.
They reason along the lines of “what if” and can picture the outcome of a situation.
Children are capable of solving and understanding more complex mathematics, learning chemistry and physics, understanding storylines more deeply, and discussing literature they have read.
Children can combine different kinds of skills to do more complex things like learn to drive or learn a profession.
The system of electrical wires in the brain becomes more complex with circuits that intertwine with other circuits so that all the skills can work together.
Main conclusions
New experiences help your child form neural pathways. Exploring the world helps the brain grow. Various learning methods and other strategies of intervention can help children develop new paths and acquire more skills.
There are things at each stage of development which you can do to help your child learn.
What you can do to help your child learn
– Study the techniques of effective learning. Learn how to structure text information, create “mind maps”, use the general to specific method, look for and remove mistakes, learn connected speech, and develop both sides of the brain.
– Work on motivation, interest, attention, and discipline.
– Improve memory and revise new information according to the “forgetting curve”.
– Develop imagination, learn to encode and decode information, learn to manage a working state.
– Identify the type of learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, logical) and use the dominate style when learning.
– Do not give up. Look for ways specifically suited to teaching your child until you find one!
– Reduce the time spent looking for and choosing the best strategies and implement them using the program “Genius Child. Techniques of Effective Learning”.