Product reviews for Independent Thinking on Emotional Literacy

A key problem facing schools and colleges is the increasing number of pupils becoming disengaged or isolated from learning in mainstream education. In Independent Thinking on Emotional Literacy, Richard Evans has produced an extremely interesting and engaging discussion around reducing the -˜emotional gap' in order to promote self-belief and drive towards improving engagement and performance levels. 

The author expresses concern that, from his experience, teachers tend to overlook the need for children to understand themselves. To address what he labels as a gap in practice, Richard has developed a range of passports and 50 key questions to promote individual learners' positivity towards themselves and their learning. The passports are based on key areas such as confidence and resilience, organisation and presentation, and attitude to learning. 

The book contains a wide range of insightful tips based on personal case reviews, with the emphasis always on engagement, self-reflection and ownership of actions. From personal experience I have to question the feasibility of expectation on teachers or support teams to find the extra time to conduct the one-to-one sessions to fully utilise the passport system to bridge the gap and bring the learners on board. Within his non-teaching environment, the author acknowledges the possible resource implications within schools. However, details of various learners' responses to the process appear to justify the time expended in the
practical application of the passport system. 



Richard has shared his ideas on asking the right questions and developing a system that encourages and shows pupils how to manage themselves and their emotions with increased awareness and confidence. I am sure the ideas in the book will enable teachers to gain additional skills and confidence with which to support learners in developing more effective emotional intelligence to cope in the current changing educational and social environment. The book will be a great resource for many schools and colleges.