I Learn by Doing

Book content preview at https: //lidiastanton.com

This funny comic book is a take on a 'whodunnit' story and a platform for introducing children to multisensory strategies for learning spellings, directions, days of the week, months of the year and other sequences that have to be recalled in order.

Children (aged 6-10) can read the book independently or with the help of an adult (through paired reading). Additional explanatory pages ("Did you know?" and "Things you can try out") assist the child and their helper at home in understanding what multisensory learning is and why it works. Practical suggestions extend to difficult homework situations - in which many children often feel frustrated - to enable them to experience success and enjoy learning at home.

'I learn by doing' is a particularly useful tool for children with dyslexia and ADHD. It validates their perception that some seemingly easy everyday school things can in fact be very difficult. The book offers young readers a solution. It reveals how play - something they engage in every day - can be a powerful learning strategy, and shows how to master a newly acquired skill by practice (overlearning).

The book leaves the reader with Mr Pug's poignant exchange with Luke:

"No matter who's there to help you - a wizard dog, their favourite squeak, your Dad, or your best friend and her cuddly toy with 8 arms - you can do amazing things yourself."

"Once I've had a go at something really hard to learn, done something with it that made me and others smile, and practised until I've nailed it - I then feel so big and mighty that people ask: "Is this boy a wizard?"

"I am Luke", I say to them, "I learn by doing".

Synopsis

Luke discovers that his dog, Mr Pug, is a wizard. Mr Pug shows Luke how to remember 'hard school things' and helps him learn tricky spellings. Things take an unexpected turn when Sophie visits Luke and her bag of wooden letters goes missing. Luke learns that it takes more than Mr Pug's magic to save the day.