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After your child learns something at school, can they explain it back to you in their own words — not just repeat what they were told?
Where this sits on the map
Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.
Builds on
Thinking Before Startingages 6–7Explaining in your own words requires connecting new learning to existing knowledge already held in mind
Explaining Mathematical Reasoningages 6–7The universal self-explanation habit (LtL 7-8) builds on the maths-specific practice of explaining reasoning when prompted (MT 6-7)
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Teaching It Backthis skill · ages 7–8
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Unlocks
Understanding Whyages 8–9Asking 'why does this work?' requires first being able to explain what you know — interrogation builds on explanation
Drawing conclusions from evidenceages 7–9Reporting scientific findings in your own words draws directly on the universal self-explanation habit
Engaging Listeners and Valuing Viewpointsages 7–8Building on others' contributions in discussion requires being able to articulate your own thinking — the self-explanation habit applied in a social context
Inference vs Explicit Meaningages 7–9Distinguishing literal from inferred requires being able to articulate your own understanding clearly enough to examine its source
Justifying mathematical reasoningages 7–8Constructing multi-step mathematical arguments and identifying errors in reasoning is the maths form of the universal self-explanation habit
Revising and editingages 8–9Reading your own writing critically requires the self-explanation habit developed in Learning to Learn — recognising what you understand vs. what is unclear