Charlie was a student, joining a new big school,
But Charlie wanted to be the best … the best in Hartlepool,
So, what does a great learner look like, he reflected to himself and thought,
I want to be a Tunstall Learner, when I am being taught.
Charlie closed his eyes and went on a journey through the mind,
To seek out the fruits of success was his mission to find,
Not too few, otherwise that wouldn’t cover all he should learn,
But not too many to get confused … not knowing where to turn.
“Seven”, said a voice within, “that is the number you need”,
“7 fruits of your labours once you’ve sown the first seed”,
“Not a complicated 7, but a simple 7 indeed,
You might say … a Magnificent 7 … is what you need to succeed.”
Just then a blue berry strode forward, purposeful and kitted out,
“Hello my friend, I’m called READY, and I’m essential without a doubt,
I’m carrying everything needed, and set for anything to occur,
And I’m brimming with positivity which we certainly do prefer.”
“You see I am well prepared”, Ready said … with a beaming smile,
“Ready and equipped to do anything asked, that is certainly my style,
Ready for service, to support anyone … with any request,
Ready with resilience and optimism, in order to do my best.”
“Thank you, and onward”, cried Charlie, “I need to discover more,
I can’t stop at just 1 of the 7, let’s go further I implore,
But who is our second friend, I’m so excited to see through the door,”
When suddenly another berry appeared, ushering him across the floor.
“Welcome” spoke a calming voice, “I’m RESPECTFUL” she said politely,
“I always ponder my manners and words, reflecting daily and nightly,
I always wonder what others are thinking and it helps affect my actions,
So all end up working together, rather than creating warring factions”
“You see I am really tolerant”, Respectful said with a warming grin,
“Respectful of others … embracing belief and origin,
Empathetic to where others are coming from with their ideas,
which means I am democratic about choices and responsible to my peers.”
“Thank you and onwards” said Charlie, “I need to discover more,
Discovering 2 is great but I need to seek out numbers 3 and 4”,
Just then a figure started appearing and a sound was heard faintly,
And as the berry grew bigger and bigger it looked so strong and saintly.
“Hi, I’m SAFE” said the berry, speaking so she could just be heard,
“I always look at how to think and talk … so nothing I do is absurd,
I weigh up each situation to judge how I should act
And then react in the most appropriate way, that is a fact.”
“You see firstly I am honest about what I think or what has occurred,
That way, we can embrace mistakes and we can trust every word,
I am also self-aware … knowing what my ‘buttons are’ is my mission to find,
And I try to keep healthy to stay safe … in body, spirit and mind.”
“Thank you and onwards” said Charlie, “so who is next in turn,
I feel I know about the person but I need more about how best to learn,
I still need to know who four is, but I can see two riding here,
They are both yellow berries, it is 4 and 5 no fear.”
“Hi we are Talk and Think, and we are always not far from each other,”
“I need him and he needs me, he is really like my brother,”
“You see,” said Think, “once something is in mind I need him to say my thoughts”
“And,” said Talk, “If I don’t think, my talking will be muddled pieces of all-sorts.”
“You see,” said Talk, “not only can I communicate well in many a fashion
But leading others via good communication is certainly my passion,”
“Yes” said Think, “we need to be resilient with our thinking,
But also aspirational and innovative in our thoughts … Think said winking.
“Thank you and onwards” said Charlie, “I need the last part to this tale,
Two more magnificent characters I know I need to find without fail”,
Just then a Yellow berry trotted along the path seeming to be full of vigour,
Exuding energy, and enthusiasm … that sure appeared to be this figure.
“Hi, I’m DO” said the berry, “and I like nothing better than action,
Cracking on and getting jobs done gives me enormous satisfaction,
I take on varied things to do no matter what needs doing,
And I always strive to work my way through things no matter what is ensuing.”
“You see,” said Do, “I like to be active in all that I complete,
And with this I always do things right and never try to cheat …
I use flexibility to do things in different ways,
And I always work things out independently, as ownership always pays.”
“Thank you and onwards” said Charlie, “just one more berry to see,
I feel I know so much about the Tunstall Learner, but the final piece will be key!”
Then all of a sudden on an amble … appeared one more yellow fruit,
“This must be such a crucial character and one of notable repute.”
“Hello, I am REVIEW, and I like nothing better than to look back,
Not just for the sake of it, but to adapt our plan of attack,
To look at what problems possibly occurred in everything that we did
And to alter, improve or maintain our plans whether at the start, end or mid.”
“You see,” said Review, “I like to reflect on everything about my learning
That way things are never static and the learning cogs keep on turning,
As part of this reflection we look at problems along the way.
Looking to solve these in different ways to improve ourselves each day.”
“Thank you and onwards” said Charlie, “I think I had better review,
I feel I know about what a great learner is now … that is certainly true,
7 Characters with such simple names that I certainly will recall,
But with such a depth of character … that I can understand each and all.”
“Seven”, said a voice within Charlie, “that is the number I did gain”,
“7 fruits of my labours that will always stick in my brain”,
“Not a complicated 7, but a simple 7 in the main,
You might say … a Magnificent 7 … is what we now need to sustain.”
So, Charlie is a student, who joined a new big school,
And Charlie now knows how to be the best … the best in Hartlepool,
As Ready, Respectful and Safe are his 3 personal rules
And effectively talking, thinking doing and reviewing are his learning tools.