tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85046747241800550742024-03-13T21:44:34.540-07:00Educate the ParentsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-45498374572451686622012-04-22T08:29:00.002-07:002012-04-22T08:29:20.216-07:00Boring books<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Version>14.00</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">I’ve written before about how my son’s reading came on loads from reading about football. I don’t think it matters what children read as long as they enjoy reading. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Recently a University of Warwick professor of literacy education has been looking at the subject from the point of view of university lecturers proving reading material for undergrads. Speaking at a literacy event in Stirling recently, Professor David Wray spoke about US research which found that high school text schools had become dumbed down over the past few years.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In his opinion students accustomed to reading complex texts were better prepared for university. He suggested that an overemphasis on early reading skills was causing problems later on, saying that often the enjoyment of reading was being put second. Wray also said that schools who were better at teaching literacy were the ones who gave children more freedom over what they read. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-75422978236962553952012-02-21T05:50:00.001-08:002012-02-21T12:21:47.878-08:00The 25 words all two year olds should know<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I read in the papers this week that there are twenty five words every two year old should be able to say. If they can’t say these words, there is a problem. Well I am proud to say that my two year old (three in May) does not regularly use all of these words. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the words (or rather phrases) is ‘all gone’. I know most parents repeat this to their child about fifty times a day. I don’t. I guess that means that there is also something wrong with me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have a couple of friends whose children don’t drink juice. I must remember to tell them that something is wrong with their children as I doubt their children were shouting out ‘juice’ at the age of two. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My son can speak in very clear sentences when he wants to – No, let’s go this way, That’s Hayden’s car, so really I am not worried. And he can say much more complicated words than these. I am just worried about the constant interference in how we bring up our children. Luckily for my children my husband and I tend to ignore them. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-7692174000602238662011-12-08T03:10:00.001-08:002011-12-08T03:10:16.288-08:00Educate the Parents: Avoiding homework<a href="http://educatetheparents.blogspot.com/2011/12/avoiding-homework.html?spref=bl">Educate the Parents: Avoiding homework</a>: When I was in primary school I remember having homework but not when I was really little. Changed days. I used to finish my homework in a...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-45022935572939093062011-12-08T03:10:00.000-08:002011-12-08T03:10:01.542-08:00Avoiding homework<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">When I was in primary school I remember having homework but not when I was really little. Changed days. I used to finish my homework in about ten minutes and then run out to play. These days it takes ten minutes to read the instructions. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So much to my seven year old’s delight I often miss half of it out. First there is the reading book, which is boring and which he gets nothing out of. Anyway he’s read it at school already. What is the point of reading it again? He’s not a goldfish. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So we tend to skip that part. Reading is not a homework task in our house. Instead we sit down together at bedtime and he reads a book to me, a book which is write a bit more advanced than his homework book, which he finds interesting and which occasionally has a ne word for him to learn. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t know any child who nags their mum to do homework but I get nagged to sit down and read with H. And if he had his way he would be reading to me all evening. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then we have maths games which require sitting and reading instructions, locating a dice and counters and sometimes cutting out also. By that time we’re both fed up. On son’s insistence we did one this week. It involved five minutes of reading rules and about two minutes of maths. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So usually we skip his reading book and maths game. Instead we read together and go on maths websites. And son thinks he’s pulling a fast one on me!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-38924961123544713252011-12-01T12:12:00.001-08:002011-12-01T12:12:57.677-08:00Breakfast clubs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Daughter has just told me about kids in her class who have chocolate for breakfast. Not the evil cocoa pops but the real deal – a bar of chocolate. Mine get cereal and toast. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Meanwhile I have just been reading about a trial scheme in Toronto to feed children up. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">68% of the children, in what is regarded as a poor part of Toronto, were coming to school without breakfast.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">20% missed both breakfast and lunch. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Since the school introduced a breakfast and lunch club the number of twelve and thirteen year old pupils failing to achieve the minimum reading level fell by 50% and the number achieving high reading scores increased by 10. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The figures were just as good in science. The percentage of students failing fell from 44% to 28%. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Impressive figures.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-77074730058615058262011-11-24T04:30:00.001-08:002011-11-24T04:30:37.807-08:00The Tortoise and The Hare<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We all remember the fable from which we get the saying “Don’t cry wolf”. But why does nobody remember The Tortoise and the Hare? Education policy, particularly in England, has in recent years been focused on getting kids to read and write as early as possible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This really does seem a bit daft when you take into consideration that the countries where pupils are doing well academically tend to be the ones where kids begin learning to read later. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Teachers appear to panic very quickly and seem to treat children as if they are all the same and that by a certain age they should be achieving this and that, not taking in to account that some kids might still achieve but maybe a little bit later than others. I don’t think the introduction of the EYFS in England has helped that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Perhaps they should simply have more faith in the ability to engage children at different stages and stop taking this attitude that after the child hits seven there is no hope for them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had two friends at school who did not do well academically but a few years after leaving school they got themselves sorted out and applied to well reputed universities. They both graduated in academic subjects (no degrees in juggling there) and have very good jobs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The tortoise does really come first sometimes. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-44764776101475291072011-11-16T02:43:00.000-08:002011-11-16T02:43:43.112-08:00How to get your child to love maths – part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If anyone is suffering from insomnia I have the solution. I can give you H’s maths homework. The maths games he is expected to do are so boring that they could turn anyone in to Rip Van Winkle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Needless to say we gave up doing them a few weeks ago and the fact that I have not ticked and signed the relevant sheet to say we had completed them, is not because I forgot. We just haven’t bothered. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Instead we have been having fun with maths. We started off by suggesting a game of Sum Swamp and we play this from time to time. <a href="http://www.education-interactive.co.uk/shop/sum-swamp-addition-and-subtraction-game-pr-147.html">Sum Swamp</a> is an excellent game you can play with all the family and is a bit like Snakes and Ladders but instead you have three dice – two with numbers on and one with a + or – on each side. Instead of rolling a dice and seeing a number, children roll three and have to add or take away the numbers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Suggest a game of Sum Swamp in our house and you are met with cheers of “Yeessssssss!!” as they all run in to the dining room. A bit different from the response we get when we mention his homework maths games. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The only problem is he is getting a past this stage and the mental maths is more suitable for his five year old brother but it is still good for him and good for us as a family to play games together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>So now I have introduced him to two websites <a href="http://www.topmarks.co.uk/">Topmarks</a> and <a href="http://www.tutpup.com/">Tutpup</a>. At parents’ evening we were told that him as his friends are competitive and like to compete to see who finishes their maths first so TutPup should suit him down to the ground. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-37424179937573565412011-11-15T05:56:00.000-08:002011-11-15T05:56:30.631-08:00A good Saturday afternoon film<div class="MsoNormal">Recently Daughter and I had an afternoon to ourselves in the house. We baked cakes, we hung out a bit and then for a change we decided to watch something online. I am not one for watching TV but I just fancied relaxing for a change. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We checked the various websites – <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/">BBCiPlayer</a>, <a href="http://www.film4.com/">Film 4</a> etc. and eventually I found something I thought would be good and which would both of us would enjoy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then we cuddled up on the couch and hit play.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The film we watched was brilliant. Daughter was dying to know what happened next and kept getting excited, asking questions. Two year old, who incidentally was with us, emptied the colouring pencil box on to the settee but we didn’t care. We were engrossed.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The film was brilliant – excellent acting, fantastic storyline, everything we could possibly want from a Saturday afternoon film.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At the end of the film we discussed how brilliant it was. Daughter wanted to go back in time, to be there and discover what really happen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I have blogged about <a href="http://educatetheparents.blogspot.com/2011/03/losing-interest-in-history.html">here</a> I love history. The film of course was a historical one about The Princes in the Tower, the two sons of King Edward IV of England, who disappeared from the Tower of London in the late fifteenth century. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s how to get kids interested in history. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-16980314554618395202011-11-14T03:08:00.000-08:002011-11-14T03:08:36.523-08:00August babies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another day and another bit of research about August babies. For those of you (if there is anyone) who hasn’t read this research, you can read about it <a href="http://gurgle.com/articles/Play_Learn/37958/_Are_August_babies_less_likely_to_go_to_University_.aspx">here</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What annoys me is the evidence people give that this is not always true. People cite great examples of people doing well, Gordon Brown being a popular one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Except this argument has one almighty big hole in it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gordon Brown went to school in Scotland. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scotland’s cut off date is not the end of August, it is the end of February. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So Gordon Brown was not one of the youngest in his class. He was somewhere near the middle. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Being born in August does not affect how you do in school. Being the youngest in the class does. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">English readers please take note. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-66544173512811368992011-11-11T02:41:00.000-08:002011-11-11T02:41:48.934-08:00Outward Bound<div class="MsoNormal">Recently I went up to <a href="http://www.outwardbound.org.uk/schools-a-colleges/68/347-loch-eil.html">Loch Eil Outward Bound Centre</a> reporting for the <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6124341">Times Educational Supplement</a>. Loch Eil is an outward bound centre a few miles north of Fort William and is run by The Outward Bound Trust.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is a place where young people can go for a few days or a few weeks and take part in outdoor activities. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Having reported on similar work before I really have come to the conclusion that all young people should have some kind of outward bound experience, whether it is with the Outward Bound Trust or as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am relatively sporty but am not keen on outdoor pursuits, partly I am sure because of the dreary Scottish weather but I do see the benefits. Years ago I climbed Ayers Rock and then a few weeks later went canoing down the Katherine Gorge in Australia and I remember well the way it made me feel. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Being at Loch Eil reminded me of this and confirmed to me that I want my children to have similar experiences. Achieving academic qualifications has its place but nothing beats the positive benefits kid get from working in a team in sometimes harsh conditions, pushing themselves further than they would normally do and working on the belief that anything is possible. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.outwardbound.org.uk/schools-a-colleges/68/347-loch-eil.html"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am a bit behind in my magazine reading so have only recently got round to reading last week’s <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6124339">Times Educational Supplement</a>. In this issue Henry Hepburn interviewed Neil McLennan, president of the <a href="http://www.sath.org.uk/">Scottish Association of the Teachers of History</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Henry asked Mr Mclennan if history is still also about World War II and the Nazis. I studied history to ‘o’ grade and so I totally see where Henry is coming from. We spent two years learning about both world wars and the period in between. This wasn’t history, it was government propaganda in disguise. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It wouldn’t have been so bad if we as a country had learned anything. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Prior to ‘o’ grade we did learn about other aspects of history such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_tax">Window Tax</a>. We didn’t just learn about the social and architectural implications of this law we went through the law in fine detail. Yawn!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite being a history lover, this really put me off history, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thankfully Mr Mclennan’s reply was that they have been working hard to eradicate what he refers to as “the nazification of the curriculum in Scottish history classrooms”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Good. About time. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-89269031899795849372011-10-25T08:51:00.000-07:002011-10-25T08:51:04.150-07:00Team leaders<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Do you remember at school when it came to sports and the teacher would make two kids team leaders and tell them to take turns picking their teams? And there was always at least one or kids who were always last picked. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And do you remember how in school many people hated gym and would do anything to avoid it particularly in secondary?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Has nobody in education ever connected the two?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I could give you lots and lots of statistics about young people losing interest in sport and how secondary schools are trying everything to get pupils interested, but really, you’ve heard it all before. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was one of those kids who was last to be picked. And really after quite a few years of that anyone would lose interest in sports. I’ve never been interested in being part of a popularity contest. Once I left school I became interested in sports in its own right. Most kids won’t go down that path though.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Going back to my day I think we can excuse the teachers. I really don’t think they knew any better. But nowadays? Come on guys think about it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I expect most PE teachers were good at sport and school and never had to go through the humiliation of always being the last chosen and knowing that nobody wanted you in their team, but class teachers – really, do you not recall this from your school days. Have we learned nothing in thirty years?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If we want to get and keep children interested in sports we need to stop making sports an activity for the popular. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oh and in case anyone thinks this is sour grapes because of one of my children being picked last, it’s not. Thank you R, from A. She really appreciated it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-34028687774030693562011-06-17T09:45:00.000-07:002011-06-17T09:45:11.076-07:00Boasting<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">My son starts school in August and the school had an afternoon event last month for the children to meet their teachers and find out what class they were in. I can’t decide if D’s teacher has been very bad this year or very good as many of the kids in her class of next year are right characters. How she will keep a straight face I just don’t know. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I asked one mum if her son was looking forward to starting school. She replied yes but that she doubts he will be top of the class. “Who cares” I said. She then told me about a couple of mums who were telling her how advanced their children were and how their little darlings were reading and writing and doing sums already. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now the mum I spoke to is very, very intelligent. Much more intelligent than I am. So I don’t think she has anything to worry about. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I also suspect that the other mums knew this too. How sad that they felt the need to boast so much and try to make her feel inadequate. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And how sad that these parents are obviously pushing their children so much at this stage when there are more important things to be doing, when their children should be spending their days splashing in puddles and pretending to be Ben Ten. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-56187590814691509632011-06-16T03:23:00.000-07:002011-06-16T03:23:23.127-07:00End of term<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">End of term</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A few years back I visited a school in England where children where put up a year once they had sat their SATs. I wrote a piece on it and was very impressed by the system. It meant kids were not wasting the last couple of weeks of the summer term bringing games into school and when they returned in September they hit the ground running as the term goes. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This year we are taking our children out three days early to go to France. So instead of playing their Nintendo DS in a classroom and waiting for the bell to ring my children will be: </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>travelling the length of England and half of Scotland and no doubt asking us geography related questions.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>discovering Birmingham – I’m sure we can find some culture there. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>spending a bit of time in Sussex and enjoying the English countryside</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>learning French (it’s a long journey and they already know quite a bit)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>asking lots and lots of questions, some of them sensible, many of them not. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-14593452980878484452011-03-15T01:03:00.000-07:002011-03-15T01:03:35.857-07:00Losing interest in history<div class="MsoNormal">I read a report the other day that stated that English children are losing interest in history. Ofsetd have found that many pupils lack a chronological understanding of history and are unable to link events. Schools are dropping the subject, and because it is not compulsory past the age of thirteen, many pupils are dropping it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As someone who loves history and who has a history book in the planning, I find this sad. But I also wonder whose fault it is. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My memories of history at school are of spending lessons learning about the different parts of the Corn Law and such like. An Act would be noted down and we would have to learn everything that that Act covered. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s not history, that’s law. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then there was ‘o’ grade history where we spent two years covering the two world wars and the years in between. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">By fourth year I’d had enough and didn’t bother with the Higher. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And despite going to school in Scotland I have no recollection of ever being taught about the Treaty of Arbroath. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can’t comment on today’s history curriculum but one thing I do know is that if you make the subject boring kids will turn off. And history certainly isn’t boring. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-76478351665460171122011-03-13T15:50:00.000-07:002011-03-13T15:50:24.668-07:00Review of 'My first chemistry kit'<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">From what I gather, <a href="http://www.jamesgalt.com/">James Galt</a> has a good name as a toy manufacturer so when I was asked to review their ‘My First Chemistry Kit’ I was more than happy to oblige. While I could probably explain the basics to my children, and I did do Higher biology, anything beyond basic chemistry and physics is beyond me. In a few years time when they hit secondary school, they are going to have to rely on natural ability because I don’t think I am going to be much help.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The kit comes with a booklet of eight activities to work on with the children and I was pleased to see that you get a bit more than I expected for your money. Some of the experiments involve putting mixtures aside for two weeks and we currently have a container of a gelatine mixture sitting in the kitchen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The box states that the set is for age five and above so I opted for letting my eight year old, six year old, and nearly five year old join me as we gathered round the kitchen table. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Having a four and a half year old there really wasn’t a problem, although I wouldn’t advise letting children younger than that get involved. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first activity was entitled, “The case of the disappearing powders’ and memories of first year science came flooding back. Although in a good way. We discussed the differences between solids and liquids before moving on to dissolve various liquids in water. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Moving on, we used pH paper to find out whether something was acid, base or neutral and made a potion with the gelatine, which is still sitting in the kitchen (to be left for two weeks). We used the magnifier to examine granules of salt and dissolved it before leaving it to dry out to see if the salt returns. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At this point I meant to tell you what else we did – the experiments with the test tubes, the fun with the microscope, how we made a rainbow disc, but I must be honest and say that by this point my head cold has got so bad that I went to bed. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Obviously me having a head cold is not good but what is good is that this kit is more than one afternoon’s work. Our kids have received a fair number of toys in the past nine years and often the box may look large but the amount of time spent on the toy isn’t. At this point in time we are only on activity four so half way there. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The kit contains enough tools and powders to keep families busy – test tubes, several pH papers, gelatine, bicarbonate of soda. The booklet is easy to follow, giving instructions as well as providing ideas for further ‘experiments’.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The only negative thing was the microscope. It may look the part but it requires a very strong light in order for it to be used. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But to be honest I think for the price (£10.99) I think it is well worth the money. I liked the concepts it introduces to children and the fact that it demonstrates that science is not something foreign, to be kept to a school science lab. Suggestions are made for how household products can be used for scientific experiments. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The most impressive aspect was that for your money you get more than an afternoon’s entertainment. So with regards value for money, it gets the thumbs up from me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-85908321802416963962011-03-07T00:21:00.001-08:002011-03-07T00:21:53.083-08:00Weighing pigs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Weighing a pig doesn’t make it fatter’ is, I have been told, a teacher’s saying, and what a great saying it is. It refers to the obsession with assessment of children. Sorry did I write obsession. I really meant the ‘act of’. Honestly.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Politicians are preoccupied with assessing children, so much so that English schools in particular have been accused of teaching to test. If it’s not in the exam they’re not interested in teaching it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I listened to four MSPs on Thursday night – one education secretary and four hopefuls. Three of them were very keen for more assessment in primary schools. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Under the 5 to 14 curriculum we had national assessments in Scotland but I have spoken to teachers who told me that they didn’t need assessments to see how a child was doing. They knew anyway. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The politicians’ argument is that parents want to know how their children are getting on. But this can be done without branding them and putting them under pressure. What’s wrong with a good, honest talk at parents’ evening?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-68584123126927200862011-03-04T02:38:00.001-08:002011-03-04T02:38:56.606-08:00Last night's TESS pre-election debate<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">One of the things I was surprised at last night was how polite every one was, in particular the politicians. I have been told that when the English TES held a similar event, things were a bit different. SMPs must be more refrained. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">When booking, we were asked two questions for a poll – who we thought we would vote for, and who we thought will be in power after the election. The same questions were asked at the end of the debate. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">For the first question the winner was the SNP with 40%, for the second question the winner was Labour with 63%. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">Without going into too much detail, the SNP did come across as very confident whereas sadly Labour did seem a bit uncertain about what they were going to do, particularly with regards the new SEQIA, and Mike Russell did use this to his advantage. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">So based on how each of them came across last night I can understand why so many voted SNP. But people still think Labour is going to win, which is interesting. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-21950654287131185172011-03-03T02:12:00.000-08:002011-03-03T02:12:41.084-08:00Grilling the MSPs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Tonight I will be attending the TESS (Times Educational Supplement Scotland) pre-election debate at the National Gallery in Scotland. With the Scottish elections approaching this is an opportunity to quiz Michael Russell, Education Secretary and his counterparts in Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats and the Greens. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I haven’t had a chance to put any questions together but here’s a few topics I hope turn up:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>the education budget is no longer ringfenced meaning there is a constant fight for funds</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>since the SNP announced that all three and four year olds should have ‘access to a nursery teacher’ local authorities saw this as the green light for getting rid of full time nursery teachers and instead making them floating positions with one nursery teacher covering several nurseries. This is despite evidence that children who have regular access to a nursery teacher do better in school. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>the fact that the maximum class size promise has been abandoned</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>what is to be done about the low levels of literacy in Scottish schools. Children reaching secondary who can barely read and write</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">I shall report back tomorrow.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-31983623771758596962011-03-02T03:49:00.000-08:002011-03-02T03:59:10.299-08:00No you're not rubbish at maths<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On a few occasions recently both my oldest children have voiced opinions that they were not very good at something at school – maths, spelling etc. This is an opinion which I don’t like. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have a postgrad in a maths subject, and being a journalist I guess I can say I’m good at English, but at no point in primary school do I recall knowing that I was good or bad at anything. I just did the work. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But today school is very different. Parents and teachers feel the need to find a child’s strengths early on. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In my opinion this can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. If a child grows up believing he or she is rubbish at maths, they are not going to have the confidence to tackle maths adequately. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I speak with teachers at parents’ evenings I tell them that I want my children to enjoy school work and that that is my focus, not being good at it. Maths is fun (honestly) in the same way doing a crossword or Sudoku is fun. My focus is for them to enjoy maths. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I also think teachers get it wrong. A child who may be a poor speller one year, may have vastly improved the next.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And I’m glad that when I was in primary school nobody told me what I was good or bad at, for I strongly suspect I didn’t impress them all that much with any area of the curriculum. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-18501544129135947652011-02-28T02:38:00.000-08:002011-02-28T02:38:00.124-08:00Going to the theatre<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">On Friday I was lucky enough to be invited to the National Theatre of Scotland’s fifth birthday event in Glasgow. Afterwards while sampling some of the delightful food they had put on for us I spoke to a lady from the National Theatre about taking children to the theatre. She has a daughter a little older than mine and so was pleased when I said I like taking my children to the theatre. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She told me that there is a considerable research which has found that the number one reason why adults go to the theatre is because they were taken as a child. Schools may take them but this has no effect. It needs to be a family affair. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can totally understand that. I think it is great that schools make the effort to take children to the theatre but I can totally see why going to the theatre for fun won’t enter many children’s heads. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Recently we told the children the story of Greyfriar’s Bobby and we all sat and watched the 1962 version of the film, with the children laughing at what they thought of as strange accents. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Schools can make subjects seem boring and so we want to show the children that all these stories are fun and exciting. My children already have a good knowledge of history and they view it as something to discover rather than something to learn. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The theatre should be the same. But there is an assumption that schools are more likely to go than families. Recently I tried booking a few shows but found that many were only showing during school hours. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A rethink needed. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-3406335236132492392011-02-26T06:15:00.000-08:002011-02-26T06:15:23.278-08:00Educate the Parents: Should I buy my daughter an ipod touch?<a href="http://educatetheparents.blogspot.com/2011/02/should-i-buy-my-daughter-ipod-touch.html?spref=bl">Educate the Parents: Should I buy my daughter an ipod touch?</a>: "Daughter wants to an Ipod touch. Eldest son wants one too which led to this conversation – Junior: Can I get an Ipod Dad. It’s great. It doe..."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-61121967865525465502011-02-26T00:37:00.000-08:002011-03-03T01:41:17.118-08:00Should I buy my daughter an ipod touch?<div class="MsoNormal">Daughter wants to an Ipod touch. Eldest son wants one too which led to this conversation – Junior: Can I get an Ipod Dad. It’s great. It does everything</div><div class="MsoNormal"> His dad: Everything?</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Junior: Yes, everything! It even cleans the toilet. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s not made up, honestly. He’s got a wicked sense of humour, my boy, years ahead of himself. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway at six he’s not getting an Ipod, nor the ereader he’s asked for. We’ll focus on improving the reader first of all. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But should I buy my nearly nine year old an ipod touch? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At first we said no. She doesn’t play with her Nintendo DS all that much, although that’s not a complaint. While my six year old would happily play on it all day, daughter will play on it for a while and then forget about it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I feel that she only wants one because two of her friends have them, but at the same time I don’t want her to behind with technology. While I don’t think these things are as important as some people seem to, I do realise that my children are growing up in a different age from when I was young. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At the moment we’ve decided she’s not getting one quite yet. Maybe next year.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-10020792667027494912011-02-25T01:24:00.001-08:002011-02-26T08:14:39.569-08:00Reverse psychology<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">In six months time this year’s four and five year olds will be starting school. Some will be crying, many will be nervous, and a few will be clinging to their mum’s coats, asking to go home again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My child however will be running into the school as fast as he can, asking his teacher to lock the door and not let that woman in. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I keep suggesting that he doesn’t go to school in August. Instead he can stay at home with me and we can kiss and cuddle all day. This is usually met with a scream of ‘Nooooooo”. For some reason he doesn’t want to and would rather go to school. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I now have a child who keeps taking his school shirt out of the wardrobe to wear and who has asked if he can start earlier. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Reverse psychology’s a great thing. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504674724180055074.post-10717031907409248022011-02-24T06:06:00.000-08:002011-02-24T06:06:04.831-08:00Educate the Parents: Class sizes<a href="http://educatetheparents.blogspot.com/2011/02/class-sizes.html?spref=bl">Educate the Parents: Class sizes</a>: "I don’t think it was a surprise to many when the TESS reported on January 7th that 13 out of 32 councils have scraped the maximum 20-pupi..."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18233416949089484674noreply@blogger.com0