Developing independent learning skills across the curriculum

scameron — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:49:39 +0100

School context

Ebac humanities: a saviour or a curse?

scameron — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:02:32 +0100

At a glance
The Ebac has arrived and includes its own selection of subjects under the heading of humanities. Suzanne O’Connell analyses:

Four ways to promote creativity in schools

scameron — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:10:34 +0100

We cannot be serious all the time: schools need to be exciting stimulating places where people can laugh, have ideas, clash and spark off each other, says David Leat

Facilitating independent enquiry

scameron — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:47:16 +0100

Managing independent enquiry is a delicate art. It can require a ‘letting go' of learning that can be distinctly uncomfortable for teachers and for the student it requires a level of responsibility that can be variously daunting or empowering. Through experience of supporting independent enquiry in both mainstream education and home education it seems that there are some lessons that can be shared.

The joys of sharing stories with children

scameron — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:01:55 +0000

Storytelling is a tradition that is alive and well in many countries and cultures, particularly those where books and written material are not easily available. Such cultures have the most wonderful collection of oral stories to be shared and passed on. A glance back into our own history shows that stories told from mouth to mouth and tales read from the page were a treasured part of family and community life.

Creative excellence through Arts Award

scameron — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:49:45 +0000

A while ago, I wrote an article about the Arts Council's Arts Award and its relevance to G&T students (G&T Update April 2008). Since then I have been working on the Award consistently and have had opportunities to observe the development of students who pursue its challenges.

Asking questions

scameron — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:03:20 +0000

Earlier in the year, BBC2 aired a fascinating programme called The Classroom Experiment in which Professor Dylan Wiliam (celebrated co-author of Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment) asked a group of teachers to introduce a variety of teaching strategies designed to encourage greater student participation in lessons.

Engaging hard-to-reach parents

scameron — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:01:07 +0000

Recently retired from Firth Park Community Arts College, where she was headteacher from 1995, Mo Laycock explains how engaging with hard-to-reach parents via extended schools strategies contributed towards her school’s transformation

Student interviewers: a distinctive and important voice

scameron — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:58:33 +0000

Student interviewers have received a lot of bad press. Earlier this year, a number of national newspapers featured lurid stories about student panels asking a candidate to sing their favourite song, while rejecting another applicant because ‘he looked like Humpty Dumpty'. Amid a chorus of ‘this never happened in my day', many dismissed such interview panels as the latest piece of evidence supporting the long-term decline of educational standards in the UK.

Exploring pupil voice in primary schools

scameron — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:23:48 +0000

On 25 March an article appeared in The Independent newspaper under the headline ‘Pupil power: the children who chose their own head'. The article concerned the involvement of primary age pupils in the interview process leading to the appointment of a new headteacher at their school. This practice, which is becoming increasingly common, highlights the growing involvement of pupils in strategic developments within their school.

Making connections across the curriculum

scameron — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:16:45 +0000

Many of you will be intrigued as I am by children's questions. Questions are a sign of thinking - a very healthy sign, as they suggest that connections are being made between previously unconnected items of knowledge. Some of my very recent favourites from school and family sources are: Why do we have a skeleton? What causes global warming? When does your memory start? Why was Tutankhamun afraid of dying?

Peer mentoring enters the learning zone

scameron — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:22:24 +0100

When students take on the role of teacher, locations and partners for learning expand along exciting avenues - classrooms, dining hall, playground, sitting rooms and bedrooms linked by phone, text and e-forums. The possibilities for learning relationships multiply. Students engage with their peers in ways that adults can't, and tapping into this breaks down barriers, motivates and stimulates emotional connections that allow learning to take place.

The potential of PLTS

scameron — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:17:47 +0100

I fear you may be about to read this and want all the answers to making sense of and implementing the Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) framework. There are two particular reasons why I cannot do that:

Sharing good teaching practice

scameron — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:55:05 +0100

‘Sharing good practice' is one of those phrases that has slipped into the everyday language of school leadership. We think that most schools, if asked, would say that they share good practice. Would any school say that it does not share practice, or indeed that it shares bad practice?

New team at the Department for Education

scameron — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:19:02 +0100

The Tory MP Nick Gibb has taken over the job he previously shadowed to become Minister of State for Schools.

Primary Assembly: Wonder Woman!

scameron — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:52:05 +0100

Resources

Introduction
This term has been full of interesting sporting events: the Football World Cup just finished, as did Wimbledon tennis; it’s the start of the cricket season; and our own sports day is coming up.

Secondary Assembly: Where do we make the cuts?

scameron — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:26:29 +0100

Engagement

[The following are delivered loudly, as news headlines]

Reader 1: ‘Coalition Government proposes massive spending cuts to bring down the debt’

Reader 2: ‘Police chief claims terrorist threat will rise if budgets are cut’

Reader 1: ‘Don’t hit the elderly, the vulnerable or the disadvantaged, pleads social services head’

Reader 2: ‘Protect the Olympics from cash drain’

Secondary Assembly: Really, truly, sorry?

scameron — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:28:41 +0100

Resources: A Leader and two Readers.

Engagement

England are out of the World Cup and that has left a lot of people feeling sorry. Some fans, who had spent a lot of money - wanted someone to say sorry to them – and striker Wayne Rooney did just that. He didn’t like being booed after the Algeria game and said so to the TV cameras. But later on he did issue an apology: ‘I said things in the heat of the moment out of frustration at our performance and the result... I apologise for any offence caused by my actions.’ (1)

Primary Assembly: Man and horse

scameron — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:24:29 +0100

Introduction for teachers

The Man versus Horse Marathon was inaugurated in 1980 as the result of a pub bet on whether a runner on foot could beat a horse in a long race. The answer seems obvious, but distance and terrain mean that over the years there have been some close finishes, and the runner won in 2004. The very existence of the race speaks of the close relationship between humans and horses that has existed for millennia.

Secondary Assembly: Only human

scameron — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:55:29 +0100

Resources: Four readers and a leader

You may also like to show any images which are likely to be around of those appearing downcast who have not managed to rise to the expectations others have had of them. By the time this assembly is delivered it’s likely that such images will exist of eg World Cup and other sporting ‘failures’ etc.

Engagement

[Two teachers sitting in a staffroom]

Secondary Assembly: Being a supporter

clong — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:53:48 +0100

Resources

Secondary Assembly: Meanwhile…

scameron — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:40:22 +0100

Resources

4 readers, a leader and a narrator

Engagement

A pupil is walking around the school trying to engage other pupils in important conversation…..

[NB Any of the opening lines can be amended to reflect any locally important news events or world events which have just taken centre stage]

Primary Assembly: Scary moments

scameron — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:35:58 +0100

A couple of weeks ago a boy got locked in the toilets at an outdoor centre, and the coach back to school left without him.

The story of the boy left behind locked in a toilet has obvious lessons about school procedures, but for children the assembly deals with the fears that all children have of being locked in places, separated from other people, or left behind. It reassures them that they are not alone in such fears, that it’s quite normal and that there are things they can do to help themselves.

Secondary Assembly: Chariots of Danger

scameron — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:52:55 +0100

Resources

A Leader
A Reader, who plays the part of Gaius Appuleius Diocles, a champion charioteer. He should wear a red T-shirt
A clip-art picture of chariot racing may be useful

Engagement

Primary Assembly: It might seem a small thing to you, but to me…

scameron — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:53:53 +0100

Rio Ferdinand’s knee injury is a personal disaster for him and a disappointment for England fans. When world famous concert pianist Murray Perahia cut his thumb, it turned out to be as big a disaster for him as that knee injury is for Rio.

The assembly uses both stories together to highlight the way that personal disappointment can come unexpectedly, making great demands on our emotional resources.

Developing ‘effective participators’ using the World Café

scameron — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:12:51 +0100

What is ‘the World Café’?

Exploring outdoor learning with early years

scameron — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:18:34 +0100

This is an ideal time of year for children of all ages to be outdoors for long periods of time, exploring the natural world around them. Although not all early years settings have access to large gardens, with a little forward planning it is possible to create growing spaces in even the smallest outdoor area. Small raised beds, large planters and grow bags can all be positioned around the outdoor space to enable children to cultivate their own seeds and plants and to experience the pleasure of growing and looking after plants.

Secondary Assembly: For those who are left behind

scameron — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:45:08 +0100

Resources: 4 readers and a leader

[Presenters of this assembly should obviously be aware of the sensitive nature of some of the readers’ words, and their possible impact on those who are listening, and should therefore take this into account when delivering the assembly]

Engagement

Primary Assembly: No stereotypes here!

scameron — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:08:20 +0100

Resources

Wider Family Learning – how to apply for funding

scameron — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:16:34 +0100

Local councils will have contacted schools at the beginning of May, since the deadline for applications is usually mid June. This e-bulletin edition of Extended Services Update looks at how to complete a typical application form. Despite the length of some WFL application forms, a section can often be completed with just one or two points, so schools shouldn’t feel daunted by the process. Some exemplar answer prompts and suggestions are provided below.

A sample Wider Family Learning application form

Secondary Assembly: A rainbow people

scameron — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:43:51 +0100

Engagement
Which colour of the rainbow will you be supporting in the World Cup?

Will it be red, the colour of the cross on the England team’s flag? Or perhaps you think the red of Spain will end up as champions through the goal power of David Villa and Fernando Torres?

Will it be the orange of the Netherlands, always top performers at international level? Van Persie is back to full fitness and raring to go after a long lay-off.

Primary Assembly: The Queen’s Speech

scameron — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:55:23 +0100

Resources

Secondary Assembly: ‘Not Angles, but angels’

scameron — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:31:38 +0100

It concludes with the tale of Pope Gregory’s punning comment about the slave boys from Britain, as recorded by Bede. Pupils are encouraged to consider ways in which the insights revealed in these puns may be applied to our own times. The theme coincides with the commemoration day of the Venerable Bede and St Augustine of Canterbury (May 26th and 27th). (1)

Resources

A leader and a reader.
A copy or PowerPoint slide of Thomas Abel’s rebus.

Engagement

Developing ‘effective participators’ using Appreciative Inquiry

scameron — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:36:22 +0100

This e-bulletin continues our focus on the final key competence of the QCDA Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills framework – developing 'effective participators'. We are exploring a range of different approaches and strategies that have been used to help young people play a full part in the life of their school, college or wider community.

Primary Assembly: Looking East

scameron — Wed, 19 May 2010 10:46:06 +0100

Two very different pieces of Japanese technology have been in the newspapers this week: a spacecraft that travels by a solar-powered sail, and a wedding ceremony officiated by a robot.

Resources

Secondary Assembly: Team Earth

scameron — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:40:53 +0100

Resources

Developing ‘effective participators’ using Narrative Enquiry

scameron — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:53:37 +0100

We will look at the key stages of a Narrative Enquiry, and how it has been used in a range of different contexts with one in-depth example from a Northumberland High School showing how it has been used to support and inspire student-led research.

Primary Assembly: Trying to do the right thing

scameron — Wed, 12 May 2010 10:18:24 +0100

As children develop emotional and social skills they learn how to make difficult decisions responsibly. The introduction to this assembly refers briefly to the difficult decisions that politicians have had to make in recent days, but the story deals with the way that in our everyday lives we are constantly faced with the fact that pleasing one person, or doing our duty by them, may disappoint someone else.

(The assembly addresses the SEAL aspects of empathy and social skills.)

Why spending on teaching assistants could raise attainment

scameron — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:17:02 +0100

If the financial squeeze on schools tightens in the coming years, many governing bodies will find themselves scrutinising the staffing budgets that typically swallow up as much as 80% of their funds.

As they try to determine the most efficient way to spend on staff, governors and heads will be fascinated by the findings of a new report from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) which concluded that spending extra money on staffing only leads to an improvement in pupils’ attainment if it is spent on teaching assistants.

Out and about – exploring the built environment with early years

scameron — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:21:14 +0100

Investigating the local environment provides many opportunities to:

Secondary Assembly: A PC world

scameron — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:16:38 +0100

Engagement

Leader: Kim and Choi are a married couple from South Korea. Like most couples they share an interest. For Kim and Choi the shared interest was the Second Life-style game Prius, which they regularly played at their local internet cafe. Their carefully chosen avatars lived out an idealised life onscreen. The perfect couple.

Primary Assembly: The fools that we were then

scameron — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:27:24 +0100

May is traditionally a joyful month. Spring begins to look more like summer. Flowers blossom and there’s a strong feeling of optimism and awakening. But it’s also a time when many older people remember good times in the past.

Teachers’ introduction

A. E. Housman’s beautiful poem ‘The First of May’ is about an older person contemplating the timeless beauty of the month of May.

Secondary Assembly: The Many Meanings of X

scameron — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:59:38 +0100

Resources

A Leader and two Readers: a question-and-answer format may be used if appropriate.

Engagement

(Adapt as necessary)

Primary Assembly: Cheating

scameron — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:39:52 +0100

The MCC, which is the guardian of the laws and spirit of the game of cricket, has launched a ’Spirit of cricket’ campaign. The intention is to preserve and develop the concept of fair play in young people, across all their sporting activities.

Resources
Nothing essential, but if you or a staff member play golf you could use a club to illustrate the Brian Davis story.

Helping young people to become ‘effective participators’

scameron — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:21:31 +0100

This ebulletin is the first in a series that looks at how we might encourage young people to actively engage with issues that affect them and those around them. We will look at a range of different approaches and strategies that have been used to help young people play a full part in the life of their school, college or wider community.

Secondary Assembly: Rescue me!

scameron — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:15:18 +0100

It refers to the recent events following the eruption of the volcano in Iceland and examines our reaction to needing to be ‘rescued from our holidays’ compared with people elsewhere in the world who do not have the rescue infrastructure that is available to us.

Resources

Five readers and a leader

Engagement

Primary Assembly: Coming home

scameron — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:07:16 +0100

Over the past days, what Robert Browning called ‘Home thoughts from abroad’ have been a constant theme. Now, as stranded people return and reflect on their experiences, our assembly tries to gather together some of the thoughts and feelings that lie behind the many stories that are being told by travellers, in public and in private. There are numerous quotes, gathered from the various news reports, and discussion points arising from them.

A quick roundup of the main political parties’ school manifesto points

scameron — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:58:34 +0100

With the 2010 general election looming, if you want to know more about what the main political parties want to do with education should they get the chance, this information sheet excavates the relevant sections of their manifestos for an at-a-glance guide.

Teaching and Learning

Learning about climate change: lesson ideas

Positive learning via independent enquiry

Developing independent learning skills across the curriculum

Ebac humanities: a saviour or a curse?

Four ways to promote creativity in schools

Facilitating independent enquiry

The joys of sharing stories with children

Creative excellence through Arts Award

Asking questions

Engaging hard-to-reach parents

Student interviewers: a distinctive and important voice

Exploring pupil voice in primary schools

Making connections across the curriculum

Peer mentoring enters the learning zone

The potential of PLTS

Sharing good teaching practice

New team at the Department for Education

Primary Assembly: Wonder Woman!

Secondary Assembly: Where do we make the cuts?

Secondary Assembly: Really, truly, sorry?

Primary Assembly: Man and horse

Secondary Assembly: Only human

Secondary Assembly: Being a supporter

Secondary Assembly: Meanwhile…

Primary Assembly: Scary moments

Secondary Assembly: Chariots of Danger

Primary Assembly: It might seem a small thing to you, but to me…

Developing ‘effective participators’ using the World Café

Exploring outdoor learning with early years

Secondary Assembly: For those who are left behind

Primary Assembly: No stereotypes here!

Wider Family Learning – how to apply for funding

Secondary Assembly: A rainbow people

Primary Assembly: The Queen’s Speech

Secondary Assembly: ‘Not Angles, but angels’

Developing ‘effective participators’ using Appreciative Inquiry

Primary Assembly: Looking East

Secondary Assembly: Team Earth

Developing ‘effective participators’ using Narrative Enquiry

Primary Assembly: Trying to do the right thing

Why spending on teaching assistants could raise attainment

Out and about – exploring the built environment with early years

Secondary Assembly: A PC world

Primary Assembly: The fools that we were then

Secondary Assembly: The Many Meanings of X

Primary Assembly: Cheating

Helping young people to become ‘effective participators’

Secondary Assembly: Rescue me!

Primary Assembly: Coming home

A quick roundup of the main political parties’ school manifesto points