Building Brains Through Play – Why Messy, Hands-On Learning Beats Apps In a world filled with educational apps and digital flashcards, it’s easy to believe that technology holds the key to early learning. But research — and centuries of childhood wisdom — tell a different story: Before children are ready for school, they must first […]
As a former Deputy Head and Class Teacher for over 20 years I have a real interest in helping schools and homes work together. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, teaching digital citizenship and literacy has become essential for both families and the school community. The huge increase of devices and online platforms presents […]
If you have time I highly, highly recommend watching or listening to this absolutely fascinating parliamentary evidence on screen time, digital poverty and education, with Baroness Kidron who’s career has taken her from making movies for Stephen Spielberg to groundbreaking protections for young people online Screen time and Wellbeing Speakers include: John McGee, Senior Policy […]
I’m writing a Continued Professional Development Course (CPD) supporting parents, children & families, and the people who work with them around divorce. Supporting pupils who are going through a divorce requires a thoughtful and sensitive approach. Here are some tips and advice for teachers to navigate this situation: Open Communication: Maintain an open line of […]
‘The New Digital Divide’ is digital wellness — which means responsible and healthy relationships with technology — all part of overall children & student wellbeing which is an essential 21st-century skill. It is not uncommon that children spend 6 to 8 hours on digital screens every day. Some children are taught knowledge and skills necessary […]
Britain’s schools are facing an epidemic of bad behaviour. As a former Deputy Head & Class teacher for over 22 years I read with interest this new research. Poor behaviour seems to have worsened in recent years. A poll of 500 primary school teachers found that, since the pandemic, 84 per cent believe attention span […]
As a former Deputy Headteacher I read with dismay a rather unhelpful tweet from Lord Andrew Adonis to say he’d written to Ofsted chief, Amanda Spielman, concerned that schools are not providing enough online learning. Teachers who were just recovering from Sir Michael Wilshaw’s Newsnight suggestion that schools should work evenings and weekends to […]
Smacking “It feels like someone banged you with a hammer.” (five-year-old girl) “Sometimes if you smack, if it was an adult like my daddy, he can smack very hard … he can smack you like a stone … and you’ll cry.” (seven-year-old boy) It Hurts You Inside: Children Talking About Smacking by Carolyne […]
An interview with my great pal across the pond – Dr. Lynne Kenney on how kindness and collaboration can improve children’s behaviour in the classroom. Lynne Kenney, Psy.D., is a practicing pediatric psychologist, author and international educator in Scottsdale, AZ. With a keen interest in changing the trajectory of children’s learning through cognitive-exercise, Dr. Kenney […]
As a former Deputy Head & Class Teacher for over 22 years here’s a blog for all my teachers – ready to hit the last part of term up and running! Here is a simple but effective exercise to change your negative thoughts about problem behaviour into positive targets. Make a list of the top […]
Here’s a beautifully heartfelt letter I discovered on Mamapedia as kids return to school this week. Dear Teacher, Today I relinquish my precious children into your care. Do you know how important you are to me? To them? From this day forward, you are a valuable force in what defines them. You will encourage […]
Today thousands of teachers in the UK are on strike. I sympathise because education has become a world of what I call “Tick Box” Teaching – where teachers are snowed under with data. Ticking boxes about whether a 5 year old in Year 1 can “ Recognise common graphemes and common alternative pronunciations” in […]
I know just how this teacher feels as a former Deputy Head ! Schools quake in fear of Ofsted instead of seeing it as an opportunity to get inspiring new ideas and positive feedback. The culture of blame and shame really doesn’t help schools or teachers feel valued or improve morale as everyone has become […]
CHANGE Here is a true story from my never ending notebook and everlasting pencil taken from Chip and Dan Heath the authors of Made to Stick and the soon-to-be-released book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. “A troubled teenager named Bobby was sent to see his high-school counsellor, John Murphy. Bobby had […]
