At last - a book by an inspirational teacher.

Someone recommended that I ought to acquire and read this book and, in March, through the magic of Amazon , I bought myself a copy. All I can say - it was a great buy. A book that every beginning teacher should read, even just for the honesty about the real life of a teacher. All teachers also would enjoy it as it reflects the reality of teaching - a a change from the academic 'experts' who seem to fly at 30000 feet above schools dropping down their 'researched' advice unable to see the very different experiences of the teachers who have to comply.This book , written by Julie Diamond, is what it's subtitle says - 'a year in the lives of children'. As reviewer, American Educationalists Deborah Meier, writes . 'A rare and special pleasure to...

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Posted in: Big Picture,Creative teaching,Creative teaching Educationalists,Early Education,Integrated Learning,Personalized Learning,teaching and learning

We need a new story for our future.

Charles Darwin was one of the first people to make use of 'mind map' to visualize his emerging theory of evolution. When it was finally published it provided a new narrative, or story, about the creation of the world. It changed forever ( except for those who cling to past certainties) how we now see the world - one of continually emerging and evolving. This new mindset has yet to change many organisations, such as schools, established in an earlier age. We all know what evolution can do to seemingly dominant species when conditions change! Are we seeing in our school the final dance of the dinosaurs?What we need, as we make our way into the new millennium, is a new way of thinking to align our thoughts behind. We need a new story , myth, narrative,...

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The Blue School

The Blue School in Lower Manhattan was established by members of the Blue Sky Company -a company involved in helping organisations develop creative ideas.They wanted to establish a school that celebrated the creativity and ideas of children - they wanted to establish a school they would have liked to have gone to - a dream school for their own children.They wanted school committed to keeping alive the sense of wonder, play and joy of young children. The school currently caters for children from 2 to 6. The ideas will not be new to creative teachers, particularly those that 'teach' younger children but their emphasis on making student inquiry central is a challenge to us all in these day of making literacy and numeracy achievement centralIf...

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Posted in: Creative Schools,inquiry learning,Integrated Learning,Personalized Learning,teaching and learning

Real in depth learning

Too much teacher time and energy ( a teachers two most valuable commodities) are being distracted by the imposition of national standards. So when you visit a school and see real quality learning it is a reminder of what creative teaching and learning is really about - not endless assessments and data crunching.At Moturoa School, in New Plymouth, native plant are a feature of the school grounds most grown by students themselves over the years. Not only do they propagate a range of native plants, including some species rare in Taranaki, they also study them in class and have made use them as the basis of extensive mural making.The school is lucky to be able to draw on expertise for both the propagation and artistic expression.For the latter...

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Posted in: Action Plans and Lessons,Creative teaching,Integrated Learning,project based learning,teaching and learning

Education in New Zealand Corrupted!

There have aways been individuals that have stood up against those who would take society in the wrong direction. Socrates is one such example. Due to the fact he questioned those in authority he was sentenced to death if he would not change his mind. Socrates would rather die than comply and, in those times, he was expected to kill himself, which he did. Today, in education, creative educationalists are in the same position although we need to fight rather than die. Kelvin Smythe is one individual who is apposing those in the Ministry who are corrupting the ideals of education . I am with him. Rather than taking digitalis he continues to write in opposition. So do I. Read his full article on his site.With the distribution of the 2007 New Zealand...

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Posted in: Big Picture,Leadership,Ministry NZCurric,national standards,Rants and Raves