It’s the time of year when thoughts turn to transition and if you have an effective transition in your school, you’ve probably been thinking about it for a while. I’m talking here about the move to…BIG SCHOOL. Pupils with dyslexia often find this even more daunting than your average student. How to ease transition […]
Movin on up: transition Read More »
Here are some thoughts from @creativeartJan on helping her school age self: Give me the information/learning in advance, so I can plan ahead and be prepared. Provide a list of key vocabulary. Give worksheets and books with clear, large font. Give examples where support for homework can be found and include alternatives
To my teachers: from an adult dyslexic Read More »
Back in March I attended the #playmovelearn conference organised by @GMUnder5s @GreaterSport and @Quality4EY. I was working with Reception children at the time and have always been interested in Early Years’ experiences and how they impact on a child’s journey through school. It’s only by understanding child development that we can help children who
I was lucky enough to win access to Kathy Brodie’s Early Years Spring summit video recordings and transcripts at the #playmovelearn conference in Manchester. I spent most of my childhood outdoors and know it taught me resilience, to be adaptable and to appreciate nature. I’ve learnt so much from reading the transcripts and below
Puddles, play and pedagogy. Read More »
Galileo on why we read: “What sublimity of mind was his who dreamed of finding means to communicate his deepest thoughts to any other person, though distant by mighty intervals of place and time!” Books seem precious, precious because of the information, stories and lives held within but perhaps also because of their
Leaves, libraries and liberty Read More »
What does the title quote tell us about handwriting and the act of writing? The quote, from Orlando (Virginia Woolf), goes on: ‘The nerve which controls the pen winds itself about every fibre of our being, threads the heart, pierces the liver’. The act of writing is both emotional and physical and is THE
Handwriting: ‘we write not with the fingers but with the whole person’. Read More »
I believe that good communication is one of the key components of a happy and successful school. Nonviolent communication is based on a natural state of compassion – when there is no violence present in the heart. “All that has been integrated into NVC has been known for centuries about consciousness, language, communication skills, and
Ten things to improve your communication. Read More »
The word yoga means ‘to unite’, what are we aiming to ‘unite’? The practice of yoga unites the mind with the body through the breath. After yoga practice, one is typically left feeling calm and balanced in mind and body. Attention to the breath is everything. I have practised yoga for nearly 20 years and
Why yoga for children? Read More »
Movement is so important for health and well being. Skipping might just be the most powerful mood enhancer there is – have you tried it lately? In pressured, time-poor classrooms, where children are required to sit (nicely) and write endlessly, what impact is this having on their health and well being? Perhaps better results would
IEP stands for Individualised Education Plan. Does your school use IEP’s? Is there a whole school understanding of their purpose and a rigour around setting and achieving targets? How do teachers feel/think about them? That they are a paperwork exercise and take up too much time? Can IEP’s be used as an effective tool in
To IEP or not to IEP. Why is that in question? Read More »
