If you have something to say...
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If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
Too much teaching is seen as getting students through tests rather than giving them a real understanding of what maths is about and so preparing them for the next stage of education, work and life. Teachers have become more aware of the need to improve students' problem-solving and investigative skills, but rarely integrate that into the way children learn.
But many view children's literature as beneath them. If it's not for 'grownups', it's not worthwhile. But, wait, here's a sneaky little problem: what about all the 'grownups' who read and enjoy Rowling's work and other children's books? Shouldn't we explore why these works appeals to adults who are apparently supposed to know better?
Ever since the riots blazed across UK streets and TV sets worldwide last year, debate has raged on the catalyst that sparked an estimated 15,000 individuals to become one angry mob. Around 70% of the London 2011 rioters were under the age of 24 so identifying a root cause could well help stop these scenes happening again.
The crucial point is that simply learning about internet safety is not enough, children need to practise it. With the right nurturing, guidance and practice, children can then have the best possible preparation when the time comes to make the transition into more grown up social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
I love making dens. But den making isn't something I do just for my own children. Every week I go into schools and help pupils and teachers transform classrooms into war-torn towns, cavernous Egyptian pyramids and enchanted forests.
My eldest daughter Lily finishes school this week, by which I mean she will have completed her 'formal education' to age 16. From now on, it's up to ...
I went to Oxford from a state school, arguably a very nice sixth form college in Surrey, but one that didn't have a strong record of sending students to Oxford or Cambridge. Was I dissuaded from applying? Not really. Was I encouraged? Not particularly. Did this make applying hard work? Absolutely.
It would be easy to believe that youth unemployment began with this recession. The problem is, it's not true. The number of young people out of work actually started to rise in 2005. But why? If it's not just the recession, what's happening?
I'm not suggesting we offer girls different PE. I don't believe our feeble muscles and cosmetic commitments require daintier pursuits, like needlepoint or medium-impact gossiping. No. We should offer ALL kids different PE, if they want it.
With the years of endured bullying at secondary school long behind me, I'd almost forgotten that bullying wasn't buried at my school. Amongst the sport, the stage productions and field trips, bullying was and still is infectious across classrooms.
Given the numbers we shall have to recruit into STEM industries in the next few years, we need many more employers to engage on a sustained basis to develop the necessary momentum and direction. Embedding the costs in to their budget and planning processes will enable their involvement to make a significant contribution to the solution of the STEM skills shortage.
In the most surreal news story of the week, Celebrity Big Brother idiot and the world's worst 'cage fighter' Alex 'Jordan's ex' Reid baffled us all wh...
Firstly, I advise trying to get your partner to do the school run. If this doesn't work I suggest you take my lead and a) wear a poncho/cloak. (No one will ever know you're still in your nightie, and it serves brilliantly as a cover for morning abdominal gas/bloating) or b) home school.
Youth unemployment is a global problem. In the UK, NEET figures are at a record high. In some countries of the Arab world 90% of 16-24-year-olds are unemployed. In the United States the youth unemployment rate is 23% and in Spain nearly 50%. The problem is very much a worldwide issue with everyone feeling the full force of the recession and slow economic recovery.
If there's one thing English teachers should read before they go back to work on Monday, it is the Ofsted document entitled 'Moving English Forward'.
I have been very lucky over the years and been given a helping hand in almost all of my endeavours by friends, family and sometimes just acquaintances. They are far too numerous to mention but within the world of dogs, in education and in all other activities with which I have been involved, individual kindnesses have far outweighed the occasional attempt to trip me up.
