tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71014621740912451222024-02-08T16:20:05.446+00:00Juliette's MusingsI'm a Citizenship, ICT and Politics teacher at a mixed London school. I love using new media to enthuse and engage young people (and teachers too!) and a simply love making sure my active citizenship projects encompass this, as well as helping make our local (and sometimes national or global) community a little bit better :-)
This is my random collection of reflections on teaching...Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-89376239672443176992013-01-08T18:17:00.000+00:002013-01-08T18:17:13.654+00:00Crisis of Giving? Not in Hounslow!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another year and another YPI competition! Before Christmas, we held our annual YPI final awards evening. The students (Y10) presented to a judging panel, a room full of business owners, parents and local charity workers with their members.<br />
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Winning students with proud parents!</div>
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What strikes me every year is the way the students embrace working with people who improve their local community. Each time the competition runs, it builds, the students become more involved and they are keen to continue to work with/help out at their local charity. I don't see a crisis of giving, as was reported in some newspapers recently. I see engaged, enthusiastic students who (many of them) do not have an easy time of it themselves, keen to become involved in their local communities and make a difference in their local community.<br />
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Really, on nights like this, I am even more sure that despite the many, many serious issues in the UK at the moment, the terrible policy decisions..... my future at least is in safe hands!<br />
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Note: see lovely article <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ben-eyre/can-education-combat-britains-philanthropy-time-bomb_b_2346018.html?utm_hp_ref=tw" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-61356692891934381182012-11-28T11:58:00.000+00:002012-11-28T11:59:03.607+00:00BYOD or BAB<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There has been much discussion on Twitter recently, about 'Bring Your Own Device' or (my much preferred) 'Bring A Browser. As a basic premise, it saves schools money - allowing them to invest in specials equipment, helps model appropriate behaviour to students (and sometimes teachers!) and develops some really great, thought provoking learning (if you plan it in the right way).<br />
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Understandably, because of the negative press and fear of bullying etc, many teachers are worried about all sorts of implications, but these same schools are usually keen to learn from schools who are following this policy. The problem is, when examples are asked for... things often go a bit quiet! Fortunately, there are schools willing to share who have been doing this for a while - you just need to know where to look!<br />
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So, there are a few key rules when using handhelds. Nominet ran a classroom practitioner focussed project, where classroom practitioners from around the world worked together to produce and evidence good practise. The report, which is still very relevant (and handy!) can be found <a href="http://www.cloudlearn.net/" target="_blank">here</a>. It's filled with excellent evidence and suggested policy starting points which might be of use. There's also quite a nice e-safety policy you could have a read of <a href="http://saltash.net/policies/e-safety/" target="_blank">here</a> (Saltash.net is an inspirational school so maybe have a wander around there site whilst you are there too).<br />
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So what about if you, a classroom teacher are keen to start this, but the school is a bit nervous. Well, I'd say any sensible school will run some sort of a trial using handhelds first... and this is where you come in! My proposal to the school was: we know many students have phones, we can't all have access to the internet, can we trial using the phones in some lessons. We explored this and agreed it was worth a shot! To be clear, our school policy was students may bring in phones but they are to be turned off, in the bottom of bags. If they are seen out, they will be confiscates, handed to student services and parents will be required to come into school and collect the item. The was our starting point, and we built from there. We began with some simple rules:<br />
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<li>Phones are out, on the desk, on top of homework diaries at all times.</li>
<li>Phones can be used to aid learning, but you can be asked at any time to evidence this.</li>
<li>Blackberry Messenger, Whats App or any other messaging tool is acceptable but if a teacher asks to see what is written, you must be prepared to show it!</li>
<li>If a phone is hidden (i.e. messaging under the table etc) we will assume it is inappropriate use and confiscate the phone.</li>
<li>If you are filming or taking a photo, you must always asks the persons permission first (and explain how it will be used!)</li>
<li>If you are not on task, you will receive 2 warnings and the a detention, in line with school policy.</li>
<li>If anything inappropriate is sent to you, please do not delete it, show it to the teacher so the appropriate sanction can be issued.</li>
<li>If you exit something on screen or move the phone away as the teacher approaches, the phone will be confiscated.</li>
<li>It's always one between two. Share the learning!</li>
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Clearly, these rules tend to focus on the sanctions, but they worked for us and made the less hesitant teachers feel like they could manage the use of technology. As the use of phones in our classroom has grown, the devices the students bring in has too. I'm hoping, in the not to distant future we can move to Bring A Browser as the default position, but in the meantime, I hope this is useful to some of you! :-)</div>
Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-29387137707423226582012-05-15T21:27:00.001+01:002012-05-16T12:06:53.864+01:00Amazing Y10 Students!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wow! What a long time since I posted last! So sorry! Teaching and having fun in the classroom seems to somehow have got in the way!</div>
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Anyway, I have resolved to be better and post weekly! In the meantime, I wanted to post this picture of our fantastic Y10 students (and parents) having won £3000 for the <a href="http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/centres.php" target="_blank">West London Rape Crisis Centre</a>. They had tough competition from the other fab students, but did an amazing job!</div>
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We had a fantastic meeting with the fantastic centre manager (Bear Montique) who does an amazing job with limited finds to help women across the whole of West London (6 London Boroughs). Her information about rape, sexual assult and it's perception by young people in London today was astounding (and just a little bit depressing). Raising awareness about these issues, educating young people and empowering them is the only way we can reduce these statistics.</div>
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What's really lovely to see is their determination to keep these links going, to continue to help the charity and raise awareness about sexual discrimination. I really couldn't be prouder...</div>
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Hope it makes a difference for the charity!</div>
</div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-7750289553335302522011-07-24T10:30:00.000+01:002011-07-24T10:30:10.452+01:00Goodbye 11L<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My form class left this term. They have been my school family since September 1995! They spent the whole week before hand telling me with sheer delight how I will cry when they leave. So for their final morning, I had made them photo albums with my favourite memories of them, their best moments, and all the things about them each that I feel should be celebrated! This, combined with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQEn5b7eadA">a film</a> with some silly pictures really made them (and me!) smile.<br />
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However, they then surprised me with a handmade (and laminated!) book with their best memories and comments about their time with me.<br />
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The minute I read it the tears started! It was just lovely. This was followed by some beautiful presents from them all, some lovely things said, and some simply inspiring cards from their parents! Most of all though, I love the fact we all thought the same thing!<br />
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When I started with them, I said I wanted them to feel like we were a family. In fact, they chose the tag line 'A Family of Achievers'. They started as the EBD class (over half on the behaviour register or with problems at home). Noisy, hardwork, but simply lovely, keen and enthusiastic!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In their time at Lampton, I watched their confidence grow. They presented to ministers all over the world, they represented the school, me and, most importantly, themselves, at a host of events reflecting on their own learning experiences. They started to believe they really were fab at learning. As one commented in his card to me "I can't believe the stuff you made me do. You'd tell me I'd be doing a little talk and then stick me in this room of 100 people and I just had to get on with it. It was scary, but I always felt so good when everyone came and said well done after".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We lost some along the way: Exclusions; moving; changing school; a death and through it all, we stuck together and worked to the end! I could not be more proud of the young adults they have become - both as individuals and as a cohesive group. I have no doubt that some of you will be reading about them in years to come! And most importantly, I know they will continue on with a love of learning for the rest of their lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YIALwiosxq4/TivkwFRPQKI/AAAAAAAAAFI/U8H7HDWNEu8/s1600/IMG_1296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YIALwiosxq4/TivkwFRPQKI/AAAAAAAAAFI/U8H7HDWNEu8/s400/IMG_1296.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So this is them (and me!) at prom (missing 2 who couldn't go). And you know what, this little reflection got me thinking.... how much of a difference could we all have made to one another if this was an all through school? If this is the difference after 5 short years - what impact could a teacher make after 10? Or even 21 years? Wow!</div><br />
</div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-67834770941478269442011-04-27T20:51:00.000+01:002011-04-27T20:51:30.099+01:00Calling all teachers - I need you!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">If you are a teacher, no matter what age range you teach or where you teach but if you have an interest in using mobile devices (phones, ipads, hand held consoles etc) in your lessons then I really would like to hear from you.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I am looking for teachers to join an online closed community on Facebook over the next few months.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This group has been created to invite practitioners to discuss the use and access to mobile devices in the classroom.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The cloudlearn project starts from the premise that the culture seen in many schools and colleges of blindly 'locking and blocking' in the classroom is no longer acceptable: </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* it does not prepare young people for the real world </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* it is liable to be dangerous (you wouldn't try to enhance water safety by keeping children away from water until they were 16 then throwing them off the pier...) </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* it misses some outstanding learning opportunities </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* it is disengaging ("every turned off device is a turned off child") </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* it is wasteful of resources </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">...and as many, many teachers students and schools are finding, it is unnecessary. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The key aim of the Cloudlearn project is to source, collate, reflect on and publish proven effective practice from experienced classroom teachers and practitioners - building from what worked for us, in our respective cultural and educational contexts, to offer a portfolio of general and proven approaches. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The end-of-the-year outcome is to provide sets of strategies and advice, both specific and generic, for adults and organisations, and for teachers and their students, to help them to see the need to move beyond "locking and blocking". These sets would be given to those involved in education around the world, not just in the UK. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Over the next few months we will discuss as a group our thoughts, views and personal experiences on this and share the successes of mobile devices and the impact on teaching and learning in the classroom. This forum will become a 'closed and secret' forum once everyone has joined. This is because, we will not only be discussing the successes we have experienced but the challenges and issues that teachers and students face in using this type of technology. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">For more general information on this project visit:</span></span><a href="http://www.cloudlearn.net/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 153, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.cloudlearn.net/</span></span></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">If you would like to take part then please contact me by <a href="mailto:juliette@heppell.net">email</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> or via twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/julietteheppell">@julietteheppell</a> as soon as possible, there is a limit to how many teachers can take part so it will be first come first served.</span></span></div></div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-89391320640700979852010-09-21T20:42:00.000+01:002010-09-21T20:42:30.345+01:00Global Education Network...I think it's safe to say I've had the usual manic start to term.... mad, crazy, hectic as always! Anyway, in amongst all this madness, I have received a few LOVELY emails.... from all over the world:<br />
<br />
* One today from a teacher in Norway about my work on facebook (<a href="http://www.heppell.net/facebook_in_school/">see here for the guidance Stephen Heppell and I wrote</a>) and asking if I was interested in taking part in her government project (yes, for the record)<br />
* Then I received a wonderful email from a teacher I made contact with last January from the Netherlands (he came to visit the school and see our work on playful learning - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2010/01/playing_games_in_class.html">bbc story here</a>) asking for an update and if it is possible to bring some teachers over again this year<br />
* A lovely email from an Australian teacher trainer asking for more information about my century of centuries project and if any others can become involved<br />
* And 3 emails from people asking to visit our classroom of now (<a href="http://www.clcfeltham.co.uk/bsf_pcp/competition.html">IDOL project</a>) in January so see how it has progressed!<br />
<br />
I still find it amazing that other teachers can find me (or any other teachers) chatting on twitter, posting on our blogs, sharing information and swapping ideas all over the web, use it as a reflective training tool and just get in touch to share experiences!<br />
<br />
It's humbling to hear from these people, doing sometimes simple (sometimes complex) and yet always inspiring, projects. Yet my pupils are growing in in a world where this is the norm..... for them, it makes sense to speak to those best placed to answer the questions, the most interested in the project and those who can share truly different experiences. The divides are shrinking in communities (and may it continue) but I do ponder.... when (if ever?) will education catch up?Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-29487761678376989972010-08-06T17:45:00.001+01:002010-08-08T11:27:53.200+01:00Learning is so much fun!<div class="mobile-photo">I am spending the week with my sister, niece and nephew at my parents house. This is a photo of my niece, Amelie, learning about reptiles at the tropical zoo in Brentford (by my house).</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TFxNq2Smo_I/AAAAAAAAABg/h5-C2QSjPnQ/s1600/photo-711910.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502358243263292402" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TFxNq2Smo_I/AAAAAAAAABg/h5-C2QSjPnQ/s320/photo-711910.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Amelie loved learning about the food they eat and feeling how their skin is different to ours.. At just 3 years old every experience is still exciting and new! She is collecting stories about her holidays in a little book to show her teacher, whom she adores!<br />
<br />
It makes me reflect on when this enthusiasm is lost...? It's interesting to see how my primary themed secondary school classroom, games and general mayhem brings back those memories for some of those who are so disillusioned with school!Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-60323356312125820262010-07-27T19:27:00.000+01:002010-07-27T19:27:27.582+01:00Using Twitter in SchoolI've been using twitter for school projects for a while now, pupils tweet their progress and speak to teachers and students from around the world about their projects. It's totally brilliant for giving them a sense of audience (and making them aware of just how many people can access their stuff on the internet!) and pride, whilst also being far more reflective about their work; knowledge AND skills.<div><br />
</div><div>However, I am really struggling to get the school to actually unblock twitter. They are worried about pupils seeing inappropriate things, chatting to friends instead of working blah blah, the usual story!</div><div><br />
</div><div>So two things really, 1 has anyone got some nice examples of how the use twitter in the classroom and 2) any suggestions on how to get my school to unblock it?!?!</div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-7019591920715293262010-07-21T11:56:00.002+01:002010-08-06T17:41:26.784+01:00Comic life and istopmotion<div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEbSSwvOjEI/AAAAAAAAABQ/S4qwcAN884k/s1600/photo-770995.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496311615014734914" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEbSSwvOjEI/AAAAAAAAABQ/S4qwcAN884k/s320/photo-770995.JPG" /></a></div>There is something about macs which engages students! Our pirates from yesterday are spending today making pirate films, comic strips or animations.... Who said students can't concentrate for extended periods - one project, 1 day and the students don't even want to go to break or lunch!!!Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-54479146910368546942010-07-20T16:48:00.005+01:002010-08-06T17:40:24.751+01:00Who says Secondary Pupils aren't just big kids...Over the next 2 days our school holds 'Activity days'. All the different teachers organise a series of 2 day events focussing on different skills and activities that pupils might not experience in an every day curriculum. Obviously this involves a lot of trips (which can be pretty pricey!) for the students so my friend, <a href="http://www.estherarnott.com/">Esther</a> and I organised a pirate day (well.... if you can't pirate on an activity day, when can you?). Instead of trips, we had a series of team events to build pupils skills and to have tons of fun!<br />
<br />
DAY ONE<br />
1) Build your ship (or make it using paper origami skills)<br />
2) become initiated with your pirate name, booklet and lots of singing (how to say YAAAAARGH and YO HO A PIRATES LIFE FOR ME).<br />
3) Signing the pirate contract for your boat<br />
4) Designing your skull and cross bones and agreeing tactics<br />
5) Shipwrecked and stranded we swim the obstacle course to treasure island (obviously this was great as we soaked the kids with super water pistols and hose pipes - just before the great course in the photo!)<br />
6) Cutlass fighting<br />
7) a bit more singing (yo ho a pirates life for me)<br />
8) analysis of a pirate film<br />
<br />
DAY TWO<br />
1) film and edit a pirate something.... (used comic life, istop motion or imovie)<br />
2) final count of pirate prizes<br />
3) treasure hunt (solve the clues about the history of pirates, pirate language and pirate geography) for the box of treasure!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEXC9UmvWkI/AAAAAAAAABI/gEshKzxNgnU/s1600/IMG_0077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEXC9UmvWkI/AAAAAAAAABI/gEshKzxNgnU/s400/IMG_0077.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see from the picture - all the students really enjoyed themselves and so did the teachers!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It reminds us how important enjoying learning and being able to relax and have fun with the students is. I think in the land of continuous target setting and constant focus on progress, the sheer enjoyment of learning can get a bit lost! We should take some tips from the primary schools and look at their fun ways of learning - our pirates are learning about crafts, history, human rights, team work, film editing, maths, building their literacy and getting great exercise over the next 2 days - and enjoying themselves as well - what could be better?!</div><br />
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-37375124644069332422010-07-18T18:52:00.000+01:002010-07-18T18:52:52.135+01:00In memory of Kajil....One of my students died this week. It was a total shock - just a very sad accident. It's taken me all of this week to be able to write this post, but I wanted to remember her here...<br />
<br />
Kajil was a lively, funny, (very loud!), enthusiastic and loyal student and friend. She arrived in Year 8 and left in Year 10, and even after leaving used to write me the funniest emails describing her new school and her new friends there. She stayed in touch with many of the form and she will be remembered fondly by all of us.<br />
<br />
She loved a good bit of drama, and my over riding memories of her will be the day she insisted I should make more of an effort with my hair, brought in her curling tongs, and proceeded to curl my hair all through extended tutor time - and then insisted on a series of pictures(!) and the last sports day she spent with us - we'd been disqualified (again!) from loads of races and the form was getting really despondent, but every time anyone tried to sit down and stop cheering, she insisted they all stand at the front and cheer louder than everyone else!<br />
<br />
She was a wonderful young lady who made the most of every second of her life. That she will be missed by many shows how much of a difference she made to the lives of us all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEM9JgwJzMI/AAAAAAAAAA4/GbtXqTDDgos/s1600/P9050072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEM9JgwJzMI/AAAAAAAAAA4/GbtXqTDDgos/s320/P9050072.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sherri, Kajil and Fatima at Christmas...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEM9bItKPLI/AAAAAAAAABA/5ajyXljrdBw/s1600/IMG_0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TEM9bItKPLI/AAAAAAAAABA/5ajyXljrdBw/s320/IMG_0412.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Georgia, Divya, Hirali, Ritika, Fatima & Kajil (leaning out) cheering the form on at sports day</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Goodbye Kajil. You'll never be forgotten...</div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-44083161810567484042010-07-02T19:23:00.001+01:002010-07-03T22:12:30.162+01:00Busy department?We were writing a list of all the outside agencies we work with, the consultancy I do, our active citizenship projects and the teacher training/development work we are involved in for our local authority inspection today.... it is 9 pages long!!! Busy department!<br />
<br />
This sparked a debate with some friends in other departments about the value of after school activities vs delivery (traditional) of the curriculum.... quite shocking that some friends still believe that traditional imparting of knowledge is more important than projects that build learning skills and encourage reflection.... back to the knowledge vs skills debate - sigh!Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-64333273642843871922010-06-30T15:35:00.002+01:002010-07-03T22:11:13.482+01:00Praise and RewardsI have been thinking about potential masters topics for a while now... I was going to do a case study on our <a href="http://future.ncsl.org.uk/News.aspx?ID=166">new classrooms</a> (being put together over the summer hols - phew!) but my masters tutor suggested that I use the new rewards system some students have implemented in school. Although overseeing the system, I initially felt like a bit of a fraud as I have just supported their ideas and presented to SLT, not actually build the system but my tutor observed this is why its pretty cool.... Basically, some students, parents and teachers got together, researched praise and why its important, looked at the current school system and then re-wrote the entire system so it focusses on 3 things;<br />
<ul><li>a tangible, physical reward</li>
<li>informing parents and the local community</li>
<li>celebrating ALL achievements</li>
</ul>The first stage of the roll out happened this half term. This consists of tiny cards the students can be rewarded for resilience in their learning, building or developing good relationship inside and out of school, being resourceful in their research or lessons and being relfective about their lessons, skills and general every day learning. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TCtVfhKn3RI/AAAAAAAAAAw/iJHFYgEnZeQ/s1600/crs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dsXx857gOzo/TCtVfhKn3RI/AAAAAAAAAAw/iJHFYgEnZeQ/s320/crs.JPG" /></a></div>The cards work like a loyalty card and students can save them for a number of reasons; to earm money off school trips; to enter a raffle for 2 tickets to experience days; to buy school equipment or sports equipment in the rewards shop at lunchtime; to earn money off prom; to buy a fast track card for the lunch queue.<br />
<br />
The system is whole school and seems to be working really well. All the students have responded excellently to the system and they seem keen to use it all the time - in fact, teachers who have not taken it up immediatly are now being asked why by the pupils! Great stuff. I guess only time will tell but the most interesting point is the y11s I was speaking to today said that the school equipment is the most useful as you can buy things before exams, but also, you feel like the teacher notices the good things you do! Great huh?<br />
<br />
Time will tell if it really works but 2 weeks in, it seems to be pretty sucessful! It just shows, the students who designed it have been really reflective about their own motivation to learn and what helps it.... :-) They really a great bunch!Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-28854768705572978632010-01-12T20:23:00.000+00:002010-01-12T20:23:34.089+00:00Busy day at the silicon face!Lovely, exciting but manic day today! Arrived in school after day out yesterday, ran around sorting out a room for the BBC London News to come in and film. This was followed by a lovely discussion about managing stress with my Y11s (ha ha).<br />
<br />
Went and met the BBC chaps (who were lovely), spoke to them about playful learning (games based learning) and showed them how this project came about (Feltham clc IDOL project, students designed classroom of the future, researched game based learning, spiralled from there!). Had a lovely chat about how schools are changing and watching children grow into young people (and continue to be creative, enthusiastic learners).<br />
<br />
Ran off for 10 mins and met some wonderful Dutch teachers who were really passionate about learning. They were over for BETT and came into school to see how we use technology. Sent them off with respective member of PSHE and Citizenship and my life saving Head of Year who took my form class and let them use technology.<br />
<br />
Ran back to the BBC chaps with a couple of the dutch teachers and 10 year 10s. Played the Wii, was interviewed about playful learning and what parents think (hesitant at first, when they see passionate proud, engaged pupils are pleased and enthusiastic and proud themselves!). Young people showed their classroom of the future design, were interviewed about playful learning.<br />
<br />
Went to lunch and spoke to Assistant head who reminded me we had a Citizen Schools meeting. Taught 2 more lessons, met with BETT young people to go over logistics for tomorrow - uniform, games, technology, etc etc). Ran over to Citizen Schools meeting.<br />
<br />
Met with the Citizen Schools leaders (also lovely!) who are super enthusiastic and jolly supportive. Spoke to other schools about what they are attempting to change about Hounslow (project is research in local community, ID something to change, agree how, change it!) and we are at the 'make it happen part'. Discussed power players and supporters. Citizen Schools chaps helped fill in the blanks. Shared final ideas, dropped young people home, just walked in the door!<br />
<br />
About to write list of tasks for Y10s at BETT for the stand and cover for tomorrow (but thought I'd post here first!!)<br />
<br />
PHEW!Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-26091229758496982922010-01-11T20:29:00.002+00:002010-01-11T21:54:55.072+00:00Bafta: BVAWent to <a href="http://www.heppell.net/bva/">Bafta: Be Very Afraid</a> today with 2 of my year 9s. It was running the same time as the world learning forum so over 600 educationalists came through the doors and spoke to some of the schools there. What is always lovely about BVA is the young peoples passion for their work, they are so proud, so engaged and so keen to show off their brilliant efforts - its a joy to see....<br />
<br />
This year a few projects stood out for me - A college who have asked pupils to research classroom design and are implementing it across the college (had many similarities to our <a href="http://www.clcfeltham.co.uk/bsf_pcp/entries.html">local CLCs IDOL project</a> - entirely centred around student voice and participation), the Isle of Mann running some themed learning projects based around Pompei (the young person presenting was just so keen and proud of a simple little project but which utilised a whole host of technology) and Jonathan Furness with his pupils using Twitter (and taking it one step further with video).<br />
<br />
Our safety project - research Hounslow, interview the local community via YouTube and facebook, design a project around safety plotting (with the police) safe and unsafe areas in Hounslow on Google Earth, designing a safety game for Year 6 pupils and running a borough wide poster comp and putting the winning posters in bus shelter ad spaces - was really well received with many local authorities asking how they could roll this out to their local schools. Lots of discussion and questions but best of all, new links with other teachers and schools just as passionate as us!<br />
<br />
Ultimately, whatever your fave parts of BVA were, it leaves you feeling confident in our young people - if our future is in their hands, it will be a safe and exciting one :-)Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-43881407264582113992010-01-10T18:12:00.002+00:002010-01-11T21:55:19.458+00:00Snow daysThe UK had been covered in snow and ice for the past week! Most of the schools have been shut, either because staff and students cant get in or because the ice is so thick across the playground its causing a health and safety issue! I was really worried about the pupils finishing up their projects for <a href="http://www.heppell.net/bva/">Bafta: BVA</a>, but social networking came to the rescue - all week pupils have been discussing and posting info in the fb group and making help videos for one another and posting them on youtube!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Who says you need to be in school to be learning?!?<br />
</div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-56348882407263521662010-01-02T21:35:00.002+00:002010-01-11T21:56:07.744+00:00Social Networking<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">With </span></span><a href="http://www.bettshow.com/"><span style="color: #4d2184;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">BETT</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"> fast approaching (we are on the </span></span><a href="http://www.bettshow.com/page.cfm/link=188"><span style="color: #4d2184;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">playful learning</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"> stand) both the young people and I have been working really hard all holidays to make sure we have all our evidence and projects in one place - as well as working with some of the equipment from the sponsors of the stand. </span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's been manic as usual, but what struck me this year, was how easy Facebook has made it to communicate with the pupils. Usually, we are speaking on messenger, arranging times to meet and talk through issues - its reliant on everyone remembering and having internet up and running at the same time, and being able to run messenger on phones as well as computers (not all our pupils have computers at home!) Nightmare! This year though, everyone has facebook apps (or similar) for phones, facebook pages etc etc and so our little BETT facebook group has been brilliant - helping one another, discussing progress, developing info.... it's been great!</span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking to another teacher, she was surprised when I said I had been facebooking with young people.... why? Safety is often quoted as an issue but in reality, it’s much safer (both for me and the young people) than many other methods of communication. I have simple rules with the young people and I follow, which means all discussion, comments, work is in a public forum, safe and it also allows them to see it as a learning space - not a void to be filled!</span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's made a huge difference to the young people and I over the past year. There is a wealth of evidence out there about how it helps learning..... so why are more schools not embracing social networking?</span></span></span><o:p></o:p><br />
</div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-30411941302996378232009-06-04T20:50:00.001+01:002010-01-11T21:56:40.842+00:00What made you move into teaching?Someone said to me "Its unusual for people to fall into teaching, mainly they choose it for strong reasons." I was thinking about why I came into teaching this evening;<br />
<div>* I wanted to make a difference<br />
</div><div>* I want others to enjoy learning as much as I do<br />
</div><div>* I don't want others to dislike school as much as I did!<br />
</div><div>* I think it is massively rewarding<br />
</div><div>* I worry about those pupils who are getting 'lost' or 'left behind' because we are so obsessed with ticking boxes<br />
</div><div>* It is fun, engaging and different everyday<br />
</div><div>* It's a challenge!<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>I have to write an essay for my masters about why I came into teaching and how this links to my value base - so why did you?!<br />
</div>Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-83149062375683000622009-06-03T22:22:00.001+01:002010-01-11T21:57:05.819+00:00The wonderful 9LWhen you are having a stressful day, there is nothing better than a wonderful form class to cheer you up! My brilliant pupils were chatting to me about their time throughout KS3 and the best bits. Last term we voted for class prizes and they were awarded to pupils today (I am making cupcakes now as promised!!). I had made certificates and printed pictures for each of them but my big surprise was last term they voted me as 'most inspirational class member' and they had made me a prize of my own - totally wonderful, totally brilliant.... and reflective learners to boot!! :-)Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101462174091245122.post-40326893902047133102009-06-02T16:07:00.000+01:002009-06-02T16:14:31.199+01:00Starting a Masters!It seems like a strange thing to do, because I already have a masters in Politics but having been a qualified teacher for 3 years now and having worked in education previously, I have become increasingly interested in the way the education sector works! Schools resist change (probably with good reason since many teachers had some many changes restricting their freedom forced on them during the Thatcher days and then even more from Labour, giving some schools freedom back, when they didn't seem to know what to do with it!) and many teachers seem to fight against the tide of technology viewing it as simply yet another thing to learn, yet many of us can see such amazing potential to really personalise learning for pupils, re-enthuse the unengaged and help pupils to see that learning really is fun again!<br /><br />I'm looking forward to learning more myself, and hopefully understanding how to gently encourage the changes I (and many other teachers who think like me) want to make, whilst not feeling like a chore for uninspired and disengaged teachers! Yikes! No small task then!Brightlingsea Beach Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433608375810332500noreply@blogger.com1