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Education Readings   By Allan Alach Happy birthday to John Dewey, visionary educator, social reformer, psychologist, and philosophe r. Dewey was central to the development of the so-called progressive movement in education, which emphasizes the importance of student participation and meaningful activity in the classroom . Dewey began his career as a classroom teacher. After becoming a professor of philosophy, he shifted much of his attention to education, founding the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and writing School and Society, which argued for the need for collaborative practical experimentation in the classroom . His emphasis on practical skills and learning by doing upended the inherited wisdom of the time, which valued obedience and rote memorization. John Dewey died in 1952. Over the course of his long career, he published 40 books and 700 articles on a wide variety of topics, and indelibly influenced the world’s classrooms with his meaning-oriented, democrati...

Education Readings   By Allan Alach Sad news this week. One of New Zealand’s premier educators, Kelvin Smythe, lost his battle against prostate cancer last Saturday .  Kelvin was one of the very best educators in New Zealand’s history and his passing is a tragedy for primary school education. Over the past decade from 2009, Kelvin led the battle against the then government’s imposition of national standards (not too dissimilar to common core standards in the USA) and I think it’s fair to say that his efforts contributed to the removal of these when the government changed a year ago. He was indeed an educational warrior who fought to the end to protect holistic /creative /democratic teaching from current technocratic formulaic approach es . Our condolences to Kelvin’s family , who devoted themselves to his care over the last few weeks . Every week Bruce Hammonds and I collect articles to share with teachers to encourage a creative approach to teaching and learning. I welcome ...

Escaping traditional thinking Education Readings By Allan Alach Every week Bruce Hammonds and I collect articles to share with teachers to encourage a creative approach to teaching and learning . I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Secondary Traumatic Stress for Educators: Understanding and Mitigating the Effect s An article that examines the effect of student trauma on their teachers - a vital read. ‘With this evolving role comes an increasing need to understand and address the ways in which student trauma affects our education professionals. In a growing number of professions, including firefighters, law enforcement, trauma doctors and nurses, child welfare workers, and therapists and case managers, it is now understood that working with people in trauma — hearing their stories of hardship and supporting their recovery — has far-reaching emotional effect on the provider.’ http://bit.ly/2RDxPXF Problems with Evidence-...

Time to refresh your energy. Education Readings   By Allan Alach Every week Bruce Hammonds and I collect articles to share with teachers to encourage a creative approach to teaching and learning . I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Arriving at a Definition of Learning 'Personalized and blended learning and differentiated instruction should be viewed as interrelated supports for deep learning.’ https://edut.to/2IzXTPm Play based learning ‘ However, the play environment is only one part of the puzzle in supporting and observing how children learn through pla y.   Much of the critical work is unseen to the 'naked eye' by visitors intent on seeing how schools 'do' play in their environment.’ http://bit.ly/2yeX7Cw Why an education in visual arts is the key to arming students for the future ' Visual skills are essential  for a sophisticated workforce , yet we offer so little education in the vital sk...