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The walk down to the Junior School This mural assisted by a retired Art Adiser Junior classrooms in earlier (pre  Tomorrows's Schools)days were where one saw the best child centred classrooms . They were run along developmental lines, based on centres of interest and integrated language/arts based experience programmes . Exploring the immediate environment through their students senses with the belief that before the word the the experience was a strong feature of such rooms. The writings of Sylvia Ashton Warner and later Marie Clay were important references .  Welcoming new children and their parents Since Tomorrow's School;s educational change has been imposed from the top often by people with little classroom experience and , worse still, by politicians with competitive intentions contrary to the collaborative culture of schools . In recent years National Standards were introduced that were neither national or standard, and along with them tedious assessment and accoun...

A culture that values student curiosity and creativity above all 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 Kids are not better at technology than adults. ‘ The difference between kids that are deemed better than adults with technology is not some innate ability; it is their willingness to push buttons . To see what happens. To act on their curiosity.  That’s it.’ http://bit.ly/2rtWMbW Should School Be Fun? (The answer is yes) ‘I also just want my students to enjoy their time in my class and school as much as possible. Because when a student is having fun, they are engaged and learn better. Research has shown that students who are happy and feeling positive emotions are more likely to “take risks, solve more nonlinear problems that require insight, and genera...

Valuing the power of imagination Education Readings By Allan Alach Every week Bruce Hammonds and I search out articles to encourage a creative approach to teaching and learning . We w elcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Hattie’s Research is False Here’s a three part series from Kelvin Smythe, addressed to New Zealand University Vice-Chancellors, that comprehensively deconstructs John Hattie’s so-called ‘research’ . As Hattie and his acolytes have done, and are still doing, great damage to holistic education, all teachers need to be aware of the falsehoods in his findings. Other educationists have also found similar issues . ‘My concern is that none of the variables in his research are validly isolated or under control, resulting in an academic shambles that, in being left unexposed, has had devastating consequences for teachers and children around the world, and especially New Zealand.’ http://bit.ly/2Js6Fy8 http://bit.ly/...

Why have schools made it so complicated - we are all born learners Education Readings By Allan Alach I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Workaholic Teachers ‘If you are a teacher then you are permanently busting a gut, not getting enough sleep, struggling to keep up and very often going to work unwell. Despite all this, you live and breathe teaching and you talk about leaving but know deep down that you won’t.’ http://bit.ly/2q16gbW Schools told to ditch textbooks and let pupils experiment in science lessons ‘Schools are failing their pupils’ education by forcing them to regurgitate facts instead of letting them take part in practical science lessons, a leading expert has said. Practical science can be overshadowed by factors such as a need to learn a “mountain” of information, a focus on English and maths and a lack of specialist teachers, according to Katherine Mathieson, chief executive of the British Science Assoc...