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11th of the 11th 1918 Education Readings   By Allan Alach I know a school I know a school where almost all the students are successful. It's an interesting plac e. They don't give grades at this school. There are no numbers. No test scores. No SAT, ACT, no GPA or other acronyms. No rankings. Yet, the kids are more than alright. They create amazing things. They contribute to their communities in all sorts of ways. They're happy. They love coming to school. Those that want to go to college after they graduate. Others take different paths, which everyone celebrates. We talk about success in schools as if it were a data point. It's not. And even if it were, you really think the data we're collecting now equates to success in any but the most tenuous ways? Look at your kids. Talk to them. See if they love to learn. See if they have passion. See if they care. See if they're happy. Those are much clearer indicators of "success" than any set of numbers can sup...

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 ...

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 “Differentness twice over” – what do we know about multi-exceptional learners in our schools? ‘ Multi-exceptional learners are the students in our schools and centres who are both highly able in a particular area or areas but may still have learning, behavioural or physical difficulties or impairments . So, for example, a young person who is extremely intelligent academically may yet have a specific learning disability (SLD) such as dyslexia, or a student may be exceptionally able in the performing or visual arts but have a sensory processing disorder or be diagnosed with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).’ http://bit.ly/2sQkIaP Reform & New Zealand Education: Why we need to look in our own back garden….. ‘So wh...

From Elwyn Richardson - Rooster and hens .  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 Time again to focus on teacher creativity - the legacy of Elwyn S Richardson Bruce’s latest article – a must read . ‘There was a time when New Zealand  primary education was internationally recognised for placing the learner at the centre of learning . When education was driven by a belief in the creative power of the learners themselves; when learning was based on the internal and external lives of the children.’ http://bit.ly/2kcHV2h How is philosophy of education useful to education? ‘Philosophy of education is sometimes assumed to be a rather abstract discipline that is somehow removed from the ‘real’ practice of education – but this has not been my expe...