sandr068

Exploring geometry through play Time to focus on mathematics in education Recently I had a discussion with some young teachers about the teaching of mathematics in schools - the teachers taught in the middle school area. It didn't go to well ! They have to do what's expected of them - and that this was  sadly influenced by what the secondary school maths teachers wanted students to have covered! Change requires leadership and a whole school approach. Why does maths take such a dominant place in the day's programme? Me - the classroom teacher! I have always felt that how schools arrange their maths programme ( and to a slightly lesser degree their literacy programme) reflects the philosophy or teaching beliefs of the school . If there is a dedicated ( usually hour long) maths period with students working at teacher, or textbook, tasks in ability groups, then little has changed over the decades. As Professor Jo Boaler sees ability grouping as 'The Elephant in the Classro...

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 What Australia can learn from Finland's forested classrooms ‘ Children's brains work better when they are moving , the master teacher explains. Not only do they concentrate better in class, but they are more successful at "negotiating, socialising, building teams and friendships together". Finland leads the world in its discovery that play is the most fundamental engine and efficiency-booster of children's learning.’ http://bit.ly/2lYaq3U Mainstream schools need to take back responsibility for educating disengaged students Thanks to Phil Cullen for this article. ‘Exclusion from school places makes vulnerable young people at greater risk of long term unemployment, dependence on welfare, mental health issues and social isolation. Young people unable to attend mainstream education then need to look for an educational alternative th...

Teaching as a creative art 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 A new phonics test for Australian six year olds is a BAD idea ‘ As renowned English author Michael Rosen explains, the difference between a phonics test and learning to read is that a phonics test merely requires children to pronounce a list of words, while learning to read is about making meaning of a text .  Phonics is only one part of the literacy story. And there is no evidence that phonics training should precede meaning making in literacy learning. It is much more productive to address decoding skills in meaningful contexts .’ http://bit.ly/2m5KnKM Should Traditional Teachers Join the Revolution? ‘However my experience is that very few of colleagues make pedagogical choices on the basis of ideology or efficacy, they do what they do to get through the day. Effectively each teacher presents a personal mish...

'It's a miracle that curiosity has survived modern education' 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 The Writing Process Isn’t Linear. So Why Do Schools Keep Pretending That It Is? Read this! ‘If you conduct an online image search for “writing process,” you’ll find many charts that lay out the steps —brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, publishing—in a nice linear fashion. It’s as if these visuals assert, “We brainstorm on Monday, draft on Tuesday, etc.” However, professional writers don’t check off the steps of the writing process as they move through it. As any experienced writer will tell you, the writing process is recursive, not linear. ’ http://bit.ly/2lIIxiO Steve Wheeler Learning spaces of the third kind First Steve Wheeler article of the year : ‘ Students carry technology in their pockets , information floats through the air, and the they use their own devices ...