It has been an exhausting year so far and, as is usual for me as we trudge towards the summer term, I am currently bemoaning my career choice and making what will ultimately prove to be empty threats about changing my job.
I have decided to postpone my decision, however, because Siobhan Curious, who writes "Classroom as a microcosm", is currently starring as a guest blogger on Sarah Ebner's School Gate. Her topic? Overcoming burnout and learning to love teaching again. I am hoping that her series of posts can help to inspire me and fill me with the enthusiasm necessary to make it across the finish line once again.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Rose report
Following on from the previous post, this balanced article from the BBC news website has some very interesting arguments for and against the recent recommendations made by Sir Jim Rose.
Monday, 4 May 2009
The computer age
I am very pleased that fomer head of Ofsted Sir Jim Rose's recently published report strongly recommends that computer technology should become an integral part of the primary school curriculum in England.
At last! Someone with a recognised voice in education is calling for more innovative technology to be used in the classroom. This is music to my ears because I have long since been an advocate of increased ICT use in schools. It is 2009 and we should be making full and proper use of the wonderful resources available to us.
Having said that, my happiness was short-lived: Rose also suggests that from 2011 all children should have the option of starting school in the September immediately after their fourth birthday. I disagree with this. To my mind, this is too early and does not allow for sufficient early years to be spent at home and subsequently at nursery. My idea is that attendance at nursery for a minimum of one year ought to be compulsory, with kids starting primary school in the September immediately after their fifth birthday. The secondary school structure could be altered in order to compliment this change, with the complete removal of (the often futile) Year 9 being the option that I favour.
At last! Someone with a recognised voice in education is calling for more innovative technology to be used in the classroom. This is music to my ears because I have long since been an advocate of increased ICT use in schools. It is 2009 and we should be making full and proper use of the wonderful resources available to us.
Having said that, my happiness was short-lived: Rose also suggests that from 2011 all children should have the option of starting school in the September immediately after their fourth birthday. I disagree with this. To my mind, this is too early and does not allow for sufficient early years to be spent at home and subsequently at nursery. My idea is that attendance at nursery for a minimum of one year ought to be compulsory, with kids starting primary school in the September immediately after their fifth birthday. The secondary school structure could be altered in order to compliment this change, with the complete removal of (the often futile) Year 9 being the option that I favour.
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