Being child centred rarely means giving the child what they want or desire. This can be the polar opposite of child-centredness. Sometimes it may mean saying no. It may mean not taking what they say at face value, but questioning their motives. Do we need to listen to young people? Yes. Do we need to…
Read MoreDeveloping Questioning
Pedagogy matters. Good pedagogy closes achievement gaps. Great pedagogy may even reverse them! When I speak about pedagogy I am referring to the instructional methods and approaches teachers have in their repertoire and deploy in their classrooms. The whole thing is both science and art, practice and theory, and because of its unquestionable power, every…
Read MoreExternal and Internal Governance- influences on student behaviour
What makes students behave well? This question has been considered by virtually every educator at every level. And probably every parent at some stage too. Being an Assistant Principal for pastoral care, this is a question I am often grappling with. And not just after a fight has occurred between students, or just as I…
Read MoreRethinking
Next time, when a colleague questions a decision you have made, instead of trying to simply defend your position and think I’m right, consider whether you could be wrong and where you may have erred. We all have blind spots. Take the interaction as an opportunity to learn. Moreover, see it as a chance to…
Read MoreHappy New Year!
To all of my readers who have subscribed to my blog and supported me, I want to wish you every success in 2022. If you are reading this, take a moment to be grateful for everything you made it through in 2021 and all that you learned. More light, love and beauty in your life.
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