Is time travel possible? |
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 I'm impatiently in the last, infuriating stages of finally buying a new house (after a couple of years spent relocating in an interesting housing market). Buddhist phrase springs to mind here:
"You can't push a river."
However, you can throw stones in it, row a boat on it, catch fish in it and dam it up for a while.... |
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Exploring the idea of reading 2 books in parallel and seeking synergy between them (see Summer Reading entry below). Latest pair:
 
Amazon Amazon
Relativity, time and space interwoven with eastern mysticism. Common threads: Seeking answers to massive questions; going beyond what is generally accepted; breaking paradigms; clear, concise writing that is deceptively thought-provoking; exploration of how the universe works...and both together fit in a small beach bag.
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...a Porsche Cayman. I've been looking forward to my Thruxton 'Cayman Thrill' experience since Christmas and was eager to find out how they'd teach me to drive one:
1. 8 minute lecture
2. 12 minute video
3. 10 minute demonstration as passenger (3 laps)
4. 10 minute driving with instructor coaching (3 laps)
5. Written assessment card (I got 78%)
All round a fascinating learning experience. Most aspects of the Bethel Maine learning pyramid addressed in the teaching style - all that remains is for me to teach someone else and get feedback.
Here's Erling Jensen (really) my instructor subtly indicating which way I should turn.
One interesting take on their assessment card system - seems to be a deficit model. For example, steering:
- Incorrect hand positions on straights/corners
- Sawing at wheel
- Applying too much lock too early
- Adding lock after apex
I sawed too much and only got 8/10. Wonder how negative-biased success criteria would go down in our schools.... |
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 Q: How old is blogging? 5 years? 7? 10? 15 maybe?
A: Blogging finds its origins in the 15th century as the Commonplace Book - essentially a learner's scrapbook filled with anything that caught their interest; that they needed to remember, or that might be useful for future learning. Each commonplace book was unique to its author.
Blogs and Wikis are 21st C. commonplace books; as are the diaries, learning journals and self development notes that we keep (often on handmade paper, bound in hessian, and purchased at a National Trust shop someplace in Hampshire)
It's a great concept. Why not adapt it for your learners as they begin a new academic year?
More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonplace_book |
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Balance boards help develop core strength and flexibility in the trunk and pelvis - important for improving body awareness and posture - key to supporting dyspraxic learners. But most of the boards I've seen for sale are dry educational things - more medical than motivational. But discovered these today:
 
Indo Boards. I highly recommend them because:
- They support some SEN learners' kinaesthetic needs
- They are cool and thus keep self-esteem intact (brown plywood or the above? What would your kids choose?)
- They have greater flexibilty/adjustability than standard balance board - the 'ball' can be inflated and deflated to make balance easier or harder
- Kids can learn 'tricks' - implicitly addressing their SN
- SEN support becomes cool (this is 21st C. stationary skateboarding)
They're not cheap, but hey, what price the success of a child with a learning difference?
Visit H2OMudnSnow and take a closer look.
Cool Learning:
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Heavy and fascinating: Light and Engaging:
 
Amazon Amazon
Connecting the two - thinking, language, image, storytelling.
Thankfully the author of heavy and fascinating is staying with me at the moment - to explain the tricky bits of Renaissance Thinking Tools, or 'outillage mental', as they're called. |
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The runner who cried wolf:
Took my guests Kathryn and Paul on my favourite local run - 5 miles, 7 hills. We counted the hills off, got to the top of no. 6, at which point I announced there was no hill number 7. My purpose: motivation to finish the course well, possibly with a final sprint. It worked a treat. However, will they trust me on the next run? |
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I rate Squiggle most highly as a teacher and as a learner with primary age children - especially 3-5s. But the real test is surely putting her in charge of my own kids? Or rather putting them in charge of her?
 
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Many of you will recognise this logo and still have it on your bookshelves. Network Educational Press helped change the face of UK education by publishing books and resources that were ahead of the game and shifted our focus from teaching and on to learning.
The company now continues as Network Continuum and its value system remains intact and safe with Bridget Gibbs. I met Bridget yesterday in sunny Winchester and was pleased to hear that Network resources will continue to be innovative, ethical and practical as education moves deeper in to learning - towards value systems, attitudes and skills, and not so totally focussed on knowledge (which, by 2010, will be doubling every 72 hours - according to ShiftHappens))
http://www.networkcontinuum.co.uk/
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