This could well be an unpopular opinion, but it’s one I feel more and more strongly about. Many of the problems we are witnessing in schools, (reflected from society as a whole), do not have quick fixes. We need to invest in the long game. So often we are judged on the results we can […]
Language
Am I Getting Warmer?
Trying to understand motivation and effort has led me on such an interesting journey. Increasingly, I am being drawn to understanding the inner workings of our brains. I don’t think that this will lead to any kind of last word on the subject – to be clear, I don’t think there will ever be such […]
Responding, Reacting, Surviving
This is a difficult term. We are all stretched thin. Staff, students and parents. At times like these, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay level-headed and not let our chimps run rampant. (Thank you Steve Peters for the analogy!) And, like it or not, the students in front of us often have even less control […]
Belonging
Am I blogging into the void? Quite possibly. And, every now and again, this makes me question its purpose. But, deep down, I know. This blog has been my lifeline, my anchor, in building my own teaching identity and confidence. And, one of the most surprising areas that has surfaced, repeatedly, through my research and […]
What’s Up?
Knowing the importance, the theory, of getting everyone thinking is important. But, it is only half the story. We can scaffold success. We can create the perfectly laid path. With force of will, we can possibly even drag the proverbial horse down the path, yet we cannot make it drink. I’m sure many of us […]
“You’re a wizard, Harry.”
With these words, Hagrid transforms Harry’s life. Essentially, he has been gifted a new identity, and our identity, how we see ourselves, is at the core of all we do. I learned a lot last year and my intention is to keep aiming to move forward. With the start of the new academic year approaching, […]
How far do you want to go?
I am a huge fan of AppleFitness – the choice of classes, trainers, length of videos, and even music is great. I can channel my inner kick-boxer (so glad there are no mirrors when I do this!), feel the burn in strength class, pretend I’m a great cyclist in spin or learn to be present […]
What can we learn from Bowser?
I’m learning a lot about the exam process, as a parent. They are a tough test of resilience and self-control. That’s just for me! (And we’ve not reached the heady lofts of GCSE and A Level in my house!) I’m having to really monitor my language and try to switch off the “parenting subtitles” when […]
Accountability, Ambivalence and Autonomy – Part 2
Snappy title, I know. But, Wendell Phillips, (nineteenth century American abolitionist), sums it up best: “Responsibility educates.” As discussed in the last blog post, accountability is key. Yet, this feeling of responsibility is also, sometimes, debilitating. Stixrud and Johnson discuss how young people can struggle with decision making, yet often will fight against the support […]
Accountability, Ambivalence and Autonomy – Part 1
Recently, I have been studying Milgram’s study into obedience with my psychology students. Participants are made to believe that they are giving increasingly painful electric shocks to another, in a study into memory. (It is all rigged and the electric shocks are false, although the participants did not know this at the time). If you […]