February 5, 2020
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Comments Off on A memorable learning experience
I can admit I don’t remember much about school, primary school in particular, with this in mind there is something that was life changing for me in my secondary school career. I remember in my fifth year of secondary school I was going through a very hard time with my mathematics. this is a subject … Continue reading A memorable learning experience → Continue reading
November 11, 2019
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Comments Off on It’s not meetings… it’s CIRCLE TIME!
I always like a quick reflection here and there. And I always do love a few Christmas decorations here and there. But, you see, it’s only the 11th of November – lots more days left – and we are already seeing Starbucks sell your coffee because… ‘you really want that Christmas tree cup.’ I was … Continue reading “It’s not meetings… it’s CIRCLE TIME!” Continue reading
October 4, 2019
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Comments Off on Teaching for Equity and Wellbeing: Lecture-related Post
(Sorry… the title today is rather uninspiring… so if you can think of one that’s utra-inspiring… feel free to inspire me!) Reading. On. Poverty – and closing the attainment gap. Oh, and emotional and physical health in the classroom. It’s all weighty stuff because … as teachers… we do not possess the super-power of … Continue reading “Teaching for Equity and Wellbeing: Lecture-related Post” Continue reading
September 23, 2019
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Comments Off on Learning in School is Useless?
“90% of what we teach in school is a waste of time… It just doesn’t matter.” This is a statement that I have been asked to reflect on. In truth, it is a subject that has sparked a lot of thinking in my time since leaving school. I think there is some level of truth […] Continue reading
September 18, 2019
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Comments Off on Learning from Life
Learning from Life Reflection Last year, I really surprised myself while on placement. I was so nervous– which was expected– but I was unaware of how at ease I soon became once I knew exactly what was expected of me and where everything was, and I just got carried away with the flow of the […] Continue reading
April 23, 2019
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Comments Off on In-Service Day – ACEs
Today I attended a talk and workshop based around ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). The talk was carried out by Chris Kilkenny who himself had many ACEs in his childhood. Now at 24, Chris talks about his experiences and how as teachers we can take 5 minutes out of our day to speak to children, find […] Continue reading
February 4, 2019
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Comments Off on Don’t. Give. Up.
From the ages of pre-birth to three years old, a major part of the child’s emotional capacity is developed. Meaning that it is vital, from before the child is born to the day it turns three years old, that you maintain a positive attitude and positive behaviours when around the child. If this is not […] Continue reading
January 24, 2019
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Comments Off on How Semester One Made Me ‘Check’ Myself.
The values module last semester was a really eye-opening and thought provoking one for me. The very first lecture of the values unit is one that will stay in my head forever. I learned about the ‘unconscious’ bias that everyone holds within themselves, the reason why we all are – either a little or a […] Continue reading
January 22, 2019
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Comments Off on What’s your brain like? (hwb)
Suzanne Zeedyk- ‘Pre-birth to three: Importance of early years’ The 8 minute video on the importance of early years was short but very impactful. It made me think of what environment children come from and that each child is unique in their own way. Cultures in every aspect of the world are different which creates …
January 21, 2019
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Comments Off on Reflections for Me…
One of the most important moments in semester one for my professional development was actually at the beginning of semester two when we received our results for the values essay. For me, semester one was full different emotions. In the beginning, I was quite relaxed, I understood the majority of what was said in the […] Continue reading
January 18, 2019
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Comments Off on Relationships
Suzanne Zeedyk is a current theorist who explores the study of neuroscience. Zeedyk explains how important the pre-birth stage is as well as the development outside the womb and stressed that development of the brain doesn’t stop when children are aged 3 within her Youtube clip. Suzanne Zeedyk believes neuroscience helps babies brains function properly … Continue reading “Relationships” Continue reading
January 15, 2019
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Comments Off on The Brains of the Classroom
Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk’s and John Carnochan OBE’s videos by Education Scotland, empathise the need to create safe environments, to nurture and aid children to be able to deal with and contribute to society today. Dr Zeedyk’s describes the neuroscience behind the brains development and explains how easy it is for young people to cope with […] Continue reading
January 11, 2019
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Comments Off on Teaching Across the Curriculum- First Dance Workshop
I attended my first dance workshop today with Eilidh Slattery. I didn’t really know what to expect as we entered the room, because I don’t think there was a lot of dance lessons when I was in primary school. Obviously, there was Scottish country dancing (which I loved), however, I do not remember any lessons […] Continue reading
November 29, 2018
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Comments Off on In Pursuit of Mathematical Art
In a recent input in Discovering Maths, we had a chance to create some mathematical art and my favourite of these was a curve of pursuit. (MathsMasterOrg (2011)) This is created by choosing a regular shape, making a mark an equal distance from each corner and joining these dots to create a slightly smaller shape. […] Continue reading
November 26, 2018
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Comments Off on Have I discovered maths?
Today was our last input for discovering mathematics. Throughout this module I have discovered a few things including mathematics. This journey of discovery hasn’t been easy but I can officially say I understand fully the fundamental ideas of mathematics. Essentially, I have discovered: what the fundamental ideas of mathematics is, different aspects of mathematics within … Continue reading Have I discovered maths? → Continue reading
November 26, 2018
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Comments Off on Maths that help
Everyone knows that mathematics can help children in the classroom and academically however, how can they help in real life? In a recent input we discussed how mathematics is involved in medicine specifically, how statistics can help. This is something that has really interested me in the sense that the NHS can be reliant in … Continue reading Maths that help → Continue reading
November 16, 2018
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Comments Off on The Daily Mile-matics
Throughout this module, we have often been asked to reflect on our own experiences of learning mathematics at school and my memories are almost exclusively textbooks in the classroom and being excited that you had filled all of the squared paper in your jotter. Fast forward 15 years or so to ‘Miss Duncan’ teaching mathematics […] Continue reading
November 7, 2018
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Comments Off on Can Mathematics be Beautiful?
Maths, beautiful? Before I would have never of put these two words in the same sentence. Now I will say maths can be beautiful. After allowing myself to really understand how this can be and how maths can make things more pleasing to the eye I can put maths and beautiful together. The Rule of […] Continue reading
November 6, 2018
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Comments Off on I want to help you, but you need to tell me how.
When facing social injustices, such as a child failing due to their family life/background, or due to them not having a good support system out with the school environment, as a teacher, you cannot give up on the child whatsoever. I am fully aware that what I have just stated seems like the complete obvious, […] Continue reading
November 6, 2018
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Comments Off on Could the Curriculum for Excellence be a ‘Sunk Cost’?
Could the Curriculum for Excellence be a ‘Sunk Cost’’? The aim of Curriculum for excellence and the reason it was put in place was to help children and young people, across Scotland, gain knowledge, skills and attributes needed for life as well as the skills needed for learning and work (Education Scotland, 2018). The Curriculum […] Continue reading
