February 6, 2020
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Comments Off on A Memorable Learning Experience
Throughout primary school, one thing that I remember from all the good memories and learning experiences I had, was IDL, which I knew as Topic. In particular, in primary 5 my class topic was the Rainforest. I can vividly remember my teacher, who was extremely enthusiastic introducing the topic, where at first I was unsure what […] Continue reading
January 27, 2020
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Comments Off on Second Year
First semester of second year went in a flash! My summer was awful, I had two bereavment’s in one week and spent most of my summer away from my own children 600 miles away. Because of my awful summer I was really looking forward to having the opportunity to go out on another school placement […] 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 13, 2019
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Comments Off on Did you say ‘let’s read?’ Oh… I’d love to!
Reading week is here. (Almost.) And that reminds me of letters, words and sentences: are they the raw essentials for a book? I think letters create words. I wonder if words can act as sentences alone? I see that most sentences need a verb. That’s how we all started learning English – and essentially, university … Continue reading “Did you say ‘let’s read?’ Oh… I’d love to!” Continue reading
October 8, 2019
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Comments Off on Captain Scott – Visualising His Life through the Drama Lens
This piece of writing is a submission for my Expressive Arts E-Portfolio linked to my Assignment. Task: Choose a character from the past (it doesn’t have to be a famous person). Research that character and the time that they lived. Use the drama convention Visualisation to explore what it would be like to be that […] Continue reading
October 8, 2019
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Comments Off on The Lovely Lorax – and My Plan!
I started writing a piece about planning over the weekend – and ironically, lost it. Great organisation, Claire! Anyhow, the weekend was successful in making notes about medium-term planning. I’ve done a few lesson plans here and there: but not yet, a medium-term one. What is that, exactly? Well, I had not a single (and … Continue reading “The Lovely Lorax – and My Plan!” Continue reading
September 27, 2019
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Comments Off on Fractions! Did you just call for pizza – and a party?!
We have had a few inputs now on mathematics: and they have all been most useful in helping me to realise that imagination is maths and maths is imagination. Long way to say it; basically think to the limits of space. Endless? Yes. Claire needs to enter the classroom and not just see the earthly … Continue reading “Fractions! Did you just call for pizza – and a party?!” Continue reading
May 21, 2019
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Comments Off on Health and Wellbeing: The Start of Lesson Planning
Blog Post Early Years Above, you will see my first attempt (in ages) for lesson planning. Yes, it’s been a rather long time since the fingers have delicately hammered the keyboard to type up a lesson plan… and this is not exactly a full one! However – since learning from my first school placement last … Continue reading “Health and Wellbeing: The Start of Lesson Planning” Continue reading
May 17, 2019
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Comments Off on SO, Summer: LET’S MOVE FOWARD!
So, after learning about my learning placement (Lfl ’19) … I’ve decided to account myself to my learning more and uptake in the sport of writing a daily blog over summer. It’s not aiming to be a massive task, but something educationally amusing. A cocktail of words a day doesn’t do anyone any harm! It’s … Continue reading “SO, Summer: LET’S MOVE FOWARD!” Continue reading
April 23, 2019
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Comments Off on Placement: Part 1
For 1PP1 i am in a small village school with no more than 130 pupils total. I have 17 pupils in my P7 class. I feel I have started to bond well with the children in my class. The one thing I really struggled with at the start was not gaining the classes attention but […] Continue reading
April 23, 2019
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Comments Off on Semester 2
Another semester that went too quickly! As expected, I have given up my job to concentrate on University and to be able to focus 100% on my placement. Semester 2 was spent focussing on Pedagogy and the Curriculum. I already knew a bit about pedagogy but mostly in an Early Years setting. This did give […] Continue reading
February 18, 2019
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Comments Off on Let’s think about (ma)thinking, okay?
Mathematics? Oh so fearful of it…are you? Or… look… there’s a sum! And… the answer? Let me spend time sourcing it. Right now. Some people leave education with this desire to crawl under the table when 5,6,7 and all the other numbers approach them. Others, well others, carry maths in their head – and would … Continue reading “Let’s think about (ma)thinking, okay?” Continue reading
February 13, 2019
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Comments Off on Teaching Across the Curriculum – Writing
Writing is thought to begin prior to formal education and links children in early years to having ideas about writing and what it is. It is thought by some that in order to be able to write effectively a child must read, hear and say it first. it is from this that they will be […] Continue reading
February 13, 2019
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Comments Off on Pedagogical Studies – Developing Classroom Talk
It is important to develop classroom talk as it allows communication barriers to be reduced and develops communication skills. It is key to developing open lines of communication between teachers and pupils, which in turn helps the teachers assess the pupils’ progress and ultimately improves the children’s learning. It is not enough to just develop […] Continue reading
February 13, 2019
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Comments Off on Pedagogical Studies – Restorative Approach
A restorative approach is focused around building strong positive relationships, in order to fix any problems or issues that arise within the classroom. Through this approach pupils can each have their say and feel like they are being heard, this can be achieved via questioning. This approach is about fixing the problem first rather than […] Continue reading
February 2, 2019
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Comments Off on Science in the Primary School
For most of my school friends, the highlights of our week were going to science lessons and seeing what experiments we could beg our teacher to do with us. I always loved science. It wasn’t something that I can remember doing in the classroom of my primary school, but I have great memories of going …
February 1, 2019
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Comments Off on Teaching Across the Curriculum – Science
Key features of a good science lesson and any lesson is ensuring the 7 principles of the CfE (Curriculum for Excellence) are used; challenge and enjoyment, breadth, depth, personalisation & choice, progression, coherence and relevance. You can ensure you do this through: Allowing children to take ownership of their learning. Open discussions Active learning Relating […] Continue reading
February 1, 2019
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Comments Off on Reflection on action – Semester One
During my first semester an important moment that enhanced my professional development was during one of the first ‘Values’ lectures. All the different concepts we explored and new ideas that were introduced to me, made me realise that it was okay to push the boundaries of my own values and see them from an other’s […] Continue reading
January 30, 2019
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Comments Off on Teaching Across the Curriculum – Health and Wellbeing, Food and Health
I have planned three health and wellbeing lessons based on the experiences and outcomes for health and wellbeing, primarily the food related sections. Individual Lesson Plan Format (Primary) MA Professional Practice HandbookIndividual Lesson Plan Format.docx Class/Group: 2nd Level Lesson: Health & Wellbeing Date: ………..… Previous Experience Working towards outcomes of a Curriculum for Excellence By […] Continue reading
January 30, 2019
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Comments Off on Teaching Across the Curriculum – Maths
During my maths input last week I discovered how common the pre-conceptions of maths are. I also learned about different techniques I can use in the classroom to relieve maths anxiety in the pupils and my teaching ability. The session also allowed me to learn some activities I could do with the class to ensure […] Continue reading
