January 13, 2016
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Comments Off on Science: Food for Thought
Science is a subject of which I have limited knowledge. I studied all 3 sciences at Standard Grade but it was never something I had much of a passion for. Naturally after reflecting on what little information I could remember, using the science audit Richard supplied, I knew it was my duty as a trainee […] Continue reading
January 6, 2016
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Comments Off on The Ability Grouping Debate Continues
There are various ways in which the classroom environment can be managed effectively. When considering how a classroom should be organised and managed it is important to consider both the practical implications for the classroom teacher as well as how it will affect pupils’ learning. I wish to focus on the ongoing debate around […] Continue reading
December 28, 2015
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Comments Off on Let’s Make Space for Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning was never a big focus throughout my primary years despite the large field and beautiful Moray Coast on which the school was situated. It was never a topic that was negotiated within our classes and I remember looking out of the window on numerous occasions wishing I was running around in the fresh […] Continue reading
December 4, 2015
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Comments Off on Mathematics in Demand Planning – Show me the Money!!!!
As mentioned in my previous blog posts, mathematics is incorporated in to absolutely everything in life. This idea was further embedded during a lecture on supply chain and logistics in maths. It was a three hour input, but It was honestly the best maths class to date. It was completely relevant, interactive and so much […] Continue reading
November 11, 2015
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Comments Off on That was excellent, but this could be worked on…
Peer review is something I never felt very confident in. I often felt like I wasn’t of the authority to suggest ways of improvement on other’s work, or I didn’t want to offend someone. Giving positive feedback was easy, especially when it is in comparison to another piece of work and you can see improvements. […] Continue reading
November 11, 2015
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Comments Off on Earn it
College was the first time I had heard of B.F. Skinner and his theory of operant conditioning. Straight away I took an instant interest in it and decided that I would work around his theory of positive reinforcements to complete my graded unit. My graded unit consisted of me investigating an area of my choice […] Continue reading
November 10, 2015
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Comments Off on My Tired
Language acquisition fascinates me. It’s The theory of Noam Chomsky and the Nativist Theoretical approach that intrigues me the most. I agree that no child is born Tabula Rasa, we must have some sort of base to build upon, the inclination and thirst to learn. The skills needed to acquire language therefore would be, according to […] Continue reading
November 5, 2015
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Comments Off on Peer Review Strategies for the Classroom
Pinterest is such a fantastic resource for teachers. It is so easy to use and is full of great ideas. I have started a new board on my account where I have saved some peer review strategy ideas. I will continue to use this board over the period of my course, so hopefully by the time […] Continue reading
November 4, 2015
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Comments Off on It’s maths, Jim, but not as we know it…
When a string is plucked, it vibrates at a particular rate creating a note. A familiar concept to violinists, guitarists, cellists and…well anybody who plays a stringed instrument, and I’m sure anyone who has ever fired an elastic band across a room. The rate at which this string vibrates is known as the frequency (determined […] Continue reading
November 3, 2015
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Comments Off on Professionalism: My Views…
After watching these videos and taking my own notes on the different opinions/views on professionalism I have gathered some of my own thoughts on them… Video 1 I completely agreed with everything that was brought up in this video. I think it’s making a very strong, powerful point when looking at professionalism. How the doctor […] Continue reading
October 27, 2015
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Comments Off on The importance of being an enquiring practitioner…
As we learnt today, in Nikki’s input, being an enquiring practitioner is highly regarded within the teaching profession. This is something that I think we should acknowledge as new student teachers. On the GTCS website it states that “Practitioner enquiry is an area of professional learning which was highlighted in Teaching Scotland’s Future (Donaldson, 2011) […] Continue reading
October 27, 2015
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Comments Off on Behaviour – Operant Conditioning
Discipline is important for effective learning to place and after today’s lecture I felt I’d like to know more of what it can mean to me as a practitioner. Operant conditioning is a learning process in which behavioural responses are based on consequences. There are two types of operant conditioning that can be used to […] Continue reading
October 27, 2015
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Comments Off on A Helping Hand – Working Together
An approach to learning. A learning style. Currently evolving. The sharing of knowledge. Expressing views and ideas. Assisting and helping. Working together. Collaborative Learning. Collaborative Learning is an ongoing and widely debated topic in Scottish Education and a learning style encouraged and discouraged. It is an approach to learning and a way of working together and sharing ideas, building […] Continue reading
October 27, 2015
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Comments Off on Co-operative Learning: why is it different to group work?
In this mornings lecture, a discussion about co-operative learning cropped up and it make me think about the importance of it in the primary classroom. Co-operative learning is a method of teaching and learning in which students team together to explore a significant question or create a meaningful project. It is a specific kind of […] Continue reading
October 25, 2015
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Comments Off on You can learn from me
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the mental condition resulting in a lack of correct social behaviours and interactions. Currently identified through parental interviews and observational studies, it effects an increasing number of today’s children and can be identified from as young as 2. Although signs can be seen from as early as 1, they are […] Continue reading
October 22, 2015
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Comments Off on Inspiration
This video of Joseph Lekuton which was linked within the online unit has filled me with such admiration and has inspired me considerably. Listening to him tell the story of the blind man and the man with no legs was incredible. It made me think and link it to lots of different ideas I have but […] Continue reading
October 22, 2015
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Comments Off on Differences Between Sweden and UK
Photo taken from Google Images – www.ucl.ac.uk A few weeks ago we had an input where we discussed comparative education. We mainly focused on the differences between Sweden and the UK and the different perspectives they had on learning in the early years. The Swedish School system contrasts with the UK school system in so many ways. The first one being […] Continue reading
October 16, 2015
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Comments Off on The Curriculum for Excellence: A comparison between our own curriculum and the Scandinavian Approach
The Curriculum for Excellence was introduced by the Scottish Government in 2010 – 2011 and was meant to revolutionise education in Scotland by providing children and young people between the ages of 3-18 a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum (Education Scotland, undated). In addition, the curriculum includes the totality of experiences which are planned for children and […] Continue reading
October 13, 2015
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Comments Off on Virtue of Teaching Videos
Q1. What makes a teacher who makes a difference? From watching the video I have been able to draw some conclusions about the aspects of teachers that make a difference. A teacher who makes a difference should be avidly involved in team work and should be willing to share information with others – the video […] Continue reading
October 9, 2015
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Comments Off on Personal vs professional presence on social media
There are so many social networking sites out in the world, how can we possibly as educators keep up? A new one is being made every day and I feel education in Scotland needs to embrace it in the correct manner. Children are growing up with there parents on social media right now, and they […] Continue reading
