Barry Smith - Learning about Learning

This attention grabbing title was the subject of our in-service day today.  Sue Palmer ex-headteacher cum educational writer and researcher gave an extremely thought-provoking session on the subect of how boys learn and why we may be expecting too much of them at an early age in terms of the mastery of spoken and written language. 

She argued that some boys may be ‘turned off’ education at an early age because they don’t feel they can have the same success as girls in learning to read and write, an issue that seems to be backed up by research suggesting that the young male brain processes symbolic language on one side of the brain as opposed to both sides in girls, which apparently gives them an advantage.  Another factor was that boys are not allowed to ‘play to their strengths’ in terms of developing their spatial awareness and risk-taking skills which are more inherent in boys than in girls, a developmental hangover from when we really were hunter gatherers apparently. 

The whole nature/nurture debate was again sparked off and discussed through the course of the day and I have to say made for a very stimulating sesson. 

To what extent can schools intervene and provide necessary skills to promote the ‘fully rounded’ development of both boys and girls in this age of blurred gender roles? I won’t get involved in further conjecture on this matter, because I certainly don’t have answers, but I will be reading more on this fascinating subject. 

I was further impressed today by the presentation of Yvonne Binks, currently seconded to Better Behaviour Scotland,  who was launching the ‘Be Cool in School’ behaviour programme for primary 6/7 youngsters while also giving us secondary teachers a chance to look at the draft of the secondary version which will roll out in August.  At an early assessment, it is the closest attempt I have seen at teaching emotional literacy amongst young people in a ‘mainstream setting’ and as such I think is a real step in the right direction.  I can’t wait to have a look in more detail.  All in all a top quality in-service day. 

I think I have also ‘firmed up’ my idea for a comparitive study on the SQH.  I am hoping to go into on of the companies shortlisted in the National Business Awards for the corporate social responsibility to see how they have put their policy staements in to practice and how they monitor and evaluate the impact they have had.  The only thing I have to do now is to get someone to agree to take part!

I have a full week ahead with parents visiting to discuss support we have put in place to help our youngsters in S4 who are missing out on some of their standard grade subject time through going to college, the next Extreme Learning meeting, my first alternative curriculum working group meeting and the Pre-vocational strategy group meeting this week too!  On top of that I’m trying to organise and advertise an African drumming workshop a week on Saturday for my Senegalese Teacher who is coming up from Bristol for the weekend.  I’m extremely lucky to have all these great things happening, just hope my head can keep up!