Barry Smith - Learning about Learning

Having hit the ground running as always I thought it was time to get back in the blogging saddle for a new year.  Had a fantastic festive period, lots of ‘firsts’.  My son’s first Christmas, his first birthday and first unaided steps, on his first birthday, talk about good timing!  I also read what can only be called a ’self help’ book for the first time.  It’s called ‘How to be brilliant!‘ - a nice understated title, but it did catch my eye in the library.  It is unbelievably positive which I have to say I loved, although it may be a bit over the top for some.  Has some great stuff in amongst the hype, both in terms of personal development and goal setting. Worth a read if you need a lift at the start of a new year and very easy going.  I’m not sure I’m brilliant just yet, but maybe if I repeat it enough times and take “massive action”(you’ll need to read the book) it’ll happen!

The ALPs programme is also moving forward, we are at the selection stage at the moment and plan to start on the week of 12th February all being well.  One outstanding difficulty/opportunity that we have is the selection of mentors.  I spoke with Catherine Field of CSV (Community service volunteers) today and unfortunately it doesn’t look they are going to be able to work with us at the moment, so back to the drawing board.  Any ideas on how people have gone about selecting and using mentors would be most welcome.  There is more information on the wiki about how we intend to use the mentoring approach.  I’m confident we will get a solution to this important area of the programme.

Finally I’m going to publicise my New Year’s resolutions, they say it may help you stick to them if they are public.

1. I am swimming 2.5km in the Marie Curie Swimathon on 25th March and hopefully the Great North Run on September 30th(I’ll run, not swim that one).

2. I am learning the piano

3. I am teetotal for 2007(the hardest one - chosen for the challenge!)