Free Memory sticks!!! October 10, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Uncategorized , add a comment
http://www.memory4teachers.co.uk/index.asp
Memory Sticks 4 Teachers is a major new ICT initiative taking place within the UK education sector.
Thanks to Lynne for this info.
Mental Health of Young People October 7, 2008
Posted by Joan MacRae in : Uncategorized , add a commentMany of the Young People referred for OUtreach teaching in recent years have been diagnosed with Mental Illness of various kinds. It can take some months away from school to recover. Those in school who are anxious or unhappy will find difficulty in concentration.
At the Scottish Learning Festival I came across some useful resources for schools in supporting the Mental Health of all pupils.
The Centre for Confidence and Well being offers the possibility of In-service training for teachers, and resources can be accessed on line at www.centreforconfidence.co.uk
The Samaritans have produced a DVD resource which can be used in Staff training or with classes. ‘Developing emotional awareness and Learning’ is well worth a look for lesson plans and ideas for PSD classes.
‘Glow’ will be invaluable for pupils who have to take time away from school through illness. The implications are exciting in supporting inclusion.
Relationships and Participation with Pupils and Parents October 7, 2008
Posted by Joan MacRae in : Additional Support, Early Intervention, Home Teaching, NHS ASL, SFL, Uncategorized, inclusion , add a commentI listened to Charles Leadbeater at the Scottish Learning Festival and was excited by his notions of :”Learning with rather than teaching to pupils ;the learner as participant not an empty vessel; and community being crucial to the learning process”
I reflected on my work with a P.1 pupil who had cognitive difficulties. Her barriers to learning were compounded by social and emotional deprivation and her family had difficulty in providing an environment to offset some of the disadvantages she was born with.
Unfortunately working and learning with parents is time consuming and costly. Leadbeater says that we may have exhausted other avenues for further development in education except in “Personalisation and collaboration.” A redistribution of resourcing and flexibility of provision might reach pupils currently missed.
TESS (3/10/08), reporting on several speakers at the Learning Festival says the emphasis needs to be on “Relationships”.
Martin Rouse called on schools to focus on “relationships,respect and recognition” while Professor Teese said that Scotland should be strengthening relationships within its schools.
ICT and Communication August 24, 2008
Posted by Morna McDonald in : Uncategorized , 4commentsLast term I was privileged to visit a special school in Glasgow, Croftcroighn. The work which was being done on literacy and communication was innovative and inspiring and I left with my head absolutely buzzing and so much to think about. A couple of weeks later Croftcroighn’s HMIe report was published - wow!
Since then I’ve worked with Elizabeth Cowan our ICT curriculum Officer and a speech therapist to develop and implement some of the innovative practice I observed.
We’ve created a Communication Book (using BoardMaker V6) for one wee lass who has no spoken language but has lots to say, we’ve invested in some new software to trial, bought some funky stationery and Talking Photo albums (A5 and A3 size), a new digital camera and I still have a wish list! Creating the Communication Book has certainly stretched (and greatly enhanced) my Boardmaker skills! Now I keep thinking of more and more applications for the software.
The software is Communicate:In Print 2 by Widget. Every word which is typed has a symbol which appears above the word - even ‘the’ and ‘a’ have symbols. This supports the child who finds it difficult to recognise abstract symbols (writing) and the added visual symbols can open up a whole new world. The symbols an be switched off or only used for specific words and images can be uploaded. You may choose to upload images of ORT characters for example or photos so if you type a name you get an actual picture of that place or person. At Croftcroighn some of the children were now reading and these youngsters had severe and complex difficulties - it was wonderful! Additional specific symbols can be purchased - Shakespeare for example. So far I’ve written a social story and had a go at a couple of other things so I’m looking forward to experimenting a bit more.
We’ve been using Talking Photo albums for quite a while in schools but the A3 ‘Big Book’ size was new to me. It’s now in a P5 classroom and the class will use it to record their ES topic - the Seashore - artwork, photos, text - whatever the children choose to record. This will give a voice to a pupil who has no spoken language enabling her to share in the work of her class and to express her views.
I’d be interested to know how teachers in East Lothian are using technology to give kids a voice.
Chartered Teacher success!!! April 17, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Uncategorized , add a commentAnother member of the Outreach team, Janet Storey, has gained Chartered Teacher status recently.
Preparing the submission for recognition is an enormous amount of work. There is a 10,000 word reflection paper, accompanied by a portfolio demonstrating the action the teacher has taken to achieve the standard.
There are 4 key components to achieving the standard:
Professional values and personal commitment;
Professional knowledge and understanding;
Professional and personal attributes;
Professional action.
The basic assumption is that the Chartered Teacher is characterised by 4 professional values and personal commitments:
1. effectiveness in promoting learning in the classroom.
2. critical self-evaluation and development.
3. collaboration and influence.
4. educational and social values.
Many congratulations to Janet.
Labour aims to tackle high rate of illiteracy March 17, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Uncategorized , add a commenthttp://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.2122522.0.
The Herald reports that a new literacy commission is to be established by the Scottish Labour Party to look at ways of tackling the estimated 10,000 pupils who currently leave school unable to read or write properly. Under the plan, a group of experts will be assembled to look at the benefits of synthetic phonics, one-to-one tuition and more vocational courses. In particular, the commission will look at the success of West Dunbartonshire in tackling illiteracy and look at how the techniques used can be rolled out across Scotland.
Special needs website wins fans March 7, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Uncategorized , add a commenthttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7275479.stm
BBC Scotland reports that a website for parents of children with special needs proves a hit.
A couple who set up an internet support community for fellow parents of children with special needs hope it can become a charity due to its success.
Debbi Robertson and partner Graham Brockie, of Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, set up Extra Special Parents two years ago after daughter Willow was born. Willow had a rare congenital condition and they felt “upset and isolated”. Now the growing website has hundreds of members across the world who can discuss special needs of any kind.
Online graphical dictionary and thesaurus March 5, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Uncategorized , 2commentsVisuwords™ online graphical dictionary and thesaurus
Check this wonderful resource out!
With thanks to John Connell for pointing it out.
I love you, Miss. I love you, too February 29, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so farTESS reports that teachers should not be afraid of saying they “love” the children they work with, according to two of Scotland’s most influential figures in young people’s lives. ‘Margaret Doran, Glasgow City Council’s head of education and social work, and Kathleen Marshall, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, argued that love was an important factor in working successfully with children. They made their comments at a leadership event for primary school heads last week, creating a talking point that dominated the coffee breaks and split delegates into two clear camps.’
Draft experiences and outcomes for literacy and English and literacy and Gàidhlig February 22, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Uncategorized, reading , add a commenthttp://www.curriculumforexcellencescotland.gov.uk/outcomes/index.asp
The draft experiences and outcomes for literacy and English and literacy and Gàidhlig are now published on the Curriculum for Excellence website. These documents have been designed to provide information for all staff in all education establishments on the context and scope of the draft outcomes; they also explain what schools and centres should do with the draft outcomes.
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