Comments (4) I was invited recently to a roundtable discussion on technology in education, unfortunately I was unable to attend however they sent me this video and I’m pretty blown away with some of the content. If this is the future then I’m pretty glad that Erin is the age she is now. Well worth a look for any parents interested in education.
Erin’s in preschool but before long I’ll be signing her life her education over to the professionals, up until now I’ve been her teacher. We’ve spent nearly four years together, I’ve taught her to walk, talk, make pasties and play noughts & crosses, all life skills I’m sure you’ll agree. So now that she’s due to start school next year I’m beginning to wonder where my ‘teaching’ role begins and ends.
Is it time I let go? Allow the professionals to get on and do their job, after all I don’t have a teaching degree.
Do I play the supporting role filling in the gaps with craft filled afternoons and trips to the museum?
Or is it the other way round, are the teachers supporting me? Will my role change at all? I don’t know.
I’d hate to think after four years hard graft I’m going to be consigned to the dump, bright enough to educate a preschooler but too dim to teach anything beyond basic addition, but if I do try and get involved will I end up hindering her progress, teaching her letters in the non-phonic way or teaching her that quadratic equations are pointless 
Should I be pleased to be ‘hands off’? Who wants to re-learn quadratic equations anyway?
I just don’t know
So I’m asking you, how much do you get involved in your child’s education? Do you help with homework? Do you do extra learning at home? Or do you stay well out of it.
Whose responsibility is it to teach our kids?
“Anger over sheep slaughter” the BBC reports. Some parents are up in arms over the slaughter of a sheep that was raised by school children on a farm.
One mother says that she feels it’s wrong to kill the animal and it’s the equivalent of boiling up the family pet for dinner.
Here’s a short clip of the headteacher speaking out on the issue.
A discussion has been taking place on facebook, many parents believing that the headteacher is admirable and that there’s nothing wrong with teaching the children where their food comes from. On the other side there are a couple of people that are less happy, one person believes that they can teach children the same lessons without the practicalities of killing and selling the meat to re-invest in other animals. Another who eats meat because she doesn’t like anythingelse is uncomfortable with the reality and although is happy enough to eat the meat does not want to have the ‘death part’ in her face.
I think there are a couple of issues here;
1. Is it ok to eat meat but not be prepared to face the reality of where it comes from?
2. Is it ok for primary school children to be taught in such a practical way how a farm works and about the production of meat?
Let’s take point one;
I’m a meat eater and I believe that if you’re prepared to have an animal killed for your own consumption you need to be prepared to face the reality that the animal is reared to be killed for food. If you’re in anyway uncomfortable with that then you should be considering whether you should be a vegetarian. Just my point of view.
Point two;
We’re far to quick these days to wrap our children in cotton wool, I agree with the headteacher these children are learning several valuable lessons (farming, entrepreneurship, decision making) and let’s not forget it was the children who voted 13-1 to have the animal slaughtered, who are we to stifle their learning because of our own hang ups? The animal was not a pet, it was reared on a farm in a farming community. This is life, we can’t pretend that meat just appears in plastic packaging in Tesco. This scenario will allow those children to make informed decisions on whether as adults they will pursue a diet that includes meat.
What do you think?
Erin finally started nursery on Monday, she was due to start in April but the class was full so she was more than ready. On their first day they only stay for an hour which was a big dissappointment to her, it was difficult to drag her away, it was a beautiful day and she was happily playing in the garden. The teacher said she’d had a great time and that it was as if she’d been there for years! I couldn’t help but feel proud, it’s really important to me that she enjoys school, as I did.
Yesterday was her first full day, she kept checking with me that she’d be spending the whole afternoon there, I only hope she’s as keen in a few years time
We moved house a couple of years back and one of our main motivations was the excellent schools in the area and that’s really paying off now The nursery and primary school had excellent reports, with ‘above average’ results. We’ve been very lucky to be able to afford a house in an area with such good schools, even the high school has a good reputation. Ussually the priviledge of a good school comes at a price, but we seem to have stumbled across a well kept secret! Plus the fact we employed the ethos of ‘living in the worst house in the best street’
How’s everyonelse’s ‘back to school’ going?
Only two days to go and Erin begins nursery. I’m trying not to sound too relieved, but I am. It’s been a long three years and we’ve had lots of fun and I’m glad that I did it (stayed at home)etc etc but I’m looking forward to a bit of freedom, the intensity of the school holidays has definitely worn me down a bit and I’m looking forward to the reprieve of having to provide endless activities and entertainment.
Her teachers came to visit this week introducing themselves and explaining what we can expect on her first day, along with the things we need to take – a completed welcome pack, plimsoles, wellies, spare clothes etc.. It all feels very official and even though it’s not full time and not ‘real’ school, the nursery is inside the school so it still feels like a milestone. The teachers were lovely and Erin has been asking every day if she’s starting nursery today so I’m confident that all will be well.
And me? What will I do with my two hours forty five minutes times five less one friday in two…. Badminton and leisurely lunches with hubby, studying for my HNC, getting my house and garden in order, especially the garden.
The Daily Mail had a piece on the future changes to the national curriculum last week. The article was from the angle of children as young as eleven being taught about gay relationships.
Here is the new proposed curriculum;
Age 4 – 7
Age 9 – 11
Age 11 – 14
Source: Daily Mail
The Daily Mail has focused in on a perceived negative in their article when actually I think there’s a lot to be pleased about in this proposal. I particularly like the entrepreneurial theme that runs through the curriculum, including the ‘managing your money’ section, so many are in a dire situation at the moment and not all of it can be blamed on the economy. Poor money management has surely contributed to some of the issues many face. Formal teaching in this area is surely advantageous to us as a society.
I also appreciate the focus on health, perhaps we as parents need to be a little more accepting of the sex education bit. They may be our babies but they are future adult citizens who will be free to act in any way they please with only their knowledge and (hopefully) morals to guide them. More knowledge is better than less, no?
Finally, I don’t really get the big deal with learning about gay relationships at eleven anyway, am I on my own here?
The first ever Whale Shark Doing a Poo has been filmed. Quite fascinating really, although I don’t know why. As a parent it seems we become quite obsessed with poo, how much? how often? what colour? consistency? well, you can pass this clip off as education, there’s an interesting article and a shark’s eye view of the ocean.
Ben at Instigator Blog has a very interesting post entitled 10 Things They Need To Teach in Highschool.
I’m in agreement with most of the list, here’s what I would add.
Goal Setting – How to set goals and achieve them. Discuss ambition and motivation.
Research Skills – When you know how and where to find information and resources you have the power to teach yourself anything.
Self Development – How to continue to grow once school is behind you.
Life Skills – I’d have many topics under this heading including how to buy a house, basic diy, basic car maintenance, parenting, being a good citizen, manners and etiquette…
I agree with Entrepreneurship, Psychology & Personal Finance from Ben’s list.
Entrepreneurship – I would like to see kids being taught about various ways to make money if they are made redundant/unemployed perhaps then there would be less of a strain on the benefits system. Also, how to spot opportunities and how to start your own business.
Psychology – I’m going for this because I would have loved to have done it at school.
Personal Finance – On a basic level, budgeting, living within your means, debt and the consequences of, saving and investing could all be VERY useful skills in today’s society.
Feel free to add your own…
My opinions here were aroused by this news article on plans to keep a register of holidays taken within term-time.
I can’t stress enough how wrong I think this is.
For a start, the law states that a child must be provided with a suitable and age appropriate education. It does NOT state that a child must attend school, full, part or otherwise, that is why parents have free choice to homeschool, should they wish. This in mind, it begs the question, why do schools (and the government) have the right to prevent term-time holidaying? (and keep registers thereof)
If it’s a parent’s choice how and where to educate their child it is also a parent’s right to take them out of school if they can prove that they are providing alternative education. Wouldn’t you agree that a holiday particularly of a cultural nature is a rich learning experience for any child? It could be argued (and I would) that even the beachiest holiday can incorporate educational excursions to historic buildings, museums etc..
Our education system is all or nothing in it’s current form. Either you take full responsibility as a parent and homeschool or you are forced to hand over all responsibility to the state system.
Here’s a thought.
What about an ‘Education Partnership’ a system where teachers, pupils and parents work together. Pupils should have a larger say in the curriculum – child led learning could be practised quite easily if we weren’t so obsessed with examining our children, what if our ‘teachers’ were more akin to learning facilitators, flexible and prepared to facilitate the learning of any subject regardless of curriculum. This would have four major advantages as I see it.
1. Children will be far more engaged when they have a say in what they learn.
2. Teachers will not become stale, teaching the same curriculum over and over again. They aren’t teaching kids about the world and skills anymore, they are training them to pass exams.
3. We will end up with a hugely diverse set of future workers who will have a much larger variety of skills, strengths and interests.
4. We wouldn’t have to worry about term-time holidaying, because the kids wouldn’t be ‘missing’ anything. What they are ‘missing’ at the moment is the vital bits of information required to pass exams. A looser curriculum and a vastly reduced exam calendar and the problem is solved. Holidaying would be seen as a major advantage to their education, think, the possibility of experiencing different cultures, practising foreign languages and customs, the opportunities are endless and far beyond what can be offered in the confines of the classroom.
Parents need to be involved and take more responsibility to assist in the education process by visiting museums, galleries, and other appropriate activities that tie in with the current learning in school. Some parents will argue they don’t have time, to them I would say, if you don’t have time, don’t have kids, you just can’t do them justice. Harsh, I know.
Why can’t we encourage term time holidaying? Why can’t we incorporate that into the classroom. Jonathan visited Africa? Great, let him do a show and tell, let us share what he has learned. Let us open our minds to the possibilities, instead of building systems that hinder everyone.
The education system is our education system, we pay for it and it’s our kids it is serving. If we want to change it, we can.
Thoughts welcome…
Photo by flickr user Robem
Fine motor skills are small muscle movements of the fingers that help your child to perform school readiness activities such as:
Painting with a paintbrush
Cutting with scissors
Drawing and writing using a pencil or crayon correctly
Holding and using a knife and fork
Holding and manipulating small objects
Craft activities
(Nursery & School Guide Edinburgh 06/07)
THE PLAN
Choose any theme you want and adapt the plan accordingly. My theme is ‘Primary Colours’.
Monday: Do three paintings. A Red painting, a Blue painting and a Yellow painting.
Tuesday: Take some magazines, old paper and cards in the three primary colours, allow your child to cut into squares or other shapes with safety scissors. Take a large piece of white paper or card and glue the paper pieces on to make a primary colour collage. Make signs for each colour by writing the letters on to paper, your child can attempt to cut out by following the lines.
Wednesday: Practise writing their name in the three different colours. Choose the best sign and decorate with glitter and stickers for the wall.
Thursday: Prepare a lunch together of pasta. Give them a jar of pasta and ask them to count out some pasta shapes into a bowl (using their pincer grip). Serve with some ham or chicken and practise using a knife and fork. Make it more fun by heading outside for a picnic – don’t forget to ice some biscuits or fairy cakes with red, blue and yellow icing!
Friday: Make a model house. Take a box (the house), a yoghurt pot (chimney), and some cellophane (windows) and glue together to make a house. Paint the house red, blue or yellow. Add some fabric curtains, and cotton wool smoke to the chimney.
Saturday: Let your child choose an activity or outing that relates to red, blue or yellow!
Photo by flickr user venegas
I'm a 27 year old mum to 4 year old Erin. We live just outside Edinburgh in a small rural village.
I've been blogging for four years and write about anything and everything that takes my fancy.
Above is me with my beloved Ernie in Port Aventura and left with our love child in Florida.
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