education

Feeling Inspired…

I was recently inspired. A presenter at a training course on Friday delivered his message with enthusiasm and humour and hooked us all in. It prompted a thought however, I could not remember the last time working in education had inspired me. Now, don’t get me wrong at this point – I love, LOVE my job! I can’t imagine not doing it or ever stopping working with children. Building them a better future is incredible!

inspiraI think that I have allowed myself of late to become swallowed up with that data driven, target driven, work for works sake ethos that can overtake a struggling school. Well, no more! This post today serves more of a reminder of what should ALWAYS be number one on the priority list and also as a book review. If this book untitled(from the trainer and already on its way from Amazon!) does no more than to inspire me, it has already paid for itself. I doubt that it will stop there though. I have faith that this book will serve to enhance practice in our setting and even go some way to change our stars. Oh for that fabled day when I get to see a happy and inspired staff again…

If you have children or are an educator I urge you to look him up…@Hywel_Roberts

Be Well 🙂

Nurture, and relax…

e&s edit

A little project of mine that came to life in September 2013. Was an absolute honour to set up and has given us all great delight with such amazing results!!

Everyone needs a bit of nurture sometimes,

Be well

🙂

 

 

Psychology in schools…

 

This was a new experience for me folks! I love and adore my job and know it inside out and upside down, BUT I was then asked to talk about elements of what I do on camera! Why is it the most confident and able of us can be reduced to a gibbering wreck as soon as a camera is pointed at us? Must work on nerves!

Would love to hear your thoughts on our work (tips for speaking on camera are also most welcome ha!)

Be well 🙂

 

Birthday…

Birthday love

So, I grow older. Today I am thirty one. I love this! What an absolute gift to have another birthday amongst the love of my family and friends. Seeing my little boy rip open my gifts this morning has put the biggest smile on my face! Eleanor Roosevelt once said

‘I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.‘

I hope that with all my heart I have managed to give my son this, I was blessed with parents who did this for me and I will cherish that over other gifts, however pretty!! Seneca said, all those years ago that ‘A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.‘ Clever guys those Romans! As an educator whose bag is emotional health and well being, I totally agree and try to share this ethos with my colleagues. If a child gives you a rock. Cherish it, have a big, fat wow moment! It is not the rock that is the big deal. It is the fact that they chose to give it to you!!!

So, live to day as though it is your birthday. Celebrate your wrinkles, saggy bits and grey hairs – they are absolute medals of the passage of your life! They are what you have been through and who you are.

 

Much love on this, my birthday!!

🙂

 

Tabula Rasa…

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Tabula Rasa, a Latin term meaning blank slate

Suggesting that the mind begins as a blank slate. According to this notion, everything that we are and all of our knowledge is determined by our experience

I recently read and article written by Dr Kathryn Asbury, discussing her new book ‘G is for genes’ where the nature v nurture debate was explored. The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. The debate centres on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development. Some philosophers such as Plato and Descartes suggested that certain things are inborn, or that they simply occur naturally regardless of environmental influences.

As an educator I have seen the influences of both throughout my career, but would love to know what others feel on this matter…

Be well 🙂