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I've just come across this article on wired.com and thought it interesting (though I wonder if chewing a pen lid, hair, sleeves or anything else that kids tend to chew would have the same effect)
The Cognitive Benefits Of Chewing Gum
Chewing without eating...
Interesting article in the Guardian this week about the impact of class size on student learning. If you attended one of the conferences with Debra Masters and myself this month, then you might find this useful follow-up reading (particularly if you follow the references in the attached article by Peter Blatchford, Professor of Psychology and...
An article in the Guardian (Teenagers' IQ scores can rise or fall sharply during adolescence) caught my eye recently, so I did a bit of digging. The research being quoted was originally published in Nature...
I had a great day with the staff of Burlington Junior School in Bridlington at the beginning of September. The Headteacher, Cheryle Adams had invited me to lead some PD on inquiry-led learning, and the staff were really up for it. I left the school thinking what a great place to work.
Pity then that this wonderful, enthusiastic and dedictaed group of staff have fallen foul of Daily...
I was invited to run a P4C and early years course at Gallions Primary School in Newham last month - and what a privilege it was. Not only were the staff a joy to work with but the learning spaces they had created for their children were a joy to behold. The attention to detail was exquisite - turning the bike shed into the little pigs 3 houses;...
I've just come across this article, 'The Effort Effect' about Dweck's work. Notice the diagram of the pit!! Perhaps Prof Dweck was impressed with my use of the Learning Pit when she saw me present in York in 2010?!
Thanks to Kari Eliassen for sending me the link!
I was REALLY impressed with all things Invercargill this week. It was my first trip there but I really hope it won't be my last - it's just such a great place! Here's why:
1. The Invercargill Licensing Trust. I'm reliably informed that New Zealand used to have prohibition until the mid-1940's. Then, with a vote boosted by soldiers returning from...
I'm very pleased to confirm dates for the next P4C residential at Alnmouth Friary, Northumberland from 30th January to 3rd February 2012. As in past years, the emphasis will be on reflection, improving practice, networking and making good use of Alnmouth's beach, cafes and pubs!
There will be a study tour for people new...
Having just returned from the 15th International Conference on Thinking (ICOT) in Belfast, I'm minded to recommend a few conferences coming up in the next 18 months or so:
Sustainable Success in School Development in Varberg, Sweden, 31 Oct - 3 Nov 2011
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If you haven't already then I recommend signing up for the 15th International Conference on Thinking - ICOT. This year it will be hosted by Queen's University in Belfast between 19th - 24th June 2011. The full programme is now available.
Worth a browse is the Save the Children’s 12th annual State of the World's Mothers report. This compares the well-being of mothers and children in 164 countries. Norway comes out top again for mothers, with Australia in at second, Sweden 4th, NZ 6th and the UK 13th. Norway comes top because It has the highest ratio of...
I highly recommend joining The Curriculum Foundation, or at the very least visiting their website. They work with schools world-wide to promote a dynamic curriculum that puts learners at its heart. Their site is the first place I look when wanting a sensible update on the madness all around us. Mick Waters is the Foundation president....
I'm very pleased to announce two opportunities for funding. The first is Comenius funding to enable 26 people to attend a (what is likely to be) superb conference in Varberg, Sweden. The second is a £1000 grant from p4c.com to support a Philosophy for Children project.
Full details of the Varberg...
If you know of anyone between the ages of 17 and 22 who wants to develop an understanding of Philosophy for Children (P4C) and cultural studies then I recommend the 6th International Philosophy Youth Summer Congress taking place in Chiapas, Mexico between 24th July - 6th August this year.
The Congress typically brings together young people from Mexico, UK and Costa...
I recently heard this story from a friend. Don't know if it's true or which school it refers to, but I thought you might enjoy it… A school in Brisbane was recently faced with an interesting problem: a number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to...
Letting Children Off the Leash: This article reminds me of watching a play performed by the students of Bakkeløkka high school in Nesodden. Of course I couldn't understand what they were saying (just like a Shakespeare play then!) but what sticks out in my mind...
Two recommendations from Anne McCourt (thanks Annie!) on Facebook recently that I've loved: a couple of videos that would both be excellent stimuli for P4C inquiries with secondary students and/or adults. The first is an experiment in Stockholm to see if putting fun into climbing stairs could make more people choose stairs...
Whevever I'm on my travels, I rarely admit to being a teacher because of the unsolicited "advice" about how to fix education that such an admission attracts. So I was delighted to read this article in the Guardian, admitting to the same ploy (I even have my own Jill to...
Here's three interesting articles/websites I've come across last week: The first is an article challenging the idea that genes have fixed qualities ("There are no genetic factors that can be studied independently of the environment. This means that everything about us - our personalities, our intelligence, our abilities - are actually determined by the lives we lead. The very...
Some important news to begin 2011 with: Matthew Lipman, creator of the Philosophy for Children (P4C) movement and Professor Emeritus of Montclair State University, died on 26th Dec 2010. He was 87. I paid tribute in my book for the profound effect his writing had on my thinking, but I would also like to dedicate this blog entry to him too.
Prof...
Here's a quick round-up of news and ideas before I wish you all a jolly Christmas and restful holiday:
1. Switch the camcorders ON. Probably too late to mention this now that Mary's donkey and the baby Jesus doll has been put away for another year, but I was very pleased to read this message from the Information Commissioner's...
