Just for general wonderings…
My general wonderings…
Helen attended her first football game for two decades, dragged there by Mandy – the result a 4-o win to Gillingham over Lincoln. BBC have kindly supplied evidence….
And just in case you couldn’t quite see them…
Highlights of the game available here.
http://twitter.com/#!/phillengthorn/status/56313722100129792
I was playing around online last night teaching myself, so I thought I’d use it today. I used it to explore using PEE with my Y11. Not sure how much educational purpose it had, and I think I was more impressed with it than the students, but hope to use it more in future. Take a look:
So here we are into April, the sun has finally decided to bless us with its presence more often and the nights are lighter. Therefore, I thought maybe I should produce some ‘general wonderings’, just to keep you up to date:
Firstly take a look at this….
If you look really closely (maybe squint a little) you will see that I’ve had hits from all over the world!! From Washington, Canada, Australia, South America, the list goes on….or if you look to the right you’ll be able to see it better ——>
Secondly, how about Twitter Blackbird Pie? You can use it to insert tweets into your blog, so that people can interact with twitter via your blog, check it out….
http://twitter.com/#!/phillengthorn/status/54141450170015745
Thirdly, and most important, tickets are booked for Helen and I to attend Cambridge Folk Festival. Happy days! Bring on the Summer! Just a little reminder from a couple of years ago…..
Finally, believe it or not but project365 is still going strong! Thanks in part to how easy it is to post them via Blackberry. Not sure what project365 is? Click here for more info. If you’ve got nothing better to do, why don’t you have a browse through the pictures now….
On Saturday 26th March at 8.30pm I will be turning off the lights, in support of Earth Hour. I think a nice moonlight walk with the dog sounds like a plan, or maybe reading a book by candlelight.
Project365 is still going strong, although Helen has suggested that I need to blog more, otherwise my tiny little part of the virtual universe is in danger of becoming rather dull, tedious and boring. Hence this….
Half-term was great. Didn’t really do much at all, a spot of marking (not as much as I had planned), a trip to Leicester, and a couple of races was pretty much it – but that is what half-term is all about.
On the running front I’ve been going to Bourne Town Harriers Tuesday training pretty regularly, and when there I’ve been working hard, we’ve done lots of short distances in an attempt to build strength and speed. I ran the Sleaford Half-Marathon in 1:40.51 which I was happy with. I actually forgot to take my watch so just ran at a good pace and tried to up the pace for last couple of miles. Following that race I ran the rescheduled Nene Valley Ten – a ten-miler in 73.30 – was very happy with that.
Still deciding whether or not to enter the Grantham Half later in the month.
As for stuff….
Frank Turner tour announced last Monday, and after a panic ridden day of venues selling out within 24 hours, I bagged a couple of tickets for the Cambridge gig in May. Woop woop! To celebrate…
Also on the music front, still no nearer deciding on a festival for the summer – Cambridge Folk Festival is currently top of the list.
Been making a point recently of trying to catch-up on all the fantastic blogs online from tweeps – hence the need for an ipad2!! Check out any of the blogs on the blogroll – most make interesting reads (especially if you are interested in education and teaching).
I am a secondary teacher. But let me just start by stating what sort of teacher I am. I am interested in the whole debate around education, where it is going, what needs changing, etc. But more importantly I am more interested in what goes on in my classroom. Sorry James, but I’m probably one of those teachers who do what I’m asked to do, even if I don’t quite agree with what is being asked (in the whole big educational issue agenda).
What is the purpose of education? The simple answer (or not so simple, depending how you look at it) is that it’s purpose is a whole range of things: learning, attainment, socialisation, development, creativity….the list is endless. I’d agree with Tom Barrett, I don’t have a clear idea of the purpose of education either.
Firstly, in my class I hope to teach students new things. I’m sure that is not an unusual answer from a teacher. Yes, I’m an English teacher and I want my students to understand punctuation and sentence structure, but also I want my students to develop as young people, to have a greater understanding of the world outside of the classroom. And to do this we have to challenge students, we need to push them, and we need to support them.
I would argue that education is about developing students’ confidence as much as their academic knowledge. It’s about motivating students and asking them to explore for themselves. You only need to spend the evening on #ukedchat to hear teachers discuss the real issues to understand that the purpose of education is educate ‘to develop the faculties and powers of a person’.
When it comes to the bigger picture. I would love to have the free range to teach what I like how I like and sod the curriculum, but that would be a foolhardy thing to do. I put my trust in educators and politicians that what they come up with is good for children we teach.
We as teachers know there are problems, but the problem is then how to address these problems….quiet chat to the head?…..meeting with the governors?…..letter to the PA?….take to the streets?…..write to your MP?….
I’d love to help….but just don’t see how….
purpos/ed
Lengthorn's Blog 