Family Child Care

Diversity Begins with Us

In my Introduction to Teaching course, we were talking about diversity. The term 'diversity' has a much fuller and expanded meaning than it did when I started teaching 33 years ago. We thought the diversity in educational settings was the exception in our area of the country. Now we know it is always the rule. It should have been the rule 33 years ago, but it took a while for many people to incorporate it into their thinking. Some are still working at it. One of the things about diversity in an educational setting is how we look at ourselves. Do our actions show what we think we believe about acceptance? I worked with a teacher once who would bragged about how accepting she was of every child. It was confusing to me to watch her exhibit a very short temper to any non-white student she had in her class. The children of color in her room were the ones always in time-out and being punished in some way. She also had very low expectations for these children. The sad issue is that I think she truly believed she was accepting of diversity and differences. Her actions did not mirror what she thought she believed. Diversity includes: * culture * language * gender * ability differences * exceptionalities I'm glad we have realized that accepting others includes more than just ethnicity or culture. As educators, we need to continually look within and make sure that our actions reflect the belief that ALL children are welcome at the table and are equally special.

Diversity Begins with Us

30Jan2012

Child Neglect in 2011

Child Neglect in 2011

The Action for Children charity has just published Child Neglect in 2011, the first in what is planned to be a series of annual reviews on this topic. The research for the report was carried out by a team at the University of Stirling, and covers definitions of 'neglect', what the UK thinks about it…

27Jan2012

ICT in Schools 2008-11

ICT in Schools 2008-11

Ofsted has recently published ICT in Schools 2008-11, a report which reviews how ICT has been delivered at primary, secondary and special schools during the last few years. Issues such as teaching methods, the curriculum and school leadership are considered, and areas where schools could make furthe…

26Jan2012

DfE Research

It's been a slow few days for new research, so here's the details of a couple of useful Department of Education reports which were published in December and got missed in the run-up to Christmas. <a href="https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/NCR-Expert%20Panel%20Report.pdf" target="_blank">The Framework for the National Curriculum</a> is a report compiled by an expert panel, with a view to defining the purpose, shape, size and structure of the curriculum. The report contains a number of recommendations which are designed to generate discussion and contribute to the official review of the National Curriculum which is currently taking place. More information and documents relating to this can be <a href="http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/nationalcurriculum" target="_blank">found here</a>. Also new(ish) is a report entitled <a href="https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR169.pdf" target="_blank">Class Size and Education in England</a>, which examines how the increased birth rate may impact of class sizes, and the impact that this could have on educational outcomes.

DfE Research

23Jan2012

Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years

The <a href="http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/" target="_blank">School Food Trust</a> has just launched a set of new guidelines on nutrition for preschool children. The new advice is part of the Eat Better Start Better project, which aims to support children and their families to cook and eat well. Part of the inspiration for the new guidelines came out of a previous report which stated that some <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16554688" target="_blank">young children were being given food better suited to adults</a>. A practical guide for implementing the new guidelines in early years settings can be <a href="http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/download/documents/pdf/EBSB_practical_guide.pdf.pdf">downloaded here</a>. Further supplementary information including FAQS and example menus are available from <a href="http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/parents-carers/for-parents-carers/eat-better-start-better" target="_blank">this link</a>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin40YS5TTxfchTIG0JmD5vTt5ZH4CfvYJBP-ZyIZUzi-W2uYDvw8yBEQLSOGa8DxohrzpOimKy7Ltys-jWVkfu4yJNOilALgYnBfjDK4ZDqlVc1G6VZG4bFW_gSJH24f_drGGyiMa6Q/s1600/Some+veg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698164058349128562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin40YS5TTxfchTIG0JmD5vTt5ZH4CfvYJBP-ZyIZUzi-W2uYDvw8yBEQLSOGa8DxohrzpOimKy7Ltys-jWVkfu4yJNOilALgYnBfjDK4ZDqlVc1G6VZG4bFW_gSJH24f_drGGyiMa6Q/s200/Some+veg.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" /></a>

Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years

The School Food Trust has just launched a set of new guidelines on nutrition for preschool children. The new advice is part of the Eat Better Start Better project, which aims to support children and their families to cook and eat well. Part of the inspiration for the new guidelines came out of a pre…

16Jan2012

Good Childhood Report 2012

<a href="http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Children's Society</a> is making the headlines today with the publication of The Good Childhood Report 2012. This new research details the results of interviews with over 30,000 children aged 8-16, and investigates what factors are important in determining a child's happiness and wellbeing. The overall findings from the survey cover many different areas, though many media outlets have chosen to focus on the angle that <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/go/news/article/1111705/study-highlights-widespread-discontent-among-children/" target="_blank">almost one in ten children consider themsleves to be unhappy</a>. To read the full version of The Good Childhood Report 2012, <a href="http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/good_childhood_report_2012_final.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a>. For an overview of its findings a <a href="http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/good_childhood_research_summary_final.pdf" target="_blank">summary version</a> is also available, and a further publication entitled Promoting Positive Well-Being for Children, which contains advice for policy-makers is <a href="http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/promoting_positive_well-being_for_children_policy.pdf" target="_blank">also available</a>.

Good Childhood Report 2012

The Children's Society is making the headlines today with the publication of The Good Childhood Report 2012. This new research details the results of interviews with over 30,000 children aged 8-16, and investigates what factors are important in determining a child's happiness and wellbeing. The over…

12Jan2012

Things Are Not Always as They Appear!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWBWrVyDYjIohBs8QF_tNGOh-mGzGlOInEdJM0tnYYa0VmgxOoVFrAIepizSGa1JvCf8wm2rJJlGwOakIbUtDmwIkMC3mwMFJyx1gS-66jkT0A-uDLTr9h1y-dGSKEUBL8Ql1ubvfwIE/s1600/2012-01-01_17-23-37_418%255B1%255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696221431816260978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWBWrVyDYjIohBs8QF_tNGOh-mGzGlOInEdJM0tnYYa0VmgxOoVFrAIepizSGa1JvCf8wm2rJJlGwOakIbUtDmwIkMC3mwMFJyx1gS-66jkT0A-uDLTr9h1y-dGSKEUBL8Ql1ubvfwIE/s200/2012-01-01_17-23-37_418%255B1%255D.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" /></a> I had the opportunity to spend some of the holiday season in Kaua'i. On that island there is an amazing wonder called Waimea Canyon. It is considered the Grand Canyon of Hawaii. Indeed when we went to see it, I was shocked that this amazing canyon was hiding on an island. That portion of the island was not as it appeared from a distance. A hidden treasure! I was talking with a group of students today about NAEYC's requirements for 'multiple measures' to be used in tracking children's progress. That information is part of Standard 4 in NAEYC's Accreditation process. It is critical for us to individualize enough so that we can monitor the progress of each child. Sometimes children can fool us with their knowledge when they are in a group setting. Just like Waimea Canyon, things may not be as they appear. Within the classroom we can easily assume a child has mastered a skill that may still be a challenge for her individually. Without individualization and assessment, we would not know about the additional support that she may need. I remember a child I had a number of years ago that I assumed was a solid reader. He seemed to fit into our reading program well. However, when I asked him to read to me one day, he read a paragraph completely different than what was in print. The irony was that when he was finished he had stated the same information that was in the paragraph, just using different words and rewording sentences. Without individualized attention, his lack of skills may have been like the canyon-completely unknown from a distance. Individualized assessment allows us to explore every skill canyon that we are trying to reach. Assessment can keep us from false appearances in the classroom.

Things Are Not Always as They Appear!

I had the opportunity to spend some of the holiday season in Kaua'i. On that island there is an amazing wonder called Waimea Canyon. It is considered the Grand Canyon of Hawaii. Indeed when we went to see it, I was shocked that this amazing canyon was hiding on an island. That portion of the island …

10Jan2012

Digital Literacy

This week the Guardian is running a campaign to improve the teaching of computer science and information technology in schools and universities. All content related to the campaign is available <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/series/digital-literacy-campaign" target="_blank">on a mini-site</a> which features news stories, articles from contributors, lesson plans for teaching computing, and an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/10/bbc-micro-school-computer-revolution" target="_blank">interesting piece about the BBC Micro</a> which was the first computer to be used widely in UK schools. If you've got an interest in teaching ICT, it's worth visiting the site for a few minutes to see what's being discussed. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyP5z19vqlJYdI28UcEKcVNFjBNQlPdWPFfWS8zxkDKQAORYTlVbvz0nVBiYJH2vGrGOFm73CZv8R6tmIwLPJALMbb4wKTVCY0pk0x5R3ik3nliZDNPhe-LtAG7US5wslWPSPj3aPWQ/s1600/BBCMicro.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696015430941051746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyP5z19vqlJYdI28UcEKcVNFjBNQlPdWPFfWS8zxkDKQAORYTlVbvz0nVBiYJH2vGrGOFm73CZv8R6tmIwLPJALMbb4wKTVCY0pk0x5R3ik3nliZDNPhe-LtAG7US5wslWPSPj3aPWQ/s200/BBCMicro.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" /></a>

Digital Literacy

10Jan2012

Families in an Age of Austerity

Families in an Age of Austerity

Hardly the most cheerful way to begin the New Year, but yesterday saw the publication of a new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies entitled The Impact of Austerity Measures on Households with Children. The report examines how new benefit and tax reforms will impact on family incomes, and su…

05Jan2012