27-03-2020
01:51
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I have seen a lot of posts complaining about awareness days or “events” in school as they add to an already stretched to-do list.
I’d like to float the idea that these are not “add-ons” to the curriculum. Instead, they are incredibly valuable opportunities to harness the passion, the enthusiasm that a change in routine brings & the spirit of “service”.
I am not a fan of tokenistic gestures by and large. Words and flag-waving are easy. Action is not.
I have worked in settings where a nominal gesture to “days” is given.
Rainbow shoelaces in pride week (Why?! There was no context given!), and bake sales for autism awareness (but no actual awareness raised).
That said, these moments are brilliant if you can capture the fun ALONGSIDE the action.
It is a great opportunity to get kids leading & sharing. International Women’s Day is not just about saying “I like this woman” and doing a poster. It is an opportunity for learners to examine their school system, their community, their own values and find areas where inequality still exists and change is needed. Coming out day is not just about rainbow flags. It is about giving young people the chance to know what it means to feel unsafe being yourself & to work together to create ways to keep their LGBTQAI+ allies safe & understand & challenge the perceptions of society.
In every awareness day or event, I see endless potential for learning, possibilities for critical thinking, and the development of social/emotional skills.
It’s not an annoying “extra” on my to-do list. It is the MAIN EVENT.
The audience is captive (unfortunately, in many schools these days, quite literally) & most are so buzzed to have a change to normal routine (not all kids love it! I know many for whom it is very hard!) that they are eager to learn something “new”.
This strand of Service/PSHE is where personal connections can promote empathy, passion & moral & ethical engagement!! There will be someone on staff or in the community of the school that has a story that learners can invest in.
Empowering learners to make change is an incredibly fulfilling thing. Seeing their own amazement at what they can achieve is priceless & knowing that, on top of that, you have ALL made a difference is the most fantastic reward.
So, the next time it is World Book Day or Odd Socks Day or Pride Week….. maybe take a little longer to consider what the potential impact can be & whether it is worth more investment than a hastily scrawled book review on your door. I know we are busy “Teaching” but sometimes learning is what happens when we simply aren’t looking.
Is it Time to Play? provides high-quality planning, resources and training rooted in the core value of play-based learning. Specifically tailored to the unique needs of the Early Years (including Reception classes), Is it Time to Play? resources truly make “Play and Learning Fit”.
Brightcore Consultancy delivers comprehensive, reflective, and transformational training and consultancy support for education setting and related businesses in the fields of safeguarding, mental health, and wellbeing. Brightcore Consultancy is led by Lead Consultant Oliver Welsby who has extensive experience as a senior leader; both as DSL and a Senior Mental Health Lead, and who specialises in the development of effective mental health strategies and safeguarding practices within education settings, and regularly speaks at sector conferences on these topics. Oliver leads a team of expert associate consultants and trainers who have extensive knowledge and experience in both of these fields, along with individual specialisms to further support Education settings.
A-life provide interactive workshops Health & Wellbeing that take the workload off the teachers and engage children so they learn to develop healthy habits from a young age. We have taught over 1 million children through our school workshops that are engaging and accessible-for-all.__https://www.youtube.com/watch
https://discoveryschemeofwork.com/
Discovery RE® is an enquiry approach to Religious Education for Primary Schools which consistently delivers excellent learning outcomes. The programme is a comprehensive set of detailed medium-term planning for Religious Education from Nursery to Year 6 (for 3–11-year-olds).
Dolce is a family-run business providing freshly made, healthy meals to children using sustainably sourced British produce. We have delivered on our promise to schools for over 25 years, supported with the use of our cashless pre-order system reducing queuing time, limiting waste and managing allergens.
The Reach More Parents platform utilises more channels than any other platform. Whether it is in-app messaging, emails, SMS, social media channels, your school website or our multi-media news feed - we can update them all simultaneously. Couple this with top-class support, as we’re the only company to provide dedicated telephone support to parents.
CREATE, INNOVATE and INSPIRE with 3D printing technologies for STEAM education. CREATE Education aims to support teachers and educators to bring 3D printing technologies and additive manufacturing technologies to young people through CPD, workshops, supplies and more!
https://www.mightywriter.co.uk/
Winner of the Education Resources Awards, Teach Primary Awards 2020 and Teach Early Years Awards for Best Primary Literacy Resource. Mighty Writer is not software, it's tactile. It transforms children’s literacy almost overnight, guaranteed! Its core range is for 4-7 years, but can be used with all abilities.