All practitioners in each sector, in each department and in all settings have a responsibility to develop, reinforce and extend the skills which are set out in the literacy experiences and outcomes (Curriculum for Excellence).
Teaching:My remit covers all schools in the region. Therefore I do not – cannot – use my time to teach [...]
Archive for the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ Category
Dyslexia: the Three Ds
December 1, 2009
In a previous post I wrote about the difficulties that many learners with dyslexia experience.
All learners have their own constellations of strengths and weaknesses and to focus exclusively upon characteristics that hinder learning under current school systems is not always helpful. For some 4 or 500 years, our schools have concentrated on the skills of the medieval clerk [...]
Teachmeet in East Lothian
November 16, 2009
Teachmeet in East Lothian
What is TeachMeet?
Learn something new, be amazed, amused and enthused. This is an informal gathering of those curious about teaching and technology. Anyone can share great ideas they’ve trialled in their classrooms, ask important questions or simply sign up to take part in learning conversations. Would be good to see and hear both [...]
The Secret Service meets again
October 27, 2009
At the launch of the revised Standard for Chartered Teachers at the end of September, Keith Brown, Minister for Schools and Skills, said:
‘Chartered Teachers have much to offer in Scotland’s schools, therefore I am delighted that the Standard for Chartered Teacher has been revised and improved. The Standard has been redesigned to ensure greater natural [...]
I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma. Eartha Kitt
October 5, 2009
I first went to the Scottish Learning Festival in 2003 when it was SETT and have thoroughly enjoyed every visit. I even presented a seminar once. Nowadays I only get to attend on one of the days and it’s a hard choice sometimes which key note speeches I go for.
One major pleasure is to be [...]
Visual Literacy, Learning and the Graphic Novel and Manga
August 20, 2009
I’ve just been to an interesting talk at the Book Festival with Dr Mel Gibson (no, not that one) talking about using Graphic Novels and Manga when teaching children and young people literacy skills.
She gave us a whirlwind tour of such books, few of which I had heard of.
I am aware of Colin McNaughton and [...]
‘Banning language teaching rules will leave us tongue-tied’
June 26, 2009
Another news snippet before I shut up shop. Interesting how this journalist manages to twist information to sensationalise complex changes in curricular policy. Why am I surprised?
Colette Douglas-Home is ‘appalled to read that teachers in England and Wales are being told by the government to stop teaching the rule, “I before E except after C…’ [...]
Assessment Paradigms
June 23, 2009
Which one do you subscribe to?:
All students are basically the same and learn in the same way. Therefore instruction and testing can be standardised.
There are no standard students. Each is unique. Therefore teaching and testing must be individualised and varied.
Norm- or criterion-referenced standardised test scores are the main and most accurate indicators of students’ [...]
Some more equal than others
June 22, 2009
The Outreach Team had an interesting day recently looking at the new Curriculum for Excellence outcomes and experiences for Literacy and English and Health and Well Being.
One of the outcomes under the Responsible Citizens heading started a lively debate which raised the whole issue of inclusion and equality:
I can evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues.
We [...]
