Moan at the darkness

This is the first blog so here's to the future!

I ran an INSET this week for 11 people. As I am not a primary teacher, I feel it is wrong of me to give them in-depth schemes of work. As agreed with the client beforehand, the event focussed on analysing some QCA schemes to dump the verbiage and produce a clear concise list of 'objectives'.
Adding any stages necessary to turn it into a smooth flow gives you a rough scheme of work.

While planning for the event, I realised that the average QCA project is 1750 words long by itself. This doesn't include any DATA help files or exemplar work! And this is only one of many subjects a primary teacher will study to deliver.... Lets hope future curriculum reviews will recognise this.

The INSET also included a goodie bag for each participant. £10 worth of bits which will enliven teaching of DT without breaking the bank.... I will post the list and presentation on my website in June.

It was a hot day today in Nottingham and I took the group outside for half an hour. No power point and no teaching aids, just a circle of chairs and the sun in our eyes!

INSET is a time for reflection and discussion as well as learning. I have noticed recently that those teachers who should be in the best position to inspire their younger colleagues can sometimes major more on the downsides of teaching than the positives which can be very destructive when their younger colleagues are looking for reassurance.
I find teachers bemoaning their world and being less than open in taking on 'new ideas' difficult.

I spoke passionately but not necessarily eloquently about teachers needing to enjoy their subject, that fun was communicable to pupils and that we have to practise skills ourselves, much like we expect our pupils to, before we get better and gain confidence in new things.

Of course, it is much easier to preach these things than do them, it is easier to moan about the darkness..than light a candle!