A
Primary teacher’s take on education blogs…
“Like many primary bloggers, I am unable to
engage in grown-up discussions about education because my brain is full of glitter,
toy bears and gingerbread” - TruthfulClassroom
I
once heard, those that can, do… Those that can’t, teach… Those that can’t
teach, teach primary! We primary teachers, at the bottom of the food chain, don’t
have much to offer the world of ‘professional dialogue’. Where secondary and
tertiary teachers are able to talk policies and such, as MissHorsfall acknowledges, we primary teachers are better
suited to topics such as:
-Why the hell do the red felt
tip pens run out so quickly?
-Why do I either have 5 red
pens and no black when it comes time to do the register, or vice versa?
-How exactly do 7 year olds
get through so many glue sticks?
TruthfulClassroom
and MissHorsfall are joking of course (I would
actually, however, like some of those questions answered, to be honest!).
They
write in response to this post in which Michael1979 pondered the
lack of primary teacher bloggers. Specifically, the lack of primary teachers that
blog about ‘real’ education issues. Hence, wh the above tongue-in-cheek
comments came about. He asks, why don’t primary bloggers write about topics
such as:
-Will
‘scaled scores’ provide useful information at end-of-key-stage tests?
-How will we assess English and Maths once levels
are scrapped?
-Is primary schooling becoming all core and no
breadth?
-Will the new grammar requirements in the National
Curriculum raise standards of reading/writing?
-Is the current level 4b a viable expectation for
85% of students?
-How is the newly-enhanced Pupil Premium going to
have an impact in primary?
-What impact are small cohorts or small sub-groups
having on Ofsted inspection outcomes?
-What is the professional view on baseline
assessments for children on entry to YR?
Did that list put you to sleep, as it did for me?
You can see TruthfulClassroom’s counter-list here,
which includes topics from the very *a-hem* important, such as:
-Literally, where the f*** do all the children
stash the red felt tip pens?
-Which facial cues alert you to the fact that a
child is about to projectile vomit all over their workbooks?
-Do any other teachers feel nauseous when they see Comic Sans?
-Do any other teachers feel nauseous when they see Comic Sans?
To the more *literally* important topics, such as:
-How can we expose children to texts that they can
relate to, but which also challenge them?
-How can we educate to equip children to challenge the rampant inequalities that face them?
-How can we educate to equip children to challenge the rampant inequalities that face them?
-How can you teach climate change to 6 year olds in
a way that scares them enough to care and empowers them enough to acts?
-Do all young male teachers get rapidly promoted
out of the classroom, or just most?
All people are different and bloggers are all
looking for something different. Some might get a kick out of dry post about
education policy, whereas others enjoy posts that help them, as teachers, make
a difference in the day-to-day. Both, of course, have their place. If we don’t
get more of the ‘right people’ making big policy decisions at the top, our
future generations will be worse off. Similarly, if we don’t have the ‘right
people’ at the classroom level, potentially great policies will make no
difference.
Jokes
aside, I enjoy blogging because it gives me a chance to read and write about
education-related topics that interest me, as I work to facilitate the academic,
social, behavioural and emotional development of young children. If it relates
to kids and improving their futures, I’ll read it… if I have time! Similarly, I
don’t try to limit myself to writing about any one topic in particular. I’ve
written on topics such as why parents need to get their kids to school on time,
why 'grades' should be scrapped in favour of real
feedback,
why I think schools are becoming overly 'academic'
, lots about the importance of ‘relationships’ in education here, here, here and here, and the importance of 'play'.
I’m
always keen to give my 2 cents, or ‘a teacher’s take’ on all sorts of topics
that will help children to have the best possible start to life, particularly
during their primary school years. So as always, please do let me know if there’s
anything in particular that you want me to write about!
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