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Newsletter March 2009
Contents
Welcome
Cambridge primary review
Spring sale
SEAL
Current neuroscience research
Register With Us
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 Hello and welcome to our latest newsletter
We are about to embark on our annual evaluation visits; we always enjoy hearing the feedback from students and teachers, and learning how VisionWorks is helping to make a difference.
See many of you soon, best wishes to everyone else.
Sue Allen and the VisionWorks team
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." Anonymous
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Cambridge Primary Review
 In his recent report on primary education, Professor Robin Alexander of Cambridge University advocates 8 domains for the primary curriculum, one of which is 'physical and emotional health'.
Following hot on the trail of Sir Jim Rose's review of the primary curriculum last December, it is encouraging to see top educationalists recognising the importance of attending to the whole child, and advising the inclusion of emotional intelligence development in the primary curriculum.
Professor Alexander specifically recommends that we target:
1."The needs and capacities of the individual: wellbeing, engagement, empowerment, autonomy."
2. "The individual in relation to others and the wider world: encouraging respect and reciprocity, promoting interdependence and sustainability, empowering local, national and global citizenship, celebrating culture and community."
(From "Cambridge Primary Review" Feb 2009)
This national public recognition of the importance of teaching children emotional literacy is encouraging. Click here for details of our ready-to-use complete course on emotional literacy for KS2 My World |
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 In line with current belt tightening tendencies, we are pleased to announce our Spring Sale.
All VisionWorks programmes are completely ready-to-use schemes of work that build to a full understanding of emotional literacy.
Buy before the end of April 2009 for fantastic value:
- 50% off our KS2 programme, My World; buy it now for £250,
- 50% off our PRU programme, Discovering Me; buy it now for £375.
- New all in one price for our KS3 programme It's OK Being Me, buy the package for a one-off price of £3750. Save £750!
Call one of the VisionWorks team on 01249 409001 for further details, or click on the links to take you to our website.
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SEAL
We are being asked to speak at more conferences and networking meetings about how to deliver SEAL. Schools find that our emotional intelligence programmes are an excellent vehicle for implementing SEAL, and saving teachers lots of work and time.
We can also offer seminars and workshops for staff on emotional intelligence generally and, more specifically, on how to deliver SEAL.
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 Current neuroscience research
Richard Davidson, (Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at University of Wisconsin) has made a name for himself internationally by studying the brain waves of the Dalai Lama and defining links between emotions and certain diseases.
In science circles, he has drawn praise for his groundbreaking research into the physiological effects of meditation and how we can 'learn' to be happy.
Now this renowned 'brain investigator' with the University of Wisconsin's Waisman Center in Madison has made discoveries about early brain development that may interest teachers. "Ultimately, emotional and social skills are more important than cognitive skills in predicting a positive outcome for children," he says.
Davidson has studied children with normal brain functions and those at risk of depression and anxiety. "The primary major tools we use are non-invasive imaging methods, such as MRI, and we can study the function and structure of the brain with unprecedented detail. That provides a powerful window into our brain that was unprecedented five years ago," he says.
Much has been learned. "We know a lot about how circuits can go awry in anxiety, depression and autism, all of which can be observed early in life. We know there are certain kinds of training that can be done in the classroom that promote more positive behaviour and affect the brain in positive ways."
For example, social-emotional learning helps teach children to better manage emotions, and focus concentration. "These skills are really building blocks for successful life outcomes. ... We can actually detect that training on measures of brain function."
From Appleton Education Foundation 2008
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__________________________________________________________________________Register With VisionWorks
If
you haven't already registered you're missing out on a host of downloadable
resources, assembly ideas and sample modules from our programmes. Register at www.vision-works.net
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If you'd like to find out how VisionWorks could work for you call Sue Allen or Ruthie Alexander Morgan on 01249 409001, email sue@vision-works net or ruthie@vision-works.net or visit our website www.vision-works.net
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