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Newsletter January 2013
Contents
Welcome - New Year Resolutions
Whole Education conference
In Care, In School - now on sale
*Remember*8 March*
Register with VisionWorks
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Welcome New Year Resolutions
 It's that time of year when many of us feel we should drink less. We must lose weight, we should get fit and we really ought to quit smoking. The trouble with the language of "should" is that it constricts and it reflects a mindset of forcing rather than choosing. When we think we "ought" to do something we can end up feeling like we are clothed in a straight-jacket of self imposed demands.
We all know that when we are made to do something it can lead to resentment. However, when we choose to do something it gives us a sense of lightness and freedom which is more likely to lead to success. And if we fall off the wagon, this can be an opportunity for re-choosing our goal rather than attacking ourselves for failing. So let our New Year Resolutions be precisely that, re-solutions...about solutions!! It's the time of year when many of us feel we should drink less. We must lose weight, we should get fit and we really ought to quit smoking. The trouble with the language of "should" is that it constricts; we are forcing rather than choosing. When we think we "ought" to do something we can end up feeling as if we are clothed in a straightjacket of self-imposed demands. We all know that when we are made to do something it can lead to resentment. However, when we choose to do something it gives us a sense of lightness and freedom which is more likely to lead to success. And if we fall off the wagon, this can be an opportunity for re-choosing our goal rather than attacking ourselves for failing. So let our New Year Resolutions be precisely that - re-solutions...about solutions!! Ruthie Alexander-Morgan |
Whole Education conference At the end of November I attended the Whole Education Conference. It was exciting to be with a group of people from various backgrounds discussing the importance of educating the whole person rather than simply teaching to the test. Many agreed with Mick Waters who suggested that the key aims of education need to be to teach students confidence, integrity and spirit as well as being ready to take responsibility and to support others.
Employers told us they are looking for employees with good communication skills, who are driven and show initiative. They want passionate, well rounded individuals, able to work in teams. They want innovative thinkers with curiosity, determination, pragmatism and resilience; people who are collaborative, with drive and self-awareness. This, we were told, is more important in the work place than great exam results.
There was talk of the CBI conference where it had also been suggested that schools are not providing students with the skills necessary for the workplace. They are calling for a shift away from exam league tables to new Ofsted reports which assess academic rigour and the broader behaviours and attitudes that young people need to get on in life.
Teaching Emotional Wellbeing is beginning to feel main-stream rather than bolt on. At last! Janet Grant |
In Care, In School - now on sale  The excellent "In Care, In School" is a learning resource for teachers and pupils to help school communities understand what it means to be in care and at school. It is now available as a download from the website. It was developed by young people in care, and care leavers, through the Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) In Care Council, Bath Spa University, VisionWorks and Asdan and other local and national partners.
"This pack is to help (not tell) teachers and pupils to understand, from a young person's point of view, what it is like being in foster care and having an education. I hope teachers can take a step back and start thinking about the young person's needs and feelings. I hope pupils will get a better understanding of something they might not fully understand. Overall, I would like my experiences to make a change within the schools, and to make people more aware about people in foster care." Naina Thomas, Bath and North East Somerset, In Care Council
The pack consists of 10 2-minute scenarios, 5 primary and 5 secondary, devised by the In Care Council, based on their own experiences and brought to life by a film company, with professional and child actors. It includes lesson plans for each scenario, and two generic lessons on 'What is a family' and 'Being in care', which have been trialled in a range of schools. There are also three 4-minute films of care leavers talking about their experience of school, post 16 planning and what they are doing now. Both primary and secondary materials can be accredited through ASDAN personal development programmes. The staff training and support section provides background information, contact lists and an outline training plan for teachers. It is available as a DVDRom, at a cost of £35, including postage, or as a download, at a cost of £20 from www.incareinschool.com.
The Who Cares?Trust will also be adding a free copy of their DVD pack, 'Teachers in the know' to the first 400 purchases of the In Care, In School DVDRom.
Samples of the materials can be found at Samples. To purchase copies of the pack and /or downloads, go to Purchase. |
*Remember*8 March*Remember*8 March*Remember*8 March*Remember*  You are invited to attend the VisionWorks Training Workshop on 8 March at the Bath and County Club in Bath. We will spend the day looking at what we mean by Emotional Intelligence/Emotional Wellbeing; how it can benefit us and how we can teach it in schools in order to improve learning and quality of life. The day will be informative, varied and fun; we are very excited about it! It will be good to meet and work with our registrants. For more information look at our website. *Remember*8 March*Remember*8 March*Remember*8 March*Remember* |
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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