“Shoot for the moon and if you miss you’ll land amongst the stars.” Having great expectations and high standards are proven to help raise achievement in the classroom. Recognising that our beliefs also shape behaviour is a vital key to success. In his book, Creating Cultures of Thinking, Ron Ritchhart discusses the role of expectations […]
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An email arrived in my mailbox inviting our family to our Year 13 son’s prize giving as he was receiving a prize. This was not the whole school prize giving, it was the Te Hotuwaipara Maori Student Achievement Evening. My grandmother was quarter Maori and rightly or wrongly I have registered my children in school […]
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I was recently challenged to give a twelve minute talk at the African International Schools’ Conference in Nairobi, Kenya on the topic of ‘The lesson I want my students to learn.’ There were so many options I simply had to pluralise my offering. What follows is a summary of my talk. “It’s not fair!” “She […]
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With a few weeks before exams this is an important time to focus and minimise distractions to ensure you get the results you desire. Here are some key tips for the weeks leading up until your exams. Plan your time Take time each week and each day to plan your calendar. First add all the […]
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Recently I was privileged to visit Khan Lab School in San Francisco*. The school is the brainchild of Salman (Sal) Khan who started Khan Academy – a non-profit educational organisation with a goal of creating a set of online tools that help educate students. The school is innovative, learner centred, is pioneering new models and questions […]
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Starting your year off with a positive mindset and some proven study techniques can make all the difference. Here are 4 to get you started this year… Be ready to learn Start the year with curiosity and wonderment of what you might learn this year. It is often helpful to look over the text book […]
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As the beginning of the school year is fast approaching, setting up your classroom for success is more than theming your classroom and furniture placement. It is also ensuring you are clear on your philosophies, processes and outcomes. Here are a few ideas to consider… Safety First Not all classrooms are created equal and particularly […]
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“I don’t learn anything at school!” shouted my daughter (Miss 14) as she left the house. Not a new revelation from her – but today she seemed more intent on ensuring I knew I was wasting my time sending her each day. So I decided to ask the BIG question. “How do you know when […]
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As the year rolls by and exams get closer, there are a few important tips to consider and implement to ensure you can boost your efficiency when studying, which will lead to better exam results. 1. Treat your Practice/Mock exams seriously In fact your practice exams maybe the most important exams you sit all year. […]
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School holidays are upon us yet again and as a parent you may either dread or love the thought of having your children at home for 2 weeks. Holidays are a chance for children to relax, kick back, families to connect and make memories. Over the years I have created a special family tradition in the […]
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