Absolutely love this!
internet
Learning through doing
All about statistics
https://www.facebook.com/BBCQuestionTime/videos/1917523538261362/
It’s a shame that it’s all about statistics but it’s sad that this is the direction the British education system is heading.
The pressure placed on children is ever increasing and the age of the children is decreasing. Children as young as 4 are tested and examined and experience stress. It is shocking that this is the way the British education system is heading especially when mental health cases are on the rise due to pressures placed on these children in terms of deadlines, grades and targets.
Greeter of the week
https://www.facebook.com/bfpnews/videos/203467940551210/
Just to brighten up your morning.
Typically atypical
There’s no doubt about it, all children are inspirational and unique. Their a bit like fingerprints in the fact hat no two are ever the same and that’s what makes each and every individual so interesting. However, in general, most (I use the term most loosely) have similarities. They have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, a nose, a mouth, you get the picture! Although, for some children this is not the case. Some are born with a disability whether that be mental or physical. Some have life limiting conditions. Some cannot hear. Some cannot talk. Some will never walk. But, at the end of the day, we are all human and what does it matter? Every child deserves a chance in life and deserves to feel equal to their peers and treated with respect, love and kindness.
I stumbled across this channel on YouTube today that shows true compassion and i’d strongly advise you all give it a watch. If you’re feeling down about life, annoyed about following the same mundane routine or just want to be inspired by some AMAZING children and their families then go and check out “Special Books by Special Kids” and prepared to be wowed.
Inclusion
Every child is equal.
Nurseries are substitute parents
I came across this article on the Telegraphs website about how an increasing number of children are beginning school with extremely poor language.
Whilst it seems natural to read your child a bedtime story, talk with them or teach them letters, this is not the case for all parents. It is becoming increasingly common that pre school/nursery staff are the ones teaching children basic language skills as these disadvantaged children have unfortunately not learnt these skills at home.
Having good language skills are an essential component in life and therefore it is crucial that these skills are mastered early on. Language impact many other areas including literacy, hence a lack of language leads to difficulties within school, in the wider community and later on in life in terms of jobs.
Please find the link below:
The indoor generation
The children of today are the indoor generation. They spend more time indoors than previous generations and it has been noted that some children spend less time outside than prisoners.
I completely understand times have changed and the world is unfortunately not as safe as it once was but the indoor generation certainly need more time outside.
Suzie and Cruzie
What a lovely girl with a wonderful positive view of life spreading awareness of autism through her own book. I don’t know about you, but when I see children doing amazing things it restores my faith in the next generation and makes me realise that they’re a pretty good bunch and bright, talented individuals. Sienna, you’re a star.
Under pressure
This week has been SATs week for year 6 pupils across the UK and these unfortunate individuals are under high levels of stress at the mere age of 11. I stumbled across this post by a woman called Abi Elphinstone and feel that she has summed it all up so well.
Enjoy.
For all the kids sitting their SATs this week 
😘 (My academic records show that I got A*s in English Literature and English Language at GCSE, an A in English at A level and a 2.1 degree in English from Bristol University. I taught English in secondary schools and I am now a children’s author with multiple book deals. But despite this, I scored 40% on an English SATs test last week.
I am not against exams nor am I against working hard. In every school visit my message is one of resilience, perseverance and grit, both in exams and life. But I am against the pedantic, restrictive and irrelevant testing of children. The SATs papers demand a knowledge of fronted adverbs and subordinating conjunctions and I feel that with this mechanical approach to learning we risk warning a generation of children off writing.
Accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation are important. Precision and confidence in expression empower us. But getting children to parrot back complex grammatical concepts is education at its most futile, and its most depressing. It is reminiscent of the Gradgrindian education system Dickens satirises in Hard Times and a system that champions modal verbs over creativity stifles imagination and individuality.
I am not a writer because I knew what fronted adverbs were at school. I am a writer because the wild landscape of my childhood filled me with wonder. I am a writer because learning made me curious and adventurous. I am a writer because books carried me to new worlds and language filled me with delight. I am a writer because I refused to quit when my books were rejected.
Language is fluid and playful (thank you Roald Dahl for snozzcumbers), and I learnt invaluable lessons about empathy, courage and hope from the stories I read as a child. Lyra Belacqua taught me to be brave and Mildred Hubble taught me that you don’t need to be the brightest or prettiest girl in the room to be the heroine of a story. So, kids, your worth is not quantified by your SATs scores. Learn the power of language but remember the best writing is original and brave. Like Shakespeare’s – who also wouldn’t have passed that test.
everythingchild 