Category Archives: Teaching and learning

Faultlines

Posted on September 8, 2017 by suecowley

The subject of the relationship between teaching and learning, and behaviour, is so fraught, tangled and complex that I hesitate even to talk about it. Notions of blame and responsibility quickly get wound up together, and before you know it, … Continue reading →

Posted in Behaviour, Teaching and learning | 3 Comments

The How and The Who

Posted on September 12, 2015 by suecowley

The thing about teaching is that anyone can do it. People do it all the time. This is not to say that anyone should be able to do it in schools; for that you need specialised training. But if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Evidence, Learning, Teaching, Teaching and learning | 2 Comments

Wherefore Art Thou Wilshaw?

Posted on July 14, 2015 by suecowley

“Let me be clear: what the poorest children need is to be taught, and well taught, from the age of two.” Michael Wilshaw I’m not really sure where to start with Michael Wilshaw’s speech, made as he announced the publication … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Early Years, Ofsted, Teaching and learning | 3 Comments

Hearts and Minds

Posted on June 30, 2015 by suecowley

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou If you want to get your readers to think about what you are … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching and learning, Writing | 3 Comments

A Standardised Lesson Plan

Posted on October 11, 2014 by suecowley

Insert creative ideas here —> (Base these on: your subject knowledge, your professional judgement, your knowledge of your children, their interests and their individual needs. Note: other teachers have lots of good ideas, you can also borrow and adapt these to … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching and learning | 1 Comment

We All Line Up

Posted on September 16, 2014 by suecowley

There are many reasons why we need to use routines in our teaching spaces. Routines are a helpful ‘shorthand’ for getting things done quickly and efficiently. Routines help us ensure that the children are safe, and that there is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Behaviour, Children, Communication, Creativity, Drama, Learning, Primary, Teaching and learning | 1 Comment

Early Years Play is …

Posted on August 9, 2014 by suecowley

It would be hard to overstate the importance of brilliant early years practitioners when using play to support children’s learning and development. Early years play is … * carefully structured to ensure conceptual development in all areas of the curriculum; … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Pedagogy, Play, Preschools, Teaching and learning | 5 Comments

Input:Output

Posted on March 27, 2014 by suecowley

There was much rejoicing in the primary/secondary sector when Sir Michael Wilshaw sent a letter to school inspectors, insisting that they should not look for a particular teaching style when observing lessons, but focus solely on the outcomes for students. … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Government, Ofsted, Play, Teaching and learning | 7 Comments

Send in the Clowns

Posted on November 16, 2013 by suecowley

Becoming a great teacher is hard won. You can’t reduce it to a set of formulas or put it on a spreadsheet. You can’t sum it up in a database, or map it in a study. You can’t say ‘just … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Teachers, Teaching and learning | 19 Comments

A Very Local School

Posted on October 26, 2013 by suecowley

Yesterday we were given a tour of the secondary school where our son will go in September 2014. There is absolutely no doubt in our minds that he should attend this school. We won’t even list any other ‘choices’ when … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Teaching and learning | 4 Comments