What does a dream school look like? Let’s start with what it doesn’t.It doesn’t look like the factory model we’ve inherited—designed in the 19th century to churn out obedient clerks for the Empire. It doesn’t rely on the myth that some children are just “naturally clever” and others aren’t. And it certainly doesn’t treat all… Continue reading What Does a Dream School Look Like?
Tag: learning
Worksheets: Why Children Deserve More Than Tick-Box Thinking
One thing I keep coming back to is this: children are often far more capable than we give them credit for. And yet, some schools continue to fill their days with worksheets. Often well-intentioned, yes. But let’s be honest — many of them are, if not actively soul-destroying, then at the very least designed to… Continue reading Worksheets: Why Children Deserve More Than Tick-Box Thinking
What’s the greatest gift from educational neuroscience?
(10 min read) Answer: understanding brain plasticity if you only make one change to the way you interact with your children and their learning, make it to teach them about brain plasticity. Ok so it’s not a new Nintendo or a car, but if you were only allowed to take one thing from educational neuroscience… Continue reading What’s the greatest gift from educational neuroscience?
Neuroscience is everywhere. What do I need to know about the brain?
(11 min read) A brief tour of the brain It feels rather trite to describe the brain as ‘astonishing, remarkable and prodigious’ (and all the other ‘phenomenal’-like adjectives), but it’s true. It is an incredibly complex organ, more sophisticated than any machine ever invented, capable of processing information at 120 miles per hour. It never… Continue reading Neuroscience is everywhere. What do I need to know about the brain?
What is stress, and does it affect learning?
(10 min read) In our house, the twenty-minutes before the school-run goes something like this: (To my eldest) have you got your homework darling? Let me see. (To middle child) Have you done your teeth? Go and do your teeth. (To youngest) We haven’t got time to play with Play-Doh, darling, we have to get… Continue reading What is stress, and does it affect learning?
What is learning? Give me the basics!
This is a great question, and the full answer would fill several books. But here we go – an attempt to distil the very basics of what we know about the brain, memory and learning to a few key messages.
How to teach your child about brain plasticity.
(6 min read) Or listen to the guide for children on this podcast: Research evidence shows that if you only make one change to the way you interact with your children and their learning, make it to teach them about brain plasticity. I really cannot stress this enough. It is the neuroscientific support for Carol… Continue reading How to teach your child about brain plasticity.
How do I help my child deal with stress?
(9 min read) When our early hominid ancestors evolved, the stress response dealt brilliantly with situations related to survival – the fact that we’re here today is testament to that. Seeing a snake slowly slide over your toddler’s leg whilst they’re sleeping is something our stone-age ancestors were unlikely to forget; and therefore learned to… Continue reading How do I help my child deal with stress?
What will my child’s future be like?
(9 min read) The 4th industrial revolution. Futurologists say we’re at the beginning the fourth industrial revolution. This one is driven by technology. Like steam engines were to transport, and apps are to banking, automation, artificial intelligence, connectivity and robotics are to now: life as we know it is changing rapidly. We’re living longer, working… Continue reading What will my child’s future be like?
How to future-proof your child’s career (and yours too).
(10 min read) Or listen to this podcast… What will our children need to know for the future? The last article described the effect this fourth industrial revolution will have on our children’s future (and ours). We’re living longer and thus working longer to pay for it, our global climate is under threat, the pace… Continue reading How to future-proof your child’s career (and yours too).