Writing Poetry

I love working with children writing and reading poetry. Here is a fantastic blog that is updated daily and designed for New Zealand children. Each day Paula Green posts poetry ideas and things to think about. A great addition to classroom blogs.

Teaching - I love it!

3D Printing and Creating

This is a technology that is exciting and whilst the temptation is to initially look at it from an art and design perspective the possibilities are indeed endless.

Check out the website of the 3 Doodler.

Follow the discussion with Cheryl Doig and read other interesting posts at her website.

Change starts with yourself

"Make the world a better place one person at a time. 

Start with yourself."

-- Linda Poindexter 

Back to Basics with Maths

Maths is at the forefront of my mind at the moment and there have been a few articles recently lamenting our children's skills in maths. Audrey Tan calls for a return to the basics with more emphasis on basic facts, times tables, adding in columns and not bombarding students with a multitude of strategies that leaves them paralyzed when faced with a problem.

Read the full article here...

Wonderopolis

Thanks to Sam for sharing this very cool website. It would be a great link on your blog providing a 'wonder of the day'.

Dyscalculia

I was reading 'The Press' on the weekend and came across an article about Dr Anna Wilson from University of Canterbury who is currently working on and researching dyscalculia. I am currently working with children who find maths hard and it is always fascinating finding out more about what might make these children tick. The diagnosis of dyslexia is increasingly common, I wonder if the same numbers of children with dyscalculia exist out there?

Here is the link to the article if you would like to read more...

In addition she promotes a website further discussing dyscalculia.


She also provides a link to a website where you can download a resource suitable for 4-8year olds and there is a link to an online resource for slightly older children.

Happiness

"Every night before you go to bed write down three things good

that happened to you that day. That's pretty much all it takes

to get a happiness boost over time."

-- Eric Barker 

Gifted Children - Meeting their Needs

Teaching and parenting highly gifted children comes with a whole host of challenges that many fail to realise. Louise Porter is an Australian practitioner who works in the are of social and emotional needs of gifted children. Like our school definition, Porter's definition is wide including  intellectual, academic, social, emotional intelligence, physical skills or artistic.

Here is a pdf of a short book written by Louise Porter that teachers and parents may find interesting.