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The Art Of Teaching

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While on holiday last year in Italy we visited Galleria dell' Accademia, the Accademia Gallery in Florence. An Italian girl guided us through the gallery and in her sing song accent described the artists and their stories, recalling names and dates as though they were family. There wasn’t much she didn’t know. And we met David. Yes, he was impressive but what struck me were the guide’s words, she said, “Michelangelo never claimed to create a masterpiece, instead he would reveal what was already there in the stone”. What a beautiful metaphor for parenting and teaching… Some parents succeed in creating masterpieces, moulding a child into what they believe he/she should be. Some parents can’t or don’t want to, because they believe in Michelangelo’s revealing philosophy. When it comes to education, teachers are expected to create masterpieces... Students need to know this, then that, then this, by then. At the end of eleven years or so they will have earned a...
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For The Times They Are A-Changing

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Updated:  Jun 20, 2019 Technology is here to stay so we need to do our best to embrace it in a positive way  both  at school and at home. I'd be quite interested to know your opinion Therese on how to  apply this at home. I would like to address two important issues in parenting children in this digital age: Preparing children for the institution that is school, school being part of our village and helping children to navigate the minefield of devices and the internet… A common sense approach is what is called for and for the children's sake, finding a sense that is common between school and home is vital. My youngest son arrived on this earth 14 years ago with a Dad who works “in IT” and two siblings who were nearly teenagers. What I remember is that there were devices available and screens were commonplace. Our wee boy was brought up on a generous diet of devices. When I sent my “modern” boy to school with his schoolbag, his lunch...
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Homework, A waste of Time?

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My son is 11, year 7. He continually worries about finishing his homework, to the point where he is incapable of actually doing the homework and sits there fretting about how to layout a question. His teachers and I have all reassured him that he won't get in trouble if he doesn't finish, that not finishing doesn't mean he is dumb or the worse in the class. At school he appears fine to his teachers but he is clearly holding it all in and gets home and melts. My poor son is so stressed that he is having headaches. What strategies do you suggest to support him to understand that school is for mistakes and learning, not to be the best and know everything already. It breaks my heart because he is so smart and so creative. Advice appreciated! Wow , that boy needs a big hug - not homework! Firstly I will deal with the "hug" then I will deal with "homework" and then talk to the "perfectionist". THE HUG... Let me tell you a story...
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