tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87392170763913848502024-03-13T12:40:23.783+00:00Primary Deputyleadership... ICT... learning... teaching...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger398125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-83484343427246057142015-04-30T23:54:00.000+01:002015-05-04T23:54:44.683+01:00Innovation Speed DateThis week I attended an <a href="http://www.innovatemyschool.com/live.html">Innovation Speed Date</a>.<br />
<br />
The ideas is that a number of suppliers (in our case, nine) present to delegates in a close format of just a few people at a time. I really liked this as I felt that the sales people were more honest. The experience was more 'intimate' and involving as you could ask questions and really engage with the supplier.<br />
<br />
I saw nine suppliers. As I was planning to find out a bit more about a few of them I thought I'd list them here.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://everyonecanprogram.com/">Thinking with Marbles</a><br />
Physical apparatus to develop programming skills<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eezeetrip.co.uk/">Eezeetrip</a><br />
An easy way to organise and communicate school trips<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.packtypes.com/">Packtypes</a><br />
A self-awareness program for teachers and pupils<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/">VEX IQ</a><br />
Robotics equipment and software<br />
<br />
<a href="http://digitaladvertisingscreen.com/">VII Networks</a><br />
Audio/visual equipment<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.schoolpod.co.uk/public/schoolpod/index.html?v=2">SchoolPod</a><br />
A school management information system<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.showmyhomework.co.uk/">Show My Homework</a><br />
A way to share homework with parents and carers<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.playforce.co.uk/">Playforce</a><br />
Playground equipment suppliers<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rm.com/home">RM</a><br />
ICT solutionsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-74464690043467193622015-04-07T22:24:00.000+01:002015-04-07T22:24:02.676+01:00Train pupils to hand out papersA well-argued point that I found on Twitter.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Great ideas from "Teach like a Champion" by <a href="https://twitter.com/Doug_Lemov">@Doug_Lemov</a> - Train students to hand out papers!
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ukedchat?src=hash">#ukedchat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aussieED?src=hash">#aussieED</a> <a href="http://t.co/c1KM0TTEsr">pic.twitter.com/c1KM0TTEsr</a><br />
— Pete Sanderson (@LessonToolbox) <a href="https://twitter.com/LessonToolbox/status/585349817565589504">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-9119475607276577022015-03-30T22:58:00.001+01:002015-03-30T22:58:25.532+01:00CodeBugI love the look of CodeBug on Kickstarter. Why don't you take a look!<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/922345933/codebug/widget/video.html" width="480"> </iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="420" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/922345933/codebug/widget/card.html?v=2" width="220"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-33231585055289677572015-03-17T23:39:00.002+00:002015-03-17T23:39:57.485+00:00Outstanding school?<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
An 'outstanding' school is not one where the teachers are working twice as hard as the kids.<br />
— Carl Hendrick (@C_Hendrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/C_Hendrick/status/577580023437246464">March 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-44776450850128368012015-02-28T20:10:00.003+00:002015-02-28T20:11:05.505+00:00Make your writing more colourful!I love this display idea from @abicassidy8.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Great use of B&Q colour charts!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/makingwritingmorecolourful?src=hash">#makingwritingmorecolourful</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OTeaching">@OTeaching</a> <a href="http://t.co/BblteuqFiL">pic.twitter.com/BblteuqFiL</a><br />
— Abi Cassidy (@abicassidy8) <a href="https://twitter.com/abicassidy8/status/571360818379526144">February 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-51311439193259267532015-02-15T15:40:00.000+00:002015-02-15T15:40:00.136+00:00Bitesize Lesson PlannerThis looks great:<br />
<a href="http://tips4teaching.co.uk/2014/12/06/the-bitesize-lesson-planner/">http://tips4teaching.co.uk/2014/12/06/the-bitesize-lesson-planner/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgtKjmSPLKQ/VMpUT9Oq5NI/AAAAAAAAZ1k/d_E5y3v4gfA/s1600/lesson-planner-production.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgtKjmSPLKQ/VMpUT9Oq5NI/AAAAAAAAZ1k/d_E5y3v4gfA/s1600/lesson-planner-production.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-29724945617427851762015-02-08T15:14:00.000+00:002015-02-08T15:14:00.106+00:00Success Diary<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/IRIS_Connect">@IRIS_Connect</a> keep a Success Diary to focus on the positives. These are priceless to me. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ukedchat?src=hash">#ukedchat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nqtchat?src=hash">#nqtchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/G3e5ZL7UrT">pic.twitter.com/G3e5ZL7UrT</a><br />
— Kelly McDonagh (@MissKMcD) <a href="https://twitter.com/MissKMcD/status/560685718604091392">January 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
I saw this tweet and thought - brilliant! It was intended for NQTs, but I'm inspired. I'm definitely going to do this.<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-76404882892651153812015-01-29T15:10:00.000+00:002015-01-29T15:11:19.210+00:00Finding a passion for the subject<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
The best teachers I know are the ones still obsessed with their subject. For students that can be infectious.<br />
— Carl Hendrick (@C_Hendrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/C_Hendrick/status/559780732789620736">January 26, 2015</a></blockquote>
I came across this tweet recently. It's one I completely agree with. I don't know the context of the statement and maybe it's directed at secondary teachers.<br />
<br />
But how could it relate to primary teachers? How can they show a passion for all of the subjects which they teach?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Our very best teachers are those who have a real passion and enthusiasm for the</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
subject they teach. They are also deeply committed to the learning of their students</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
and use their enthusiasm for their subject to motivate them, to bring their subject</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
alive and make learning an exciting, vivid and enjoyable experience." Subject Specialism Consultatation, DfES, 2003 <a href="http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/9045/1/222_2.pdf">http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/9045/1/222_2.pdf</a></blockquote>
It's not easy, but it comes down to acquiring subject knowledge and using it to engage with pupils. You'll need to develop great subject knowledge. There is no excuse for poor subject knowledge. You'd be found out, not only by anyone observing you, but, more importantly, by the children. If you've got to teach it then you've got to make sure you know your stuff.<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=onlineideas-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=1446285871&asins=1446285871&linkId=KGGBWNKNPPCVLI5A&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This is a great book for acquiring maths subject knowledge.</span><br />
<br />
Use Twitter, Facebook and the internet in general to find ideas that inspire you. I know a lot of teachers use published schemes and sites like Hamilton Trust and that's fine; I'm not knocking them at all. But you've got to be inspired in order to inspire the children. Find the most engaging way to ensure the children learn. This means you may have to pick and choose from the schemes. It means that you might have to adapt resources. But if you aren't gripped by it then how can you expect the children to be.<br />
<br />
Use technology - how can it enhance your lesson to make it more involving? How can it make the learning stick?<br />
<br />
Work with your subject leader. What might they recommend?<br />
<br />
Organise a educational visit. These don't half inspire the children and make the learning memorable. Would it inspire and excite you?<br />
<br />
Find the passion for teaching the subject and you might just ignite the passion for learning in the children.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-32901204567774820202015-01-27T11:43:00.000+00:002015-01-27T11:43:02.263+00:00Baby George<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ct_QWxFM2xg/VMd5Cxl19bI/AAAAAAAAZtA/hPY5liQw7Iw/s1600/2015-01-26%2B17.59.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ct_QWxFM2xg/VMd5Cxl19bI/AAAAAAAAZtA/hPY5liQw7Iw/s1600/2015-01-26%2B17.59.22.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our baby George is now seven days old. He's gorgeous. His older sister loves him to pieces and his mummy and daddy love him very much.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But I can't tell you what a shock to the system it is having a baby in the house again! It's hard work. I'll be returning to work later this week - it's going to be a challenge but one I'm looking forward to!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-41070113068395816002015-01-03T13:58:00.001+00:002015-01-03T13:58:19.421+00:00'Customer' ExperienceI recently read 'The Unforgettable Customer Experience' by Richard Kimber.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=onlineideas-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00RNJXATO&asins=B00RNJXATO&linkId=JWGIGN3RZW7JOZ7P&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><br />
<br />
This is quite obviously a business book (I really enjoy reading books about business for some reason). But there are lots of parallels between the customer experience for businesses and the customer experience for users of schools.<br />
<br />
Customer experience needs to be: "Not just good, but great. Memorable, and definitely not forgettable'. This relates to teaching. The challenge for teachers is to make learning memorable and definitely not forgettable.<br />
<br />
The book suggests that businesses should have a strategy for customer experience - this is different to a business plan, but similar in principle.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Building a great customer experience is no different to building a great business. To be able to create and deliver this, you first need to:<ul>
<li>Create your customer experience vision</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Plan how you'll deliver it</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Map the customer journey</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Measure the outcome and use the feedback to improve."</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
I wonder how many schools have a vision for the experience of parents?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWkKzr0DeGM/VKf1Dy7oxVI/AAAAAAAAYow/qPTA0l-w3mA/s1600/cust_experience2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWkKzr0DeGM/VKf1Dy7oxVI/AAAAAAAAYow/qPTA0l-w3mA/s1600/cust_experience2.png" height="162" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The six steps to designing and creating great customer experiences are:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ol>
<li>Plan it</li>
<li>Map it</li>
<li>Mend it</li>
<li>Measure it</li>
<li>Anticipate it</li>
<li>Manage it</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<div>
Sounds similar to a school improvement plan. I think that adding customer experience to a school improvement plan seems like a good idea.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">IMAGE: <a href="http://www.britebill.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-customer-experience-management-in-telecoms-global-summit/">http://www.britebill.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-customer-experience-management-in-telecoms-global-summit/</a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-39167650767837664502015-01-01T11:58:00.000+00:002015-01-04T14:41:37.234+00:00Review of 2014 and Thinking Forward to 2015<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's that time of year again when we look back and look forwards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Review of 2014:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't feel like I achieved much in 2014. But when I started to think about what has gone on, actually I've probably achieved a lot. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watching Lily become a real little lady. She loves going to Nursery for a couple of days a week and her development is a joy to watch. She'll be ready for school in September.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finding out that Lisa and I are having another baby. It was incredible news (especially after our sad news in 2012).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A holiday in Somerset was great because it was a holiday, but rubbish because it was at Pontins. We had a brilliant time!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We went on holiday with mum and dad to Beaumaris. Our whole family came up for the day too. We had a really amazing break.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We went to see Jack Whitehall in March. He was quality!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately my goals for 2014 were not even close to being achieved. Life got in the way. Never mind - let's move on.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I managed to get lots of things sorted in our garden. Lots more to do, but I've made a start.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I moved my office in the house and decorated the nursery. It was hard work - I wish I was better at DIY.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The death of my uncle right at the end of the year was really sad. I hope my dad will be ok in the first few weeks of the new year as he comes to terms with it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My brother got married in December. It was a beautiful wedding. The stag do in August was a brilliant weekend in Newcastle.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was fantastic to see one of my other brothers finally find a girlfriend who loves him for who he is. He deserves it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Organising fundraising events through the church PCC was a real pleasure.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of fun nights out with friends.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continuing to build a few websites this year. They seem to be growing in popularity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Completing my NPQH was a relief. It was very demanding and I felt that it kept me away from my 'real job'. But I'm very pleased that I have finished.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finishing second in an interview for my first headship in May was disappointing but fair. I have put looking for jobs on hold until after baby arrives and my wife feels ready for me to put my energy into it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoying a great year teaching Year Five was wonderful. I had amazing colleagues.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Appointing four fantastic NQTs and watching them develop has been a pleasure.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teaching a more able Year Six Maths group was a real pleasure and I was very happy with their success.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Becoming a non-teaching Deputy Head in September has given me the time to focus on whole school developments which I love.</span></li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Goals for 2015:</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be a great dad to our new little boy, due Jan 15th 2015.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be a great dad to our little girl and make sure she doesn't feel left out. I can't wait for her to start school in September and begin another adventure.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find my first headteacher's position. I need to move on from my school - I love it, but I need a challenge. I feel ready to become a headteacher. I hope the right job finds me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blog more and become more reflective. I've hardly blogged at all. I guess I haven't had the time, but I want to make time in 2015.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use Twitter more productively. I feel like I've lost touch with it. I want to take part in things like #sltchat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look after my dad more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complete a 365 photo project.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep a diary each day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manage my time more effectively - this will be on my list of goals every year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep the house tidier - this will be a challenge with a baby in the house!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continue to find ways to save money.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Run 100 miles - I managed to achieve 0 miles in 2014.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swim 100 miles.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give more thoughtful presents.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go out with my friends at least once a month.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continue to help with the church PCC.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Begin to write a book - I have a couple of ideas, but I need the time to do it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sort out my garage and loft.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish sorting my garden.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get my office straight again.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read lots - with my new Kindle.</span></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-57551880671322722512014-12-31T20:30:00.000+00:002015-01-01T20:30:41.534+00:00Tunes of 2014This has been a great year for dance music. Therefore, most of my favourites of the year are dance.<br />
<br />
In no particular order my favourite tunes are:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Gorgon City featuring Jennifer Hudson - Go All Night</li>
<li>Kiesza - Hideaway</li>
<li>George Ezra - Budapest</li>
<li>Take That - These Days</li>
<li>Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk</li>
<li>Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud</li>
<li>Idina Menzel - Let It Go</li>
<li>Rixton - Me And My Broken Heart</li>
<li>Sia - Chandelier</li>
<li>Faul & Wad Ad & Pnau - Changes</li>
<li>Sam Smith - Stay With Me</li>
<li>Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong</li>
<li>ZHU - Faded</li>
<li>Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass</li>
<li>Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang</li>
<li>Jimi Jules & Oliver $ - Pushing On</li>
<li>Sigma & Paloma Faith - Changing</li>
<li>The Script - Superheroes</li>
<li>Sam Smith - I'm Not The Only One</li>
<li>Angel Haze & Sia - Battle Cry</li>
<li>Robin Schulz & Lilly Wood - Prayer In C</li>
<li>Vance Joy - Riptide</li>
<li>Ed Sheeran - Sing</li>
<li>Ella Henderson - Ghost</li>
<li>Oliver Heldens & Becky Hill - Gecko (Overdrive)</li>
<li>Charli XCX - Boom Clap (Cahill Remix)</li>
<li>Clean Bandit - Rather Be</li>
<li>Sam Smith - Money On My Mind</li>
<li>Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down</li>
<li>SecondCity - I Wanna Feel</li>
<li>John Legend - All Of Me</li>
<li>Pharrell Williams - Happy</li>
<li>Mr. Probz - Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)</li>
<li>Route 94 & Jess Glynne - My Love</li>
<li>Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars</li>
<li>Pitbull & Ke$ha - Timber</li>
<li>Paloma Faith - Can'r Rely On You (MK Remix)</li>
<li>Tiesto - Red Light</li>
<li>Sigma - Nobody To Love</li>
<li>Zedd & Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant - Find You</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>My Top Ten</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Kiesza - Hideaway</b></div>
<div>
What a way to debut! A brilliantly catchy tune.</div>
<div>
<b>Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk</b></div>
<div>
The complete pop smash hit!</div>
<div>
E<b>d Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud</b></div>
<div>
A perfect love song.</div>
<div>
<b>Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang</b></div>
<div>
Brilliant pop.</div>
<div>
<b>Sigma & Paloma Faith - Changing</b></div>
<div>
Love this dance tune,</div>
<div>
<b>Ella Henderson - Ghost</b></div>
<div>
A great song and some great remixes.</div>
<div>
J<b>ohn Legend - All Of Me</b></div>
<div>
Another perfect love song.</div>
<div>
<b>Pharrell Williams - Happy</b></div>
<div>
Although it was released last year, Happy has continued to dominate this year.</div>
<div>
<b>Sigma - Nobody To Love</b></div>
<div>
The best dance track of the year.</div>
<div>
<b>The Script - Superheroes</b></div>
<div>
A great song,</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-148120491114221902014-11-04T23:46:00.004+00:002014-11-04T23:47:40.690+00:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A clip of Steve Jobs talking about how companies with a monopoly can fail has <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2014/11/03/could-steve-jobs-save-apple-again-with-this-message-4932951/">surfaced</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZBma82g3Uag?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a great clip. He used Xerox as an example of how a technology company with a monopoly fails when sales and marketing people are in charge, instead of product people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ‘And the product people get driven out of decision making forums. And the companies forget what it means to make great products. It’s the product sensibility and the product genius that brought them to that monopolistic position. And it gets rotted out by people running these companies who have no conception of a good product versus a bad product. They have no conception of the craftsmanship that’s required to take a good idea and turn it in to a good product. And they really have no feeling in their hearts usually about wanting to really help the customers.’ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This really applies to education. When the sales and marketing people (SLT) begin to care only about targets and Ofsted, they lose track at what makes a school really successful - the product people (the teachers). Lose the innovation and you lose the children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Let teachers teach.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-51793786845500335652014-09-03T22:58:00.001+01:002014-09-03T22:58:14.897+01:00A big year aheadThis school year marks a crucial school year for me. It is the year when so much will happen for me personally and the year that I want to shape my leadership style for the future.<br />
<br />
The previous school year was an extremely busy time for me. This was mainly because I was working hard to complete my NPQH. It involved a lot of time out of school and a lot of time working on it at home. The relief when an email arrived in August to say that I'd passed was enormous. The course inspired me to apply for a couple of headteacher positions. I feel ready for the next step. There was one in particular that I really wanted. I was very pleased but also disappointed to finish second in the interview. Around about the time of my interview we found out that we were expecting another baby, due in January. This made me question my career plans for the next year and I am putting applying for other jobs on hold until after the baby arrives. All around the same time, several staffing changes at school have created an opportunity to become a non-teaching deputy head in my current school in the next year.<br />
<br />
All of these circumstances make for an exciting year ahead:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Although I am not based with a class I will still be teaching. I am teaching a couple of high ability maths class (challenging for Level 6s). This is one of my passions! Also I will be teaching Year Six for a couple of afternoons, teaching Computing and PE. These subjects are lessons I love and I can't wait to get into this. I believe that a senior leader must continue to do some teaching and I want to make sure I do this well.</li>
<li>My headteacher has asked my to do a lot of observing and scrutinising planning and books this year. Although I don't necessarily agree that these should be massive priorities (another story) I am working to the head's vision for brilliant teaching throughout the school. I want my monitoring role to be supportive, nurturing and fair. I will make sure the NQTs have an inspiring start to their teaching careers.</li>
<li>A massive reduced marking schedule means that I can concentrate on aspects of my leadership which I believe will make a real difference. It also means that I can find time to do a few things that I haven't had time to do over the last year - such as blogging!</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-30173073252048662432014-05-17T23:47:00.002+01:002014-05-17T23:47:41.547+01:00Are you ready to become a headteacher?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/otzGPRN_wqc/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/otzGPRN_wqc&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/otzGPRN_wqc&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
I stumbled upon this tonight. With the subject of possibly becoming a headteacher very much at the front of my thoughts this week, this video highlights some important points for my to think about.<br />
<br />
Are you ready to become a headteacher?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-72810572430141565502014-04-21T22:38:00.001+01:002014-04-21T22:38:43.952+01:00Lazy TeachingNo, this isn't an admission that I've become complacent in the classroom!<br />
<br />
I recently read <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1845902890/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1845902890&linkCode=as2&tag=onlineideas-21">The Lazy Teacher's Handbook: How your students learn more when you teach less (Independent Thinking Series)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=onlineideas-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1845902890" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="https://twitter.com/thelazyteacher">Jim Smith</a>. I enjoyed the book a lot. I found it refreshing in the way it encouraged teachers to take risks and try something new. But I love the way it wants us to shift the work rate within the lessons on to the children - over the course of the lesson the children should be working hardest.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The big challenge for teachers taking on board the Lazy Way is often dragging themselves away from the safety net that is the scheme of work.</i></blockquote>
Here are some great ideas from the book:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Like airlines - record any set routines on video. Display messages that you need to give.</li>
<li>Use audio and video for teaching.</li>
<li><i>"Too many teachers are paraphrasing children's answers then adding in anecdotal by-line for good measure meaning the majority of the students disengage with a crucial part of the learning. Why the vast majority of teachers feel compelled to repeat and add something to every response they receive is beyond me. You have a whole class of students who should be asked to comment on what has been said."</i></li>
<li><i>"Send one member of the group (to be known as the 'envoy') to visit another group. The envoy is there with two missions: 1 to listen to the group's ideas so he can report back to his own group and 2 to share his own group's ideas with his hosts. This is a very lazy way of making sure everyone remains engaged with the task and hears other viewpoints."</i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Use this formula to outline how much time the group has using the following formula: People x Time - Number of hours worked. If you have a group of four students working for a sixty minute lesson, this equates to four hours of time. Ask the students what they would expect an individual to produce in four hours. Use the formula to set the expectation for the group.</li>
<li>Allocate specific roles to members of the group, e.g. facilitator (keeps things moving and records what is happening), time keeper, resource manager, quality checker and team rep (represents the team at 'emergency meetings'.</li>
<li>Never use silent work as a punishment as it is a valuable way of working, not a consequence of poor behaviour.</li>
<li>Establish how long you are going to be silent for and make it clear to your class that you do want that amount of time spent in silence and will reset the clock of people talk.</li>
<li>Model working in the silent time as well.</li>
<li>Have a whiteboard where questions can be posted by the students. When someone posts a question only ever tell that person the answer and write the name of the person you have told under the question on the FAQs board. Anyone else in the class who wants to know the answer to that same question can talk to their classmate rather than you.</li>
<li>The 'feel good Friday' phone call: choose three students whose parents/carers you are going to ring to say just how well their children are doing.</li>
<li>The high jump: Introduce the high jump approach to maths - children start the challenge just before you think it is going to get too difficult for them. There is no point in students completing work that has proved nothing, other than the fact that it is too easy or too hard.</li>
<li>Have a Connect 4 Championship!</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-60219306163051550772014-01-21T21:37:00.001+00:002014-01-21T21:37:14.244+00:00Start With Why<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/d2SEPoQEgqA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
The message in the video clearly applies to schools. Start with WHY.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-47971937478425963722014-01-01T14:50:00.002+00:002014-01-02T10:49:58.667+00:00A review of 2013 and setting goals 2014 has in store...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've read a lot of <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%23nurture1314&oq=%23nurture1314&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.5043j0j9&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8">#nurture1314</a> posts. I have to admit that I find it hard to muster up the energy to think of 13 things to write about from 2013 and then come up with 14 things to hope for in 2014. I seem to remember a similar hashtag on Twitter last year. Surely by the time #nurture2021 is up and running the craze will be over!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, reading about everyone else has inspired me to write my own thoughts. Here goes...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Review of 2013:</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5bm8z0iI18/UsVEPQYwYcI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/qxMrfSvKlZE/s1600/2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5bm8z0iI18/UsVEPQYwYcI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/qxMrfSvKlZE/s640/2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Goals for 2014:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In general I want to be less harsh on myself when I fall behind with things. I want to live in the moment a bit more.</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complete my NPQH placement.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complete my NPQH qualification.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Begin to apply for headteacher jobs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blog more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use Twitter more productively.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manage my time more effectively.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep the house tidier.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continue to find ways to save money.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Run 100 miles.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give more thoughtful presents.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend time with family and friends.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continue to help with the church PCC.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Begin to write a book.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reach level 75 on Hay Day!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Build a timeturner.</span></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-16896322935568832842013-12-31T15:41:00.001+00:002013-12-31T15:41:22.487+00:00Favourite Twitter-ers of 2013After reading <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10541178/The-40-funniest-tweets-of-2013.html">this list</a> of the 40 funniest tweets of the year I thought I'd list a few of my favourite Twitter accounts.<br />
<br />
<b>Funny</b><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/FakeShowbizNews">Fake Showbiz News</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXc35JS16TE/UsLiQNeL0tI/AAAAAAAAGIE/czuerbHxDMg/s1600/2013-12-31+15.26.24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXc35JS16TE/UsLiQNeL0tI/AAAAAAAAGIE/czuerbHxDMg/s320/2013-12-31+15.26.24.png" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/FaceslnThings">Faces In Things</a><br />
<img alt="Embedded image permalink" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ba_uTiaCcAAMaVP.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/theJeremyVine">Jeremy Vine</a> - tweets funny local news stories<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/JamieDMJ">Jamie Jones</a> - nutter<br />
<br />
<b>Local</b><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/winsfordnews">Winsford News</a><br />
Local news.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/SaltFair">Salt Fair</a><br />
Not just news of the local Salt Fair, but from a gentleman who genuinely cares about the town.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/NWmwaypolice">North West Motorway</a><br />
Funny and informative with a serious message.<br />
<br />
<b>Education</b><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/ict_mrp">Lee Parkinson</a><br />
Inspirational ways to use iPads<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/PrimaryIdeas">Primary Ideas</a><br />
Lots of good ideas for the classroom<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/ianaddison">Ian Addison</a><br />
Seems like an interesting bloke<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/mrspteach">Mrs P Teach</a><br />
A dedicated teacher who tweets interesting stuff.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/theprimaryhead">The Primary Head</a><br />
Interesting views and opinions<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/michaelt1979">Michael Tidd</a><br />
Great ideas and views on primary education<br />
<br />
<b>Music</b><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/officialcharts">Official Charts</a><br />
Official news from the UK charts<br />
<br />
<b>Well Being</b><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/beingbrilliant">Andy Cope</a><br />
Inspirational stuff<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-66979335034227732242013-12-30T15:51:00.000+00:002013-12-31T15:52:25.977+00:00TV Programmes of 2013<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For most of the year our Sky+ box has been below 10% as I've tried to watch a backlog of episodes of shows. Now that Cheers and Seinfeld have finished I want to try to clear up some more space. Here are some of the programmes I've enjoyed in 2013:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Wrong Mans</span></b><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the best shows of the year.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since October 2012 I've watched Cheers from the very beginning. It was great!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seinfeld</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since early 2012 I've watched Seinfeld from the beginning. This was a programme I should have watched when I was younger. Fifteen years later I've caught up.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Homeland</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although slow to get going, Homeland continued to be one of the best programmes on TV.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boardwalk Empire</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another great Boardwalk Series.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8 Out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well funny!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Derek</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This programme made me laugh and cry. Just beautiful.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Great British Bake Off</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got drawn into this and I loved it!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Educating Yorkshire</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An honest insight into high school education. Excellent and inspiring!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fresh Meat</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A great third series with more of a serious tone than in previous series.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Blacklist</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recommended by a friend and I loved it!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big Bang Theory</span></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This just keeps getting better. Always worth watching as you're guaranteed a smile!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-79611389538249800642013-12-29T23:48:00.003+00:002013-12-29T23:48:50.888+00:00My favourite tunes of 2013<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There have been a lot of great tunes released in 2013. I've managed to whittle my massive shortlist down to just 24 (I couldn't get any fewer).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Daft Punk - Get Lucky</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the first listen it was clear that this song would become a classic. It is, quite simply, brilliant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Duke Dumont featuring A*M*E* - Need U (100%)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overshadowed to a degree on its release by a stupid chart campaign after the death of a former Prime Minister, this Nineties throwback tune is fantastic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Avicii - Wake Me Up</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been a fan of Avicii's for a year or two. But this song is absolutely brilliant. Everything about it is cool. There are lots of acoustic cover versions buzzing around too which are worth a listen. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wake-Me-Up/dp/B00EEEYHWU/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1388359409&sr=1-1&keywords=gavin+mikhail+wake+me+up">Here is my favourite</a> by Gavin Mikhail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Armin van Buuren featuring Trevor Guthrie This Is What It Feels Like</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple incredible vocals over an amazing dance track. This is a pop-crossover at its best. It deserves to be a bigger hit. Again, there are some great acoustic versions around, including this one by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Is-What-Feels-Like/dp/B00F0NBU4C/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1388359604&sr=1-1&keywords=this+is+what+it+feels+like+jasmine">Jasmine Thompson</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Chris Malinchak - So Good To Me</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chilled out dance. This is close to being a perfect tune. Then the Steve Smart & WestFunk Remix takes it all the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The 1975 - Chocolate</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A great rock tune which deserved to be a bigger hit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith - La La La</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This just gets better each time I hear it. Amazing vocals and an annoyingly catchy tune.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Charlie Brown - On My Way</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A great pop tune. One of the more underrated ones of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Zach Sobiech - Clouds</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This song brings me close to tears. It was released at the end of 2012 and is all about the singer's battle with cancer. The words are just beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John Newman - Love Me Again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boy this guy can sing. Love Me Again bowled me over on its release and it continues to do so each time I hear it. Simply brilliant.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gabz - Lighters (The One)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ultimately Lighters (The One) will be dismissed as a cheap cash in from Britain's Got Talent. But it deserves more respect. It's a great song and she performs it with cool style, despite the onesie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ellie Goulding - Burn (Alienator Remix)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A great bassy remix of an excellent tune. I wasn't sure about Ellie Goulding at first, but time and time again she releases some brilliant songs. This one is a classic.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pink featuring Nate Ruess - Just Give Me Reason</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow - this is a brilliant duet. Their voices compliment each other perfectly. It gets better with every listen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Avicii - Hey Brother</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clearly one of the stand out tracks on the True album, Avicii has produced another smash.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>OneRepublic - Counting Stars</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this song. The words are endearing and the tune is incredibly catchy. A deserved smash hit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Jake Bugg - Broken</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An excellent tune from a growing talent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lorde - Royals</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who'd have thought this would be the smash hit that it was? Such a simple tune proved to be one of the best songs of the Autumn. Excellent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>John Newman - Cheating (Freemasons Mix)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another great vocal from John Newman, but this is hear for the Freemasons. They are finally producing new material, and this is their best remix of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Eminem featuring Rihanna - The Monster</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They've done it again. Immediately catchy, but a tune with depth so that you discover more each time youy listen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Justin Timberlake - Mirrors</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A great tune from Timberlake. I was glad to finally get a radio edit - 8 minutes was way too long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Rizzle Kicks - Skip To The Good Bit</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Too cool for their own good. This song has 90s throwbacks and is a grower.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luminites - It Hurts So Good</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frustratingly ignored by the masses, I loved this when I heard it on Britain's Got Talent. I never normally watch the programme but was drawn into the final by my wife.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Imagine Dragons - Radioactive</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The best rock song of the year by far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Rudimental featuring Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are Rudimental the British dance act of the year? This is brilliant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Disclosure featuring AlunaGeorge - White Noise</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If Rudimental are the dance act of the year, then Disclosure are a close second. This is my favourite from their album.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-71614192557696378562013-11-09T23:03:00.000+00:002013-11-09T23:03:00.907+00:00Golden Rules for running a business and how they relate to school leadership<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love <a href="http://startups.co.uk/richard-reed-shares-his-5-golden-rules-for-running-a-business/">this report</a> on Richard Reed and Innocent. It describes Reed's five golden rules for running a business. Innocent has become a multi-million pound business. As I read the report I realised how his rules easily apply to running a school.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lesson #1: Have a mission</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“You need to have a clear vision and sense of purpose – it brings a massive amount of energy and direction to the organisation. It’s one of those things that costs nothing but creates so much value. In those down times, those late evenings and weekends think about the reason behind why you’re doing what you do. What’s your mission?"</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I believe it is so important that everyone in an establishment buys into the school's mission. The mission should be the key reason for making any decision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Google exists to ‘organise the world’s information and make it universally available’. In one sentence it explains why they do what they do, and there’s something so powerful about having such a clear sense of purpose.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lesson #2: It’s the people, stupid</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“You need to hire good people, people make a business. Identify your business' needs and then find staff with the right skills and motivation; it really is the most important thing to get right.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It’s not about just taking people who are available it’s about being incredibly picky and choosy. Trying to get a job at Innocent is a nightmare, you have to get through so many hoops, but it’s important, because staff are integral to our business and we want to get it right."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Recruiting the right staff in schools can be hard. But it is so important that only the right staff are brought in. I would argue that it's not just about people - it's finding the right services that will benefit the children and the school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lesson #3: Start small, but do start</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“The most important thing is to get started. We started from a market stall, Marks and Spencer’s started from a market stall, the scale of it doesn’t matter – it’s the starting that’s important. If it goes wrong, so what, you’ll learn, you’ll have a great experience and a great story to tell your friends in the future."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For me, this message applies to school when it comes to making changes. When the time is right it's important to try it and have a go. Make a start. I'm a huge believer in having a go and not delaying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lesson #4: Do it your way, not the ‘right’ way</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“All I can say is what happened to us, that doesn’t mean it’s the right way so don’t feel afraid to start your in a different way. There is no universal ‘right’ way to start a business, every venture is unique and every situation is different.<br />One of the beautiful things about setting up a business is that you can make it the way you want it to be – you can do it with your values and your own rituals.<br />No one can tell you how to run your business. We’ve built this business from scratch based on our values and principles.<br />Do what’s important to you.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">These messages speak for themselves. A headteacher should direct the school in a way that is unique to that school. Do what you believe is most important.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lesson #5: Be open</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Be open and communicate. Test your product or service on other people and be responsive to feedback. Having people walk around the office means we have to be honest, which is great.<br />If you’re open to feedback people will give you wilful insight which is key to the success of your business. You’ll understand what your consumer wants better than your competition does."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the case of schools, our consumer is the children, the parents and the community. Appreciate all feedback given - negative or positive. Act on it! Be honest and transparent as much as possible so that your consumers understand why you do things the way you do.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-80803453242674443032013-10-27T19:39:00.001+00:002013-10-27T19:39:40.268+00:00NQPH Placement: My preparation<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a complicated process arranging my NPQH placement (for reasons not worth going into). But tomorrow I belatedly start my placement at a lovely school around 25 miles from where I live.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been tasked with raising standards in Science as part of a cycle of subject reviews. Science is not a subject that I feel is a personal strength of mine. So the task will be challenge - one that I'm looking forward to. I haven't any real success criteria yet as I need to determine these myself through a review of the subject in school tomorrow.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VustpUj-5TY/Um1rkvsWXUI/AAAAAAAAEHk/cdlx0fvPxXM/s1600/science.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VustpUj-5TY/Um1rkvsWXUI/AAAAAAAAEHk/cdlx0fvPxXM/s320/science.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be working with the Subject Leader to carry out research into standards of Science in the school. As part of the process I plan to:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meet with the Subject Leader</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the best person to be able to give me an insight into the current standard of the subject. I hope he'll be able to articulate his vision for Science. It would be good to find out about what he believes are the strengths and areas to develop. I wonder how a 'buzz' about science is created by the school.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meet with the Pupils</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to speak to a cross-section of children who will be able to tell me what they like and what they don't like so much. I'd like to find out things like how they prefer to work in science, and how they like to record work.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning Walk</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm hoping to look around the school for evidence of science being valued and enjoyed. It would be great to see displays.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Book Scrutiny</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate the term 'book scrutiny', but that's what I need to do. I'd like to find out about the planning of the work, and see the progression, continuity and challenge between each year group. I wonder how the work is marked?</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finding out</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to find out any data that is recorded for science - and how it is obtained. I have an audit for the teachers to find out their views. I hope they'll have time to fill it in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By next week I want to have devised an action plan with success criteria based on what I have learned. I want to use <a href="http://lessonstudy.co.uk/">Lesson Studies</a> as a method of developing teachers. I also need to consider whereabouts the school is in working towards fulfilling the objectives of the new national curriculum. Perhaps this will form part of my plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've prepared my questions, printed my staff audit, made notes on the lesson study process and printed the science pages of the new curriculum. I'm nervous as working in a different school will take me right out of my comfort zone. But I guess that's why I need to do it. As I always tell everyone else - it'll be fine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Image: <a href="http://littlemisshypothesis.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diy-tinted-safety-goggles.html">http://littlemisshypothesis.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/diy-tinted-safety-goggles.html</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-59022325435441688862013-10-13T23:24:00.000+01:002013-10-13T23:24:00.240+01:00My Learning Style<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all learn in different ways. I completed the Kolb learning style inventory. The inventory is designed to help you to understand how you learn best in educational settings and everyday life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My results showed that I learn best through concrete experience and by active experimentation - in other words, by experiencing and by doing</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P6NVEbMbjqc/UlM0-eBmIvI/AAAAAAAAEGU/sN_MpSEAIjM/s1600/learning+cycle189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P6NVEbMbjqc/UlM0-eBmIvI/AAAAAAAAEGU/sN_MpSEAIjM/s320/learning+cycle189.jpg" width="296" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning by experiencing means:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning from specific experiences</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Relating to people</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being sensitive to feelings and people</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning by doing means:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Showing the ability to get things done</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking risks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Influencing people and events through action</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel that these are all strengths of mine. I believe that I can learn best through experiences. I am able to relate to people and consider their feelings. I am a big believe in the phrase 'you don't know unless you try' and therefore I like to take measured risks. I am someone who likes to see action and think I can influence people this way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My preferences in these types of learning confirm that I am an 'accommodating learner'. This means that I 'may want to put ideas that I have practiced into action, finding still more uses for whatever has been learned. I tend to accommodate, or adapt to, changing circumstances and information.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People with an accommodating learning style 'have the ability to learn primarily from 'hands-on experience'. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_QphCbg98cs/UlM1AojUX3I/AAAAAAAAEGc/TI1f4XVcsMs/s1600/learning+style+grid191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_QphCbg98cs/UlM1AojUX3I/AAAAAAAAEGc/TI1f4XVcsMs/s320/learning+style+grid191.jpg" width="316" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"If this is your style, you probably enjoy carrying out plans and involving yourself in new and challenging experiences. Your tendency may be to act on intuition rather than logical analysis. In solving problems, you may rely more heavily on people for information than on your own technical analysis. In formal learning situations you may prefer to work with others to get assignments done, to set goals, to do field work and to test out different approaches to completing a project."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The basic strengths of my learning style are:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting things done</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leading</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking risks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Initiating</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being adaptable</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being practical</span></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8739217076391384850.post-39402977807254520442013-10-06T21:14:00.002+01:002013-10-06T21:14:43.655+01:00Emotional Intelligence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On one of our NPQH elective days I completed an Emotional Intelligence Assessment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to the results, the strongest aspect of my emotional intelligence is Relationship Management. This was followed by Social Awareness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is interesting that my scores for self-awareness and self-management both came out as my lowest score. It appears that I do not know myself very well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when I looked at Daniel Goleman's framework of Emotional Competences I can't help but agree with the results of my assessment. My self-confidence can sometimes be low. My self-control can be rubbish (e.g. poor eating and exercising habits sometimes.) Whilst I believe that I am trustworthy and conscientious, I am not always very quick to adapt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In terms of my social competences I think that I am very service oriented and have an awareness of what good service involves. I believe that I have good leadership skills and am aware of the need for different parts of an organisation to work well together. I am frequently told that I can be influential within my establishment, and a good communicator. I am good at building teams and can be a catalyst for change, when needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what have I learned? I need to be more reflective about myself. I need to be more confident in my own abilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IMAGE: <a href="http://www.kartikvyas.com/articles5.html">http://www.kartikvyas.com/articles5.html</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0