Tunes of 2014

This has been a great year for dance music. Therefore, most of my favourites of the year are dance.

In no particular order my favourite tunes are:

1. Gorgon City featuring Jennifer Hudson - Go All Night
2. Kiesza - Hideaway
3. George Ezra - Budapest
4. Take That - These Days
5. Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
6. Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
7. Idina Menzel - Let It Go
8. Rixton - Me And My Broken Heart
9. Sia - Chandelier
10. Faul & Wad Ad & Pnau - Changes
11. Sam Smith - Stay With Me
12. Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong
13. ZHU - Faded
14. Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass
15. Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
16. Jimi Jules & Oliver $ - Pushing On
17. Sigma & Paloma Faith - Changing
18. The Script - Superheroes
19. Sam Smith - I'm Not The Only One
20. Angel Haze & Sia - Battle Cry
21. Robin Schulz & Lilly Wood - Prayer In C
22. Vance Joy - Riptide
23. Ed Sheeran - Sing
24. Ella Henderson - Ghost
25. Oliver Heldens & Becky Hill - Gecko (Overdrive)
26. Charli XCX - Boom Clap (Cahill Remix)
27. Clean Bandit - Rather Be
28. Sam Smith - Money On My Mind
29. Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down
30. SecondCity - I Wanna Feel
31. John Legend - All Of Me
32. Pharrell Williams - Happy
33. Mr. Probz - Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)
34. Route 94 & Jess Glynne - My Love
35. Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars
36. Pitbull & Ke$ha - Timber
37. Paloma Faith - Can'r Rely On You (MK Remix)
38. Tiesto - Red Light
39. Sigma - Nobody To Love
40. Zedd & Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant - Find You

My Top Ten

Kiesza - Hideaway

What a way to debut! A brilliantly catchy tune.

Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

The complete pop smash hit!

Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud

A perfect love song.

Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang

Brilliant pop.

Sigma & Paloma Faith - Changing

Love this dance tune,

Ella Henderson - Ghost

A great song and some great remixes.

John Legend - All Of Me

Another perfect love song.

Pharrell Williams - Happy

Although it was released last year, Happy has continued to dominate this year.

Sigma - Nobody To Love

The best dance track of the year.

The Script - Superheroes

A great song,

A clip of Steve Jobs talking about how companies with a monopoly can fail has surfaced. 

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. 
 ‘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.’ 

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. 

 Let teachers teach.

A big year ahead

This 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.

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.

All of these circumstances make for an exciting year ahead:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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!

Are you ready to become a headteacher?

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.

Are you ready to become a headteacher?

Lazy Teaching

No, this isn't an admission that I've become complacent in the classroom!

I recently read The Lazy Teacher's Handbook: How your students learn more when you teach less (Independent Thinking Series) by Jim Smith. 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.

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.

Here are some great ideas from the book:

• Like airlines - record any set routines on video. Display messages that you need to give.
• Use audio and video for teaching.
• "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."
• "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."

• 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.
• 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'.
• Never use silent work as a punishment as it is a valuable way of working, not a consequence of poor behaviour.
• 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.
• Model working in the silent time as well.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Have a Connect 4 Championship!

Start With Why

The message in the video clearly applies to schools. Start with WHY.

A review of 2013 and setting goals 2014 has in store...

I've read a lot of #nurture1314 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!

However, reading about everyone else has inspired me to write my own thoughts. Here goes...

Review of 2013:

My Goals for 2014:

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.

• Complete my NPQH placement.
• Complete my NPQH qualification.
• Begin to apply for headteacher jobs.
• Blog more.
• Use Twitter more productively.
• Manage my time more effectively.
• Keep the house tidier.
• Continue to find ways to save money.
• Run 100 miles.
• Give more thoughtful presents.
• Spend time with family and friends.
• Continue to help with the church PCC.
• Begin to write a book.
• Reach level 75 on Hay Day!
• Build a timeturner.

Favourite Twitter-ers of 2013

After reading this list of the 40 funniest tweets of the year I thought I'd list a few of my favourite Twitter accounts.

Funny
Fake Showbiz News

Faces In Things


Jeremy Vine - tweets funny local news stories
Jamie Jones - nutter

Local
Winsford News
Local news.
Salt Fair
Not just news of the local Salt Fair, but from a gentleman who genuinely cares about the town.
North West Motorway
Funny and informative with a serious message.

Education
Lee Parkinson
Inspirational ways to use iPads
Primary Ideas
Lots of good ideas for the classroom
Ian Addison
Seems like an interesting bloke
Mrs P Teach
A dedicated teacher who tweets interesting stuff.
The Primary Head
Interesting views and opinions
Michael Tidd
Great ideas and views on primary education

Music
Official Charts
Official news from the UK charts

Well Being
Andy Cope
Inspirational stuff

TV Programmes of 2013

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:

The Wrong Mans

One of the best shows of the year.

Cheers

Since October 2012 I've watched Cheers from the very beginning. It was great!

Seinfeld

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.

Homeland

Although slow to get going, Homeland continued to be one of the best programmes on TV.

Boardwalk Empire

Another great Boardwalk Series.

8 Out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown

Well funny!

Derek

This programme made me laugh and cry. Just beautiful.

The Great British Bake Off

I got drawn into this and I loved it!

Educating Yorkshire

An honest insight into high school education. Excellent and inspiring!

Fresh Meat

A great third series with more of a serious tone than in previous series.

The Blacklist

Recommended by a friend and I loved it!

The Big Bang Theory

This just keeps getting better. Always worth watching as you're guaranteed a smile!

My favourite tunes of 2013

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).

Daft Punk - Get Lucky

From the first listen it was clear that this song would become a classic. It is, quite simply, brilliant.

Duke Dumont featuring A*M*E* - Need U (100%)

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.

Avicii - Wake Me Up

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. Here is my favourite by Gavin Mikhail.

Armin van Buuren featuring Trevor Guthrie This Is What It Feels Like

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 Jasmine Thompson.

Chris Malinchak - So Good To Me

Chilled out dance. This is close to being a perfect tune. Then the Steve Smart & WestFunk Remix takes it all the way.

The 1975 - Chocolate

A great rock tune which deserved to be a bigger hit.

Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith - La La La

This just gets better each time I hear it. Amazing vocals and an annoyingly catchy tune.

Charlie Brown - On My Way

A great pop tune. One of the more underrated ones of the year.

Zach Sobiech - Clouds

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.

John Newman - Love Me Again

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.

Gabz - Lighters (The One)

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.

Ellie Goulding - Burn (Alienator Remix)

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.

Pink featuring Nate Ruess - Just Give Me Reason

Wow - this is a brilliant duet. Their voices compliment each other perfectly. It gets better with every listen.

Avicii - Hey Brother

Clearly one of the stand out tracks on the True album, Avicii has produced another smash.

OneRepublic - Counting Stars

I love this song. The words are endearing and the tune is incredibly catchy. A deserved smash hit.

Jake Bugg - Broken

An excellent tune from a growing talent.

Lorde - Royals

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.

John Newman - Cheating (Freemasons Mix)

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.

Eminem featuring Rihanna - The Monster

They've done it again. Immediately catchy, but a tune with depth so that you discover more each time youy listen.

Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

A great tune from Timberlake. I was glad to finally get a radio edit - 8 minutes was way too long.

Rizzle Kicks - Skip To The Good Bit

Too cool for their own good. This song has 90s throwbacks and is a grower.

Luminites - It Hurts So Good

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.

Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

The best rock song of the year by far.

Rudimental featuring Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night

Are Rudimental the British dance act of the year? This is brilliant.

Disclosure featuring AlunaGeorge - White Noise

If Rudimental are the dance act of the year, then Disclosure are a close second. This is my favourite from their album.