Activity focused problem-solving group and individual tasks. Problem-solving and individual tasks have an important part to play in enabling us to build a growth mindset in children. We unpick what it is, and finally, we have a handy translation table to help adapt dialogue with children. What is really meant by a fixed or growth
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Language has the power to create a genuine sense of inclusion[1] along with a growth mindset for children. How can we ensure we are using it to full effect? How does play provide a platform from which to develop mindset and inclusion? Here, I explore the possibility that we can inadvertently cap learning or create
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October is Black History Month – a month to celebrate diversity and the contributions of black people to history. The question arises; if we spend just one month in a year highlighting black history are we potentially promoting cultural tokenism? “Black contribution to [] history is so rich and varied that attempting to confine the discussion
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The new school year commonly starts with an ‘ourselves’ topic. The same planning and the same intentions. Getting to know one another, build relationships and assessing. With Kitcamp’s ‘I am me’ toolkit we explore alternative ways to launch this topic. It is a great way to get to know the class and to help them get to
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We know play is important. It is a child’s work. But is there more to it? With current media awareness around mental health, we reflect on how play can make a difference for a child’s long-term mental wellbeing. Mentalhealth.org tells us that 1 in 10 children and young people are affected by mental health issues.
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We all know the importance of maintaining a child’s self-esteem. How a positive self-image and confidence impacts on learning. That children with high self-esteem generally feel loved, competent, happy and are therefore productive. If children acquire this self-esteem as a result of successful experiences, surely play opportunities are ideal for building success? How does child-led play
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“Flipping the classroom” Some years ago in my school, we trialled ‘flipping the classroom’. We wanted it to be child-led learning. To move away from the model of a teacher at the front of the room telling children what and how they would be learning. Introducing enquiry based learning by starting with a ‘big question’
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Now fall off… As a kid, at the end of a riding lesson I was always encouraged to fall off my pony, learn to tumble, and getting up unhurt, dust off my knees and get back on again! What I was learning was that falling off wasn’t a big deal. For kids, learning to “fall off”
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Usually when we post a blog it is with reference to a western understanding of childhood and playfulness. Capturing hard evidence of free play’s benefits can be hard, though. Much of it is subtle and intangible, with it filtering through in the child’s character as they mature. Without doubt, the impact of creative free play on
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