This week we seem to be preparing. We are preparing to exhibit at the Geographical Association Annual Conference in Derby from 4-6 April; we are stand 70 and hope to be talking to a lot of conference goers. It will feel strange to be at a conference and not delivering a paper, however we hope we can deliver many of our resources to schools eager for innovation and exciting learning.
We are also preparing for our next study visit to The Gambia (April 17-24) which is part of our CPD course for primary heads and teachers on introducing the global dimension into the classroom. Besides our usual visits and time spent in schools, the 17 heads and teachers coming this time will be sharing a creative writer session with 130 students at The Gambia College, Brikama and later on will be working on phonics training with 50 Gambian lower basic school teachers. Jolly Phonics is widely taught in The Gambia, which many find surprising, but the Ministry believe it is improving English standards after only being in the schools for some 4 years or so. A similar scheme is used in some regions which has been developed by a Swedish NGO and is known as EGRA (early grade reading assessment).
The teachers will also be having a seminar with local teachers called ‘Learning from Links’. After this seminar local health charities will be coming to talk to the group; Riders for Health will be outlining their work with distant communities and how they adminster health care from the back of a motorbike. Another health project team, Peer Health Education Programme, will talk about their work but have invited the group to see them in action delivering health awareness through drama in school. All these activities require careful preparation and planning and this has kept the B & C team busy for the last few weeks.
Our next CPD course on the Global Dimension will have its Gambia experience in November 2013 and we are actively recruiting so please get in touch to find out how this course may enhance your teaching and your children’s learning.