Product reviews for Bright Ideas for Managing the Positive Classroom

It was a nostalgic experience for me, reading this book. I found myself saying "I used to do that!' on more than one occasion and also "what a great idea!' Peter Clutterbuck has not felt it necessary to refer to truckloads of research or quote from highly respected educational gurus, because it is self-evident that the ideas presented are not only educationally sound but engaging and motivating at a deep level. They are reminiscent of the sort of primary school activities that used to be a regular feature of good child-centred practice before the advent of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Schemes of Work. In that respect it is encouraging to see a book like this because it suggests that the pendulum is swinging again, back toward a more varied curriculum ; there is a whole section on growing plants, for example.

Imaginative, yet seemingly simple ideas are sprinkled liberally throughout the book " for example, Word Relays, in which the class is divided into teams which race to complete letter blends on the whiteboard. Clutterbuck has even thought of ways of managing different year groups; if you ever come across a school assembly with all the children doing the Hokey Cokey, it may be as a result of this book.

The book is divided into sections "Getting to know You'; "The Attentive Classroom' "Ten Tips to Encourage Student Participation' and several more. There is also one on starting the day " excellent for settling the class down and getting them into a state of readiness for learning. A substantial part of the book is geared toward social and emotional developmental activities, something that is identified by the Government (Department of Health) as needing increasing attention in our society. Education can of course play a major role in this and this book gives educators the tools to do it. At the end is a section on physical activities and these could be used by anyone working with children, school-based or not.

The format is very easy to access; in fact one could pick up the book, open it at a random page and find an activity that will inspire and engage; this is because of the open-ended nature of most of the ideas. There are on average three or four ideas per page, enlivened with cartoon illustrations. There is also some more general advice about class management and handling individual students ; the importance of careful planning in the longer term to ensure that learning is a positive experience.

A recommended addition to any staffroom, but buy several copies because it won't stay long on the shelf!