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Product reviews for The Primary Learner's Toolkit
Mark Edwards Mark Edwards, Former headteacher and child therapist
Jackie Beere has adapted her earlier book - The Learner`s Toolkit - for primary aged children. It is intended to support the SEAL programme in schools and therefore the emphasis is on developing self-awareness. It is basically a book of self - empowerment for learners and suggests many techniques that a life coach might teach, but presented in a format that is accessible for young children.
The introduction makes reference to the Primary Curriculum Review carried out by Jim Rose in 2009 and which amongst other things concluded that primary schools needed to create a more flexible and personalized curriculum to replace the `one-size-fits-all` approach of the National Curriculum. It is depressing but perhaps predictable that the recommendations were blocked from implementation following the May elections; Ian Gilbert tells the story as a fairy tale in an amusing foreword which makes it clear that the politicisation of education continues unabated to the detriment of children`s learning and growth. This book is an attempt to carry on regardless - a sort of antidote to Michael Gove if you like -and will no doubt be embraced by creative and imaginative teachers everywhere.
The book is divided into four sections. The first introduces the acronym MAGIC - Motivation, Attitude, Gumption, I-learn, Communication - and each lesson focuses on developing aspects of each through imaginative activities designed to encourage the learner to reflect on his own thoughts and feelings. I particularly liked the section on `Gumption` which focuses on increasing staying power and keeping going when things get difficult. Children really will need to learn this in today`s world!
Section Two suggests projects which encourage learners to put all they have learned to good use and incorporates task sheets to help structure planning; the third section is made up of stories and the final section is a self-assessment tool encouraging learners to reflect on how they managed the tasks. This again encourages thoughtful reflection and the setting of targets for improvement. The book makes reference to National Curriculum learning objectives throughout and Beere is to be commended for cleverly dovetailing the sometimes conflicting demands of this structure and the more holistic approach of the learner-centred teacher.
A CD accompanies the book and allows easy access to the pages within for busy teachers on the move. Highly recommended.
The introduction makes reference to the Primary Curriculum Review carried out by Jim Rose in 2009 and which amongst other things concluded that primary schools needed to create a more flexible and personalized curriculum to replace the `one-size-fits-all` approach of the National Curriculum. It is depressing but perhaps predictable that the recommendations were blocked from implementation following the May elections; Ian Gilbert tells the story as a fairy tale in an amusing foreword which makes it clear that the politicisation of education continues unabated to the detriment of children`s learning and growth. This book is an attempt to carry on regardless - a sort of antidote to Michael Gove if you like -and will no doubt be embraced by creative and imaginative teachers everywhere.
The book is divided into four sections. The first introduces the acronym MAGIC - Motivation, Attitude, Gumption, I-learn, Communication - and each lesson focuses on developing aspects of each through imaginative activities designed to encourage the learner to reflect on his own thoughts and feelings. I particularly liked the section on `Gumption` which focuses on increasing staying power and keeping going when things get difficult. Children really will need to learn this in today`s world!
Section Two suggests projects which encourage learners to put all they have learned to good use and incorporates task sheets to help structure planning; the third section is made up of stories and the final section is a self-assessment tool encouraging learners to reflect on how they managed the tasks. This again encourages thoughtful reflection and the setting of targets for improvement. The book makes reference to National Curriculum learning objectives throughout and Beere is to be commended for cleverly dovetailing the sometimes conflicting demands of this structure and the more holistic approach of the learner-centred teacher.
A CD accompanies the book and allows easy access to the pages within for busy teachers on the move. Highly recommended.
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25/02/2011 00:00
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