Archive: 2009

1. No half term break.

   Posted on May 27 2009 by Barbara Vidion in News Comments Off on No half term break.

   No half term break for Philosophy4Children! Dot and I have had a busy half term planning for our next events.

   June starts with a full day in a Great Yarmouth school. We are looking forward to this very much. Both of us find the most rewarding part of our work is when we are able to introduce philosophy directly to children, so a whole morning working with children throughout the school will be a delight. The afternoon will be spent reviewing and planning the next steps with their teachers.

   The following day we have an introductory session with headteachers in the south Norfolk, north Suffolk area. By the end of this session participants should have the skills to deliver a philosophical enquiry with their children. As a backup to the session, there is a pack to buy.

2. Different settings

   Posted on May 2 2009 by Dot Lenton in News Comments Off on Different settings

   Barbara and I have enjoyed two very interesting sessions in school, one in Gt Yarmouth and one north of Norwich. Very different settings but alike in wanting to give their children an exciting and challenging approach to learning. We get very excited going into school and working with different adults and children. Our bookings seem quite full at the moment and we are already planning our next series of meetings. We are holding a free introductory session at Harleston Primary on June 2nd at 3pm and look forward to bringing philosophy4children to them.

3. Learning without Limits

   Posted on March 27 2009 by Dot Lenton in News Comments Off on Learning without Limits

   At the Norfolk Association For Primary Head Teachers (NAFPHT) Spring Conference there was a real buzz from the impact of the keynote speech by Alison Peacock, head teacher at Wroxham School, Hertfordshire. She led her school from Special Measures to Outstanding in three years – from one in which the children were described as “unteachable” to one in which children found learning irresistible. As one boy said, “Nobody can stop you from learning”. Her message came over loud and clear: “If we think nothing can change then we shouldn’t be teachers. Every child, and teacher, should have the capacity to surprise us.” Her belief that no child should be labelled gifted, talented or special needs has created a culture where all feel that they have the capacity to be transformed and the sky is the limit. All who attended were ignited with the desire to do some of the same – with real enthusiasm! Philosophy4Children is a way in which this transformation can begin. We believe that in transforming schools children can be transformed. We have seen children change from passive onlookers to active participants, with a genuine desire and enthusiasm for their work and with a real hunger for learning!

4. Excited about learning!

   Posted on February 27 2009 by Dot Lenton in News Comments Off on Excited about learning!

   Barbara and I have just come back from spending two wonderful days with the staff and children at Terrington St Clement’s School. We worked with all the children – including those in the Nursery – a real challenge for us! All the children showed just how well they can listen to each other for long periods of time. Many demonstrated how deep their thinking is. After reading Six Dinner Sid, they eventually came up with some BIG questions on the nature of love, friendship and feelings. The staff encouraged us by their enthusiasm and involvement. The head teacher’s comments have given us a real boost!

   “The staff are still buzzing about the philosophy even in Year 1/2, where the children have taken the discussion into adult on child bullying and inapproproate behaviour (violence) in adults.

   “The painting is beginning to cause quite a stir in Y6 because one child said it represented heaven. A whole host of ideas then came about who the characters are and whether they were candidates for heaven etc. As you may tell, I am also buzzing. I am loving it.The owl poem, did I tell you? A group of Y6 children came out with a lighthouse which is amazing…it is more like a lighthouse than an owl!” Liz Hackett
   This is what it is all about – children and teachers excited about learning!!

5. Feedback from the Head Teachers’ Conference

   Posted on February 4 2009 by Barbara Vidion in News Comments Off on Feedback from the Head Teachers’ Conference

   Feedback from the event was very positive. Here are some comments from the evaluation forms:

   Was the session useful?

   “”Yes. It made me realise how little time is given to our children to discuss and question each others points of view.”

   “Yes, very useful to intoduce myself to Philosophy4Children and be confident in doing within the school.”

   “Very useful – great balance of theory / practice / practise .”

   Have you learned enough to be able to run a philosophy session at school?

   “Yes, and can’t wait to learn more”

   “Yes, Dot and Barbara made it very clear”

   “Certainly. I am sure it will develop with practise”

   Do you think you will use philosophy?

   “Definitely – it was inspiring. I can see how my school would benefit from philosophy sessions to develop an enthusiasm for learning”

   “Yes. I will expect whole school to develop or at least try a philosophy session once I have cascaded info to them.”

    

6. Report on The Head Teachers’ Conference – Norwich

   Posted on February 4 2009 by Barbara Vidion in News Comments Off on Report on The Head Teachers’ Conference – Norwich

   After a day of heavy snow on Monday, the weather turned mild and the sun shone – a huge relief for us. The Head Teachers’ conference in Norwich was able to go ahead!

   Dot and I gave a brief talk about our involvement with philosophy, how and why it works so well for children and for the whole school.

   The main thrust of the conference was an experiential philosophy session demonstrating the process and skills so participants could go back to school and deliver a basic philosophy lesson. The process we use is effective with both children and adults – the difference is in the level of enquiry that takes place.

   A range of questions came up from the stimulus and the group chose the question – Do things make you happy? A very thought provoking enquiry followed, touching on the nature of happiness, what is happiness, why we give and what giving means. Time constraints meant that the enquriy was in full flow when we needed to bring it to closure – something that happens so frequently with children!

   Both Dot and I enjoyed ourselves very much – it was a joy to spend time with such enthusiastic heads (or their reps) and feel that there is such interest in developing philosophy in schools. The evaluation forms showed the conference had been a success. See the entry on feedback from the session.

7. Norfolk children debating in the Forum, Norwich

   Posted on January 19 2009 by Dot Lenton in News Comments Off on Norfolk children debating in the Forum, Norwich

   

    

   

   Looking at some pictures, I happened to come across photographs of our children demonstrating their philosophical debating skills to the general public in the Forum, Norwich. It was part of an exciting week when children from Norfolk schools shared their creative learning ideas. Our children debated for over an hour and were so focused that they were oblivious to the people watching them, and could have gone on for much longer.

8. Enthusiasm for the Head Teachers’ Conference

   Posted on January 13 2009 by Barbara Vidion in News Comments Off on Enthusiasm for the Head Teachers’ Conference

   Dot and I are excited at the enthusiastic response we have had to the Head Teachers’ Conference on February 3rd. Bookings are coming in from Norwich head teachers – we have even had enquiries from London and the Midlands! We plan to repeat the event in the near future in the south of the county and in the Yarmouth area. If there is a lot of enthusiasm for introducing philosophy in your area, please do get in touch and we will try to organise a session near you.

9. Book Review: Philosophy With Young Children – a Classroom Handbook by Philip Cam et al

   Posted on January 6 2009 by Barbara Vidion in Review Comments Off on Book Review: Philosophy With Young Children – a Classroom Handbook by Philip Cam et al

   Philosophy With Young Children – a Classroom Handbook by Philip Cam et al
   ISBN 978-1-875864-56
   Published by ACSA (Australian Curriculm Studies Association)

   It is wonderfully refreshing and exciting to know that around the world children are engaged with philosophical enquiry. In Buranda State Primary School in Australia philosophy underpins the whole school ethos. From their commitment has come this excellent book packed full of ideas and practical work.

   The book is structured and clearly set out in three section. The first looks at the discipline of philosophy and what philosophy means for children. The next section recommends 12 books suitable for philosophy in a primary school and looks in detail at focus themes, with activities to develop children’s skills. Finally there is more practical work to elicit good questions and encourage conceptual understanding.

   The ideas and ways of working with children outlined in this book are entirely in line with the way we work at Philosophy4children. Commitment to developing children’s critical thinking and exploring issues and ideas at a very deep level is the core of philosophical enquiry.

   There is one huge problem however – as it is published in Australia, the book does not appear to be available yet in the UK or on Amazon. But keep an eye out for it when it is finally available.