It has been a vey busy start to the term for Philosophy4Children with more and more schools asking for training in how to use and develop philosophy with their children. Monday saw us working in a large junior school in Norwich with a very enthusiastic staff group. We are looking forward vey much to going back next week and spending the whole day working with the children.
Author Archives: Barbara Vidion
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Philosophy4children assemblies – an update
Having submitted our first assembly draft to the publishing company, the feedback was very encouraging. We have been asked to put forward a more formal proposal for consideration at their next editorial meeting. If this is accepted our work will begin in ernest!
In the meantime, Dot has tried one of our assemblies in a Norfolk primary school and it went down very well with the children. Dot saw lots of evidence of deep thinking amongst the children and possibilities for further development. -
Philosophy in primary school assembly
Philosophy in Assemby? This is a new area being considered by a publishing company who have approached us to work with them. We had an initial meeting yesterday. This is a new area of work for Philosophy4Children, which could prove to be challenging and very exciting. More news as, and when, this develops!
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Book review: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
ISBN 0-06-025665-6
Published by HarperCollinsThis is a beautifully illustrated book with simple line drawings and a thought provoking, moving story – ideal for philosophy.
The questions children usually bring up revolve around the meaning of love, the purpose of giving and what happiness means. These are questions children throughout the school will ask.
In fact, with it’s universal themes, this is a book that Dot and I often use very effectively when working with adults too.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.