At the meeting of The Association of Philosophy for Children last week, at Hanford Hall Primary School in Ipswich, it was agreed that we should organise a conference for children from Norfolk and Suffolk schools who had been using philosophy in the classroom! One suggestion is to hold it in Norwich! This would give a real boost to the children and schools who had previously taken part in the Thinking Schools, Thinking Children initiative held in Norfolk in 2000. Suffolk schools are excited about the project and are going ahead with a Newsletter, as well as starting a website. Watch this space!
Author Archives: Dot Lenton
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Philosophy4Children meets TeachFirst!
Barbara and Dot had a fascinating evening with a group from TeachFirst in Piccadilly discussing Challenging Issues. Our secondary colleagues were exploring ideas relating to academic argumentation. Katherine Richardson shared some of her recent research with the group. She demonstrated that the method of using clear argumentation in the development of reasoning in the classroom has a strong impact on children’s ability to become engaged with their learning. This is a subject that is dear to the heart of Philosophy4Children. As she spoke the correlation with the work that we do with our primary colleagues was very apparent. The group willingly became involved with an experiential session with us (shortened from two hours to about twenty minutes) and had a very positive discussion about “Willy the Champ” by Anthony Browne.
The discussion was relayed to Twitter users through @Teachfirst.
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Brilliant feedback
This enthusiastic feedback has been supplied by the head teacher of a school that we worked with recently. He has given us permission to use it in our blog!
“Every KS1 class has had structured P4C since the training and I think staff and children are learning a lot! As ever, the better we seem able to deliver (whether the story works better or engages the children) the better the children respond. I had my best session last week where the children (Y1-2 class) were really engaged.
“The children were a Y2 class and two comments amazed me.
“One child said… ‘I think I agree with Sarah now…’ which was brilliant. We briefly stopped and discussed what it means if you say that (the now being so significant). I was thrilled as it suggests an open minded approach – it was also a boy who took on a girl’s viewpoint which I thought was interesting.
“Another child later said something along the lines of ‘I’ve been thinking about what James said and I agree with him’ which again shows that children can reflect! This is after six sessions – I can’t wait to find out what it will be like for Y2 next year after having had a year doing it in Y1.”
We are absolutely delighted and look forward to seeing just how far the children will have progressed in their thinking by next year too!
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Big Launch day for The Association of Philosophy for Children in Ipswich
A wonderful afternoon was held at the Holiday Inn at Ipswich today, when teachers, head teachers, advisers and inspectors attended the launch of the newly formed Association of Philosophy for Children. Many of the Suffolk teachers had visited the Buranda school in Australia and had come back enthused with the ideas of teaching philosophy. There were many teachers who had wonderful examples of how children had been transformed through the teaching of philosophy in their schools. Inspirational talks were also given by Roger Sutcliff, from SAPERE, and Gary Nethercott from Suffolk. How could anyone teach without using philosophy4children?
The committee, made up mainly of dedicated teachers from Suffolk, along with one or two heads from Norfolk and also Philosophy4Children, has produced a folder for teachers to use in the classroom. A must for all!!
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Brilliant afternoon in school!
We had a wonderful afternoon at Lodge Lane Infant School introducing Philosophy4Children to the children and staff. The children were brilliant for a first attempt – even getting into the nature/nurture debate….pretty sophisticated for a class of year two children! The staff were very enthusiastic and are keen to get started. We look forward to seeing the results later in the year.
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Brains hurting as we plan Philosophy4Children assembly themes
Barbara and Dot, with Tim, are working hard to find the best way to promote philosophical thinking into assembly.
We are definitely having to think very hard to see how this will work successfully. However, we are loving the challenge and trust the publishers will like our ideas!!
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Head Teachers with vision
The meeting of the local group of the Eastern Region Leadership, led by Wendy Garrard from the National College of School Leadership, was a great success yesterday. Head teachers from Norwich spoke about the visionary work that is taking place in many of our Norfolk schools. Two schools have been successful in their bid to become Enquiry Schools in which children use the philosophy4children approach to teaching and learning. Creativity and enjoyment were key words and schools who use this approach and have been recently Ofsteded were identified as outstanding! It was encouraging for all present to see that innovation and a real desire for children to be at the centre of what happens in school is alive and well and happening in Norfolk! Wendy was impressed and is reporting her findings back to the National College. Thanks Sue(Eagle) for organising this meeting and getting us all together.
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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.
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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!
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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!!
