Book review of "The Beautiful Risk of Education"

One of the things I have said I will do over the last two years is write a blog - don't know why I decided to do that. I think it was one of those things "that sounded good in my head"....anyway the other thing I did was tell Faye and of course the pressure has now been applied (ever so nicely!!!!) to put  my words into action. 

So here is the first Learning Network NZ resources orientated blog hopefully the first of many ( but not too many!!).

Some  of the things you will need to know about this blog is that I am NOT AN EDUCATOR - even though I have worked at LNNZ for 10 years this year I do not have an educational background other than my own schooling - which is too many years away to remember!! 

You will also need to know that the books I focus on are just books that some people (maybe even me!!!!) have liked/used/bought/found useful/commented on - they are not endorsed or recommended by LNNZ or even the people that have shared them with us. They are just interesting books.

So the first book is "The Beautiful Risk of Education" by Gert J J Biesta. It was originally bought to my attention by a University Lecturer who was wanting to get her hands on a copy and we were able to source and supply for her, and "it had me at Hello" the first sentence of the description says "....education is not about filling a bucket but about lighting a fire" 







Here are some book reviews  in particular one from NZ's own  He Kupu with a book review by Chris Naughton from 2013  HERE.

We also this interview with the author on why he wrote the book and what the aim was, from the Philosophy of Education Society of  Great Britain  HERE 

The author has a new book out later in the year "The Rediscovery of Teaching" so maybe we will review that as well

Professor Guy Claxton'sVisit to New Zealand

Last week Learning Network NZ had the pleasure of bringing Professor Guy Claxton back to NZ in order to enable you as teachers the chance to review how you can effectively "raise achievement & build character" within your busy classroom environment.

By all accounts it was  a successful tour, apart from poor Guy having a ghastly flu.  Each venue was at full capacity, all the attendee's that I had the pleasure of coming  into contact with, really enjoyed the intensity of the day and felt inspired to be there.  

The content  Guy shared and projected was both powerful and practical, enabling the attendee's to take away some know how and keep sake strategies to apply within the busy classroom/school environment.  

Essentially Guy enabled school practitioners to gain more confidence and know how on how to apply "Building Learning Power" more successfully within their individual environment!

BUILDING LEARNING POWERED CLASSROOM 

As Guy suggests, this can be gained by implementing gradual, cumulative adjustments within the class around some of the following key shifts:

The language used within the classroom, 
Timetable adjustments
Self-review
Implementing "a coaching culture"
Investing in teaching methods
                                              Cumulatively gaining long term results!

SUGGESTED RESOURCES TO AIDE IN YOUR BLP TEACHING & LEARNING: 

1)   The Learning Powered School – Pioneering 21^st Century Education, by Guy Claxton & Bill Lucus 
2)   Educating Ruby - What our Children really need to learn, By Guy Claxton & Bill Lucus 
3)   How Children Succeed  - Grit, Curiosity & the Hidden Power of Character, by Paul Tough 
4)   Challenging Learning - James Nottingham (*the learning Pit that Guy referred to) -also visiting NZ "one day only" 24 June.

Events at Learning Network NZ coming up

Due to POPULAR DEMAND 

Professor Guy Claxton revisits

 AUCKLAND, QUEENSTOWN & NELSON

 in just over THREE WEEKS ..have YOU got your Ticket?

DONT MISS OUT!!! Book now to avoid disappointment!