How to REALLY improve literacy & numeracy in High School

Ok, so fresh from the 'best excursion ever' with kids so excited & pleased with themselves for their practical application of numeracy (physically calculating & selecting their material for their ottoman projects) I've been sparked again on my campaign to improve L&N in our school.

As the head of TASAM (TAS, Art & Music) one may wonder why I am trying to promote this... & not an English or Maths teacher? ? ?

Simple.
When schools achieve positive L&N results, Maths & English teams get a pat on the back... when schools perform poorly, it's the same two faculties that may be frowned down upon.

Sad but true. One may say, "Who cares? I don't teach in that faculty anyway so what's it got to do with me?"

Well here's the reality. WE ARE ALL TEACHERS OF LITERACY & NUMERACY... sounds like a familiar catch phrase, doesn't it? : )

Now I understand the kids learn their L&N in M&E, but I believe the practical based subjects make L&N real... Call it 'practical literacy' & 'practical numeracy'.

So in a changing educational world, where L&N is becoming more & more important, with more & more teaching hours looking to be directed this way, is this really the answer?

My view - NO!

L&N needs to be a whole school thing with ALL faculties equally responsible for L&N for each & every student. So now it's time to bite the bullet & make a change....

Instead of continually doing what every other joint seems to do (& place MORE hours in to explicit L&N activities at the expense of engaging elective subjects) we need to bring in MORE elective hours & up the anti on faculties to commit to L&N initiatives & share in the successes & failures of L&N in schools.

MISSION - To get our school to commit to 3 x 200 hour electives in Stage 5.

But it's up to US (as teachers) to TALK UP & take pride in the way we teach kids L&N... in an exciting & ever changing practical setting : )

E=R

A great day in design!

Best Excursion EVER!?

I like to call it practical maths...
My kids loved it!

& has meant they're paying elective fees too!

Basically, we (our Yr 10 Design & Tech)  are designing ottomans.

The deal is, the kids design & create their carcase, then head out to SPOTLIGHT to select their materials.

The biggy....

Only kids that have paid their eletive fees get to purchase their materials.

Coincidentally, we have spiked from about 10% of elective fees paid to around the 90%!!!!!

Student engagement & ownership = AWESOMENESS

On a mission to blog

Ok, so here goes....

I've made a few attempts at commiting to a blog, but now is the time. If I post it here, I WILL DO IT!

I have so much to share, so much to say & so much to show, that this is simply the best way to go : )
E=R