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
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