Sharing the wisdom of those who have gone before

Leigh Newton — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:17:10 +0000

I’m increasingly convinced that the most important things my grade 5 students learn do not include subject content. I reckon it does include attitudes, conflict management, time-management, self-confidence, seeing themselves as learners… That’s not to discount the value of curriculum, but learning to learn and gaining life-skills are probably even more important.

Last year we had a ‘grade conference’ every three weeks or so to talk over tensions amongst the kids. Every time it had a significant impact. Students, for some weeks following, were more accommodating and seemingly more content with who they were. After some weeks, however tensions would rise again but It was a healthy sign when students came to us asking for a grade conference.

I’m now on the lookout for wisdom that might be posted on our walls this coming year to help students internalise healthy attitudes and beliefs. Do you have any that I might add to the collection? Here’s one that I’ve just discovered courtesy of Barbara J Feldman’s site for teachers:

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, just as much to stand up to our friends.” Harry Potter book #1: Dumbledore, page 306

J.K.Rowling inspiration

Leigh Newton — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:22:35 +0000

Part of the Edinburgh free walking tour included some J.K. Rowling sites that are sacred for the young reader.

The Elephant House cafe was the venue where the struggling JK Rowling went to write the first Harry Potter book. Going there meant that she didn’t have to heat her flat.

This shot of The Elephant House cafe (third floor) is from the rear. Tanya took a photo of me inside the cafe, but I was looking rather sombre, not wanting to look the idiot in this significant place, so that one’s not going public.

The cafe overlooks the Grey Friars Kirkyard (above) where Bobby, the Skye terrier, sat by his master’s grave for fourteen years. (Previous post) Because Greyfriar’s Bobby is a cherished part of the Edinburgh story, his collar and dinner dish are preserved in the Museum of Edinburgh, the museum dedicated to city history.

This school, in the distance, was the inspiration for Hogwarts’ School of Magic. It was George Heriot’s hospital for orphans, founded in 1628. George Heriot died childless and his bequest amounted to £23,625 10s 3 1/2d, being to provide a school for “puire fatherless bairnes, friemenes sones of that Toune of Edinburgh”. Today it is an exclusive private school.

It seemed that the whole of Edinburgh could be part of a Harry Potter film script with well-preserved ancient buildings almost everywhere.

Leigh in Azerbaijan » HarryPotter

Sharing the wisdom of those who have gone before

J.K.Rowling inspiration