Thoughts, comments, ideas and pause for thought from members of our school and extended community.
For those who don't know, part of the reason my career changed direction four years ago was because of the struggles my wife and I were having with one of our children. One of my daughters developed worrying eating habits, which all turned out to be down to anxiety and low mood.
I have written about this before, but as I am currently doing a lot of work on this with Y2-Y5, I thought it might be useful to revisit it.
One definition is, "Emotional Literacy is the term used to describe the ability to understand and express feelings. Emotional Literacy involves having self-awareness and recognition of your own feelings and knowing how to manage them, such as the ability to stay calm when angered or to reassure oneself when in doubt."
I watched a great programme at the weekend: the Countryfile edition of Children in Need.
Countryfile has been encouraging people to raise money by rambling. The programme focused on young people who have been helped by Children in Need by taking them on walks to beautiful places and sharing their stories. It was very inspiring and positive, and gave me a real sense of some of the good things that are being achieved.
What makes a good learner? What attributes help students make the most of the classroom environment?
There is a real mixture of answers to these questions, and opinion differs. Some see it as a complex concoction, others a very simple equation. For me, it is a blend of different traits.
Autumn is one of my daughter's favourite seasons. She loves the oncoming cold, the feeling of heading into 'hibernation', of being able to wrap up in her favourite clothes and curl up with a good book. Certainly, some of the chefs I watch on tv love it too; the bringing in of the harvest and the preparation of jams, pickles and other goodies.
Saturday 10 October is World Mental Health Day.
As a school, we will be focusing our attention on the UK's Children's Mental Health Week, 1-7 February 2021, but I'd also like to acknowledge this day, where the theme is mental health for all.
This week, and into next, the school has a focus on anti-bullying. Dr Essex is approaching this with gusto, strongly supported by all the staff. I thought I would like to share with you some parts of what the boys have learnt about. Bullying has been identified as one of the top three threats to society in the coming years.
Light at the end of the tunnel is an oft used saying. The message is: Get to the end, get out, then things will be okay!
A positive attitude can make such a difference. You can see it at work in the classroom, the sports field, the kitchen at home, and at work. A positive attitude is not about pretending problems don't exist, but rather one's response heading into them. It is about making the most of something, being grateful, and knowing there is hope on the other side.
There are many causes of mental health problems in society. The charity Mind lists some: neglect, social isolation, discrimination, social disadvantage, poverty, debt, bereavement, stress, homelessness and drug use. People from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities are more likely to suffer from mental health problems. The Mental Health Foundation states In England and Wales, nearly a fifth of people come from a BAME background. The mental health of BAME communities is important because people from these communities often face individual and societal challenges that can affect access to healthcare and overall mental and physical health.
Mental health awareness is such a hot topic at the moment! Lockdownhas provided a need and an opportunity to consider how vital it is to look after our health, for youngsters especially. The test always comes when things are tough - and for some of us, things are pretty tough right now. enter an introduction for your blog post here.
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Creating a virtual sports programme to replace the daily sports training and weekly matches enjoyed by the boys was a bit of a challenge, I have to admit. It was important to devise ways for all the boys to keep active, to maintain their physical and mental health. Not knowing how much space might be available at home was a consideration, of course, and with several people trying to work from home at the same time, physical activity would need to be carefully programmed.