Comments on: RELOADED: FAQs for NQTs http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/ A Blog About Teaching in Tough Schools in the UK Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:40:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: oldandrew http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-1122 oldandrew Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:55:30 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-1122 New is Good, You appear to be selecting unconnected (possibly random) quotations and then complaining that one quotation doesn't adequately answer the other. Can you stop that, please? New is Good,

You appear to be selecting unconnected (possibly random) quotations and then complaining that one quotation doesn’t adequately answer the other.

Can you stop that, please?

]]> By: News is Good http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-1121 News is Good Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:26:40 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-1121 Benny: "I’m just saying that unless you’ve seen the technique used in class you can’t tell me it’s useless; at least not with any authority." oldandrew: "...please explain why demeaning yourself by pretending to eat dogfood is any better than demeaning yourself in any other way? Either way you are trying to win kids over by entertaining them in an undignified manner rather than teaching them." I'm sure Benny doesn't feel that his or her point has been addressed. Benny: “I’m just saying that unless you’ve seen the technique used in class you can’t tell me it’s useless; at least not with any authority.”

oldandrew: “…please explain why demeaning yourself by pretending to eat dogfood is any better than demeaning yourself in any other way? Either way you are trying to win kids over by entertaining them in an undignified manner rather than teaching them.”

I’m sure Benny doesn’t feel that his or her point has been addressed.

]]> By: The Bisected Teacher | Scenes From The Battleground http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-1108 The Bisected Teacher | Scenes From The Battleground Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:52:40 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-1108 [...] writers and advisers out there who give genuinely useful advice about classroom management (see this post for some book suggestions). They focus on concrete ideas about routines, classroom organisation, or [...] [...] writers and advisers out there who give genuinely useful advice about classroom management (see this post for some book suggestions). They focus on concrete ideas about routines, classroom organisation, or [...]

]]> By: Jim Cuthbert http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-957 Jim Cuthbert Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:52:29 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-957 In my limited experience I've found that well behaved and motivated classes do not need any such entertainment. I'm lucky enough to teach a few classes of this type and dog food nor stripping is required to keep them engaged and motivated. Poorly behaved classes have no respect for the teacher nor lesson (if they did they would not behaved badly) so it is here where you reach for the can. My questions are these... 1. Why would eating a can of dog food encourage children who already have nothing but contempt for teachers and school to improve their behaviour? 2. What would happen once the 'dog food' moment expires and children have to get on with the more normal tasks associated with learning? In my limited experience I’ve found that well behaved and motivated classes do not need any such entertainment. I’m lucky enough to teach a few classes of this type and dog food nor stripping is required to keep them engaged and motivated.
Poorly behaved classes have no respect for the teacher nor lesson (if they did they would not behaved badly) so it is here where you reach for the can. My questions are these…
1. Why would eating a can of dog food encourage children who already have nothing but contempt for teachers and school to improve their behaviour?
2. What would happen once the ‘dog food’ moment expires and children have to get on with the more normal tasks associated with learning?

]]> By: oldandrew http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-949 oldandrew Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:39:19 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-949 I'm sorry but I really don't have to be in a classroom where the teacher is pretending to eat dogfood to know that it is not of educational value and that it is an insult to the profession to suggest we do such things. As for classing it with the stripping teacher, please explain why demeaning yourself by pretending to eat dogfood is any better than demeaning yourself in any other way? Either way you are trying to win kids over by entertaining them in an undignified manner rather than teaching them. It's still a freakshow. I’m sorry but I really don’t have to be in a classroom where the teacher is pretending to eat dogfood to know that it is not of educational value and that it is an insult to the profession to suggest we do such things. As for classing it with the stripping teacher, please explain why demeaning yourself by pretending to eat dogfood is any better than demeaning yourself in any other way? Either way you are trying to win kids over by entertaining them in an undignified manner rather than teaching them. It’s still a freakshow.

]]> By: Benny http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-948 Benny Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:40:52 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-948 I never asked you to prove anything. I'm just saying that unless you've seen the technique used in class you can't tell me it's useless; at least not with any authority. Our 'fun' lesson at Easter involved dancing like Kylie Minogue for a prize... You might say that's equally pointless, but it was a great laugh and actually had some economics behind it. Also, bundling in the dog food eaters (who, might I add, aren't eating ACTUAL dog food) and the stripping teachers together is ridiculous. They're worlds apart in terms of conduct, and I'd consider the latter completely unacceptable. I never asked you to prove anything. I’m just saying that unless you’ve seen the technique used in class you can’t tell me it’s useless; at least not with any authority. Our ‘fun’ lesson at Easter involved dancing like Kylie Minogue for a prize… You might say that’s equally pointless, but it was a great laugh and actually had some economics behind it.

Also, bundling in the dog food eaters (who, might I add, aren’t eating ACTUAL dog food) and the stripping teachers together is ridiculous. They’re worlds apart in terms of conduct, and I’d consider the latter completely unacceptable.

]]> By: oldandrew http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-947 oldandrew Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:58:30 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-947 "Unless you’ve seen the technique used in class and the way she executes it, how can you say that nothing is learned from it? That’s a totally uninformed conjecture, and to be honest I find it quite closed-minded." Are you seriously suggesting that it is up to me to prove something isn't educational? Surely it is up to the dog food eaters and the stripping teachers to prove that their behaviour is educational? “Unless you’ve seen the technique used in class and the way she executes it, how can you say that nothing is learned from it? That’s a totally uninformed conjecture, and to be honest I find it quite closed-minded.”

Are you seriously suggesting that it is up to me to prove something isn’t educational?

Surely it is up to the dog food eaters and the stripping teachers to prove that their behaviour is educational?

]]> By: Benny http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-946 Benny Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:30:20 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-946 You can discuss what's appropriate and what's not until you're blue in the face (fingertips?), but at the end of the day you have to tailor your teaching style depending on the class. No, you're not an 'entertainer', but why strive for the 'disciplinarian' end of the spectrum? Your job as a teacher is to engage pupils and invoke a joy for learning. Being a boring old fart and shouting your mouth off to 'teach them a lesson' doesn't teach them much at all, aside from contempt for learning. Eating out of a can labeled as dogfood might not be something that works for you, but it seems to for Sue Cowley. Unless you've seen the technique used in class and the way she executes it, how can you say that nothing is learned from it? That's a totally uninformed conjecture, and to be honest I find it quite closed-minded. Drilling work into kids' heads might get them through their exams, but will it make them excited about their next English or History lesson? Most certainly not. The best classrooms I've ever been in and taught in are the ones in which the teacher has a laugh and enjoys themselves, and brings the class along with them. Of course you have to keep a firm grip and punish when necessary, but there's absolutely no wrong in having fun. You can discuss what’s appropriate and what’s not until you’re blue in the face (fingertips?), but at the end of the day you have to tailor your teaching style depending on the class.

No, you’re not an ‘entertainer’, but why strive for the ‘disciplinarian’ end of the spectrum? Your job as a teacher is to engage pupils and invoke a joy for learning. Being a boring old fart and shouting your mouth off to ‘teach them a lesson’ doesn’t teach them much at all, aside from contempt for learning.

Eating out of a can labeled as dogfood might not be something that works for you, but it seems to for Sue Cowley. Unless you’ve seen the technique used in class and the way she executes it, how can you say that nothing is learned from it? That’s a totally uninformed conjecture, and to be honest I find it quite closed-minded. Drilling work into kids’ heads might get them through their exams, but will it make them excited about their next English or History lesson? Most certainly not.

The best classrooms I’ve ever been in and taught in are the ones in which the teacher has a laugh and enjoys themselves, and brings the class along with them. Of course you have to keep a firm grip and punish when necessary, but there’s absolutely no wrong in having fun.

]]> By: oldandrew http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-928 oldandrew Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:20:03 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-928 This takes on a new aspect in light of this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7450552.stm How far are teachers meant to go in order to entertain? This takes on a new aspect in light of this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7450552.stm

How far are teachers meant to go in order to entertain?

]]> By: Paul http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-169 Paul Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:45:23 +0000 http://oldandrew.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/reloaded-faqs-for-nqts/#comment-169 Any good teacher will be aware of the sudden reverse and the grab to get the attention of a group of children, which is presumably what this means. My concern is not about the basic concept but the degree. If you cut your leg off with a saw it would gain their attention as well, but it's not a good way of doing it. The "dog food" is in this sort of category. Ripping up the fiver is not quite so asinine, but I'm not sure quite what you achieve by it ? Money isn't everything, it's just paper ? I can see a possible use for it for good money management - one could show the cost of cigarettes by rolling up a fiver and setting light to it, maybe. Not saying it's a great idea, and unless you're good at sleight of hand it's expensive, but it's not totally moronic. I'd be concerned that an inexperienced reader of the book would think that this is the sort of level you need to "go to" to teach effectively. Any good teacher will be aware of the sudden reverse and the grab to get the attention of a group of children, which is presumably what this means.

My concern is not about the basic concept but the degree. If you cut your leg off with a saw it would gain their attention as well, but it’s not a good way of doing it. The “dog food” is in this sort of category.

Ripping up the fiver is not quite so asinine, but I’m not sure quite what you achieve by it ? Money isn’t everything, it’s just paper ? I can see a possible use for it for good money management - one could show the cost of cigarettes by rolling up a fiver and setting light to it, maybe. Not saying it’s a great idea, and unless you’re good at sleight of hand it’s expensive, but it’s not totally moronic.

I’d be concerned that an inexperienced reader of the book would think that this is the sort of level you need to “go to” to teach effectively.

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