Cynicism is easy. Especially as a teacher. There I said it. As teachers, we can tend towards a cynicism that seems unrivalled compared to other professions. Being negative about parents, exam boards, exam grades, the press, textbooks, our colleagues, senior management, and pupils themselves are common conversations in staff rooms. I like to think teachersContinueContinue reading “Are you solution-oriented in your school?”
Tag Archives: reflective
What does it mean to listen?
Too often we think we’re listening when we’re not. We might be: waiting to put our own point across, thinking about what we want to say, or checking our emails (I was running a meeting when a senior manager did this on his phone…yes really!) Here’s a simple action to start practising listening effectively. TheContinueContinue reading “What does it mean to listen?”
JDS Insights: March 2013
This is going to be the last post of this type on this website. It’s time to retire the diary. The insights are moving on. This blog is going to shift, evolve and perhaps multiply. During March I thought a lot. I spoke to the people I needed to. I’m still grateful. Nothing much changesContinueContinue reading “JDS Insights: March 2013”
JDS Insights: Feb 2013
Writing that post in January helped a lot. Perspective shifted again in February with some news that went to my core. It made me think about how I define myself. What makes me who I am? My actions? My choices? Stuff that happens to me? The more I thought about it, the more I beganContinueContinue reading “JDS Insights: Feb 2013”
JDS Insights: November 2012
This month there was death. And it was difficult to deal with. In the way that any death is. It was also Ten Years of YLGS. That made me think a lot. How much things have moved on. It’s not about the person who starts it – it’s more about whether the idea keeps going.ContinueContinue reading “JDS Insights: November 2012”
The Beginning is the End is the Beginning 3 of 3: 2012: Clearing and Clarity
Direction: Coming from and Going To* This part three of three. Parts One and Two deal with what happened last year. Yeah yeah ok…So this post was *meant* to have been completed aaaages ago. For some reason, for the past few years this post is delayed by a few months. I’ve been trying to ‘get it right’ and chooseContinueContinue reading “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning 3 of 3: 2012: Clearing and Clarity”
The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning 1 of 3: 2011
Another Year Ends Reality becomes a reflection of reality becoming real…or some such stuff. This time of year enables me to look back and forward at the same time. Last month was particularly reflective for me anyway but the purpose of writing this is to shed the skin of 2011. I’ve also been doing thisContinueContinue reading “The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning 1 of 3: 2011”
JDS Insights: November 2011
Catching up slowly but surely! November had a four memorable areas: 1) school, 2) chocolate and exercise, 3) closure and clarity and 4) alcohol.* —– 1) School Building on the book I read in October: I had some interesting feedback in November. My Sixth Form Pupils said comments like: “The lessons are much better becauseContinueContinue reading “JDS Insights: November 2011”
Out Through The In Door: 2010/ 2011
Ah yes. This post is loooooooooong overdue. We’re already part way through the second quarter of 2010! Anyways another year has passed into the ether and I might as well compete my musing and reflecting. This is becoming a running theme. I think it’s part of of the reflective process; taking stock and thinking allowsContinueContinue reading “Out Through The In Door: 2010/ 2011”
JDS Insights: March 2011
OK we are in to the second quarter of 2011 and I *still* haven’t let go of 2010 yet…the post is still being planned. Pretty much events of March have been momentous. I mean it’s not every day one moves house. I think that’s the big thing about March. A whole new space, a wholeContinueContinue reading “JDS Insights: March 2011”
James D'Souza 