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Learning: what matters to children


Learning: what matters to children

Learning: what matters to children - New Book (June 2008)

First hand experience at the Eden Project (Monday 27 March 2006)

What matters to children at the Eden Project (Tuesday 7 Feb 2006)

Read this book. It may save lives (Wednesday 29 June 2005)


Press release

'Read this book. It may save lives.' concludes Tim Smit of the Eden project in the foreword to this exciting new book which can be supported by conferences led by its authors: Diane Rich, Denise Casanova, Annabelle Dixon, Mary Jane Drummond, Andrea Durrant, and Cathy Myer.

Enquiries:
Diane Rich · Rich Learning Opportunities · www.richlearningopportunities.co.uk
email: office@richlearningopportunities.co.uk


Press release June 2008

Learning: what matters to children

by Diane Rich, Mary Jane Drummond and Cathy Myer
ISBN 978-0-9549683-1-1

This is a book for educators to think with.

To think about what precisely?

About children as learners, about what learners do.

And about their own learning as educators.

The authors believe that in thinking about the most appropriate curriculum and pedagogy for children from birth to 11, the best place for educators to start is with the children themselves, the people who do the learning.

The book takes the form of an alphabet of what learners do and is both a continuation and a development of the approach described in their first book, First hand experience: what matters to children. But in this new book, the authors move on from their concern with the rich curriculum diet that children deserve, to explore more fully the ideas that are implicit in their use of the term ‘exercise’ as a kind of shorthand for what learners do - the verbs of learning. Each chapter explores a single verb of learning, describing active children belonging, choosing, feeling, imagining, making meaning, representing, taking time and so on.

Each chapter includes stories about children’s learning, their play, writing and drawings, a summary of a recommended children's book and a summary of a book by an educational thinker. Every chapter reminds readers that children love learning.

The authors hope that educators who read this book will find it supports their learning of many kinds

· learning about what matters to children

· learning about the richness of what all learners do

· learning to evaluate the quality of their provision and organisation

and above all

· learning to make wise choices in the interests of children.

In the foreword, Gareth Malone, of BBC2’s The Choir, writes,

‘This book is hugely sympathetic to the needs, pressures and decisions of educators. It offers inspiration and a healthy reminder to us all of the responsibility we have as educators not just to ‘light fires’ in children’s intellects, but to respond, every day, to their life-long addiction to learning.

Readers’ comments

‘If you have anything to do with primary or early childhood education, these books will help you think about your work and the people you work with. They are lively, accessible, fun to use and well-designed.’

Journalist

'Learning: what matters to children is an inspirational book and deserves the widest possible recognition. Our children deserve the best and this book helps us to remember what quality looks and feels like.’

Headteacher

‘This book is essential reading for everyone who works with children. It gets under your skin and makes you think deeply about children and how they learn. It made me ask myself, “How can I make things better?” And it made me want to act on my thinking.’

Headteacher

‘This book has not only inspired me, but it’s a work of art too, such a pleasure to turn the pages and see what’s next.’

Teacher

‘I could base my entire teacher education course around this book.’

Lecturer

‘The book is excellent - a breath of fresh air. As an AST working on the creative curriculum this book helps justify what I believe to be true about children's learning.’

Advanced Skills Teacher

‘This book has inspired and motivated reception and year 1 teachers, opening their eyes to the window of rich opportunities they should be providing for children. It is a fabulous resource for all teachers.’

Early Years Strategy Manager

The authors, all experienced and well respected in-service educators, are members of the *What Matters to Children team, who offer conferences with keynote presentations, practical and reflective workshops to support Learning: what matters to children and First hand experience: what matters to children.

Published by Rich Learning Opportunities, the book can be ordered:
from the website www.richlearningopportunities.co.uk
by email office@richlearningopportunities.co.uk
by phone 01473 737405
by fax 01473 737613.

Contact the authors for comment via Rich Learning Opportunities.

*The What Matters to Children team is made up from consultants, authors and researchers who work together on areas of children’s learning they feel passionately about, learning that matters to children.

Their work is underpinned by principles that are the basis of effective learning and teaching:

· first hand experience as a necessary and significant element of childhood

· children as powerful learners who learn from each other and learn together

· children as active learners: people who think and feel for themselves and who use their hands, eyes, ears and their whole bodies to explore the world and everything and everyone in it

· intellectual engagement and emotional involvement: what matters to children

· adult involvement in learning: what educators can do to provide, organise and value what learners do

· educators as powerful learners who learn from each other and learn together

· educators who think for themselves, making choices that will ensure worthwhile learning, learning that matters to children

· children and educators working together to build a harmonious learning community.

The team includes:

Jacqui Cousins, Denise Casanova, Mary Jane Drummond, Andrea Durrant, Emma Hertzberg, Jennie Lindon, Cathy Myer, Marjorie Ouvry, Sue Pearson, Diane Rich, Jane Turner.

The What Matters to Children team is co-ordinated by Rich Learning Opportunities


27 March 2006

‘First hand experience at The Eden Project’

The What Matters to Children team delivered their inspiring conference about learning First Hand experience: what matters to children at The Eden Project, Cornwall on 24-25 March 2006 to reinstate real world experiences at the centre of children’s learning, underpinned by what matters to children. The conference was based on the book of the same name, published by Rich Learning Opportunities June 2005, featured as Book of the Week, TES June 24, 2005. At the conference Tim Smit Chief Executive of The Eden Project, who wrote the foreword for the book said, ‘Quality uplifts the spirits.’ There is no doubt that the conference was a quality event, at a quality venue, led by a quality team of speakers and workshop leaders resulting in uplifting the spirits of all those who attended and took part.

Tim Smit opened the conference with a presentation, ‘A future fit for children.’ He asked, ‘What makes you happy?’ ‘Why do you want to stay alive?’ as he encouraged delegates to reflect on what really matters to them. Mary Jane Drummond, co-author of the book, followed Smit to explore First Hand experience: what matters to children. Conference workshops provided ways to use Drummond’s description of ‘what matters to children’ to explore how children’s fascination with the world can be encouraged, extended and deepened.

In the magnificent setting of The Eden Project the delegates, who were headteachers, advisors and educators from as far as a nursery in Korea, or the Isle of Eigg in Scotland, were offered two days to reconnect with the world. Workshops and presentations enabled them to look beneath the surface of daily life in educational settings, and examine some of the principles that are the basis of effective learning and teaching. The principles of:

  • first hand experience as a necessary and significant element in learning

  • intellectual engagement and emotional involvement: what matters to children

  • adult involvement in learning: what educators can do to provide, organise, and value worthwhile first hand experiences

  • children as powerful learners: people who think for themselves and who use their hands, eyes, ears, and their whole bodies to explore the world and everything and everyone in it

  • celebrating the diversity of the world’s resources and using them as a springboard for children's learning.

Conference delegates eagerly rediscovered the conditions that create enthusiastic, engaged and energetic learners reinforced by Charles Desforges, Emeritus Professor, University of Exeter in his presentation ‘Learning and Development.’

Delegates said that linking the approach outlined both at the conference and in the book, to other frameworks (including Birth to Three Matters, the Foundation Stage Curriculum Guidance, the National; Primary Strategy) will not be a problem and that it will provide a structure that can permeate not just the early years, but the whole school. Linking the approach will improve the experience children have by ensuring that relevant hands on experience is part of the everyday lives of all children. One delegate recommended that the government adopts ‘First Hand experience: what matters to children‘ as part of the curriculum.

The conference ended with Mary Jane Drummond reminding delegates that it is just ordinary people who make a difference. They were charged with the responsibility of applying what they have learned at the conference to make a difference to the lives of children. There is no doubt that the six authors, ordinary people, and the What Matters to Children team who take on their work, have created something special. As Tim Smit says, ‘It may change lives.’

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For immediate release:
Tuesday 7 February 2006

‘What matters to children at The Eden Project’

The What Matters to Children team will be delivering their inspiring conference First Hand experience: what matters to children as a two day event at The Eden Project, Cornwall on 24-25 March 2006.

The conference, named after the successful book published by Rich Learning Opportunities, sets out to reinstate real world experiences at the centre of children’s learning. Workshops are led by some of the members of the What Matters to Children team. This team includes authors of the book, Diane Rich, Denise Casanova, Annabelle Dixon*, Mary Jane Drummond, Andrea Durrant, Cathy Myer and other invited consultants including Emma Hertzberg, Sue Pearson and Jane Turner. The team of experienced and respected education researchers, consultants and authors is concerned that many children today are starved of first hand experiences. They want to guarantee first hand experience as a core element of every child’s entitlement in educational settings for 3-8 year olds and beyond. Their concern is based on their own observations, practitioners’ comments, and findings from a study of 4-5 year old children’s experiences in reception classes (Inside the Foundation Stage, Adams et al 2004 published by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers).
Tim Smit, Chief Executive of The Eden Project, opens the conference with a presentation, ‘A future fit for children.’ In his foreword to the book, Smit writes ‘Read this book. It may save lives.’ Don’t miss a chance to be involved in this conference and make a difference to children’s lives.
In the magnificent setting of The Eden Project the two days offer an opportunity for delegates to reconnect with the world. Workshops and presentations will enable them to look beneath the surface of daily life in educational settings, and examine some of the principles that are the basis of effective learning and teaching:

    • the principle of first hand experience as a necessary and significant element in learning
    • the principle of intellectual engagement and emotional involvement: what matters to children
    • the principle of adult involvement in learning: what educators can do to provide, organise, and value worthwhile first hand experiences
    • the principle of children as powerful learners: people who think for themselves and who use their hands, eyes, ears, and their whole bodies to explore the world and everything and everyone in it
    • the principle of celebrating the diversity of the world’s resources and using them as a springboard for children's learning.

Mary Jane Drummond, one of the co-authors of the book and formerly of the University of Cambridge, follows Tim Smit by introducing First hand experience: what matters to children and setting the scene for the thinking that underpins the conference workshops. Other guest speakers include Charles Desforges, Emeritus Professor, University of Exeter and Peter Dixon author, poet and consultant.
Just as the book takes the form of an alphabet of first hand experiences, so do the workshops. They include exciting opportunities to investigate, for example, E is for earthworks, G is for green, O is for out and about at Eden, and much more. Each page of the book and all the workshops have been designed as springboards from which children and their educators can launch themselves into the beautiful, mysterious, difficult world in which we all live. As they do so, they will rediscover the conditions that create enthusiastic, engaged and energetic learners and teachers. For support beyond the conference, all delegates receive a copy of the book
First hand experience: what matters to children.
The conference has been presented as a one day event since the book was launched in June 2005. LEAs, EYDCPs, school clusters and other organisations have booked the
What Matters to Children team to deliver conferences in Brent, Brighton, Cambridge, Croydon, Enfield, Haringey, Hertfordshire, North Somerset, Redbridge, Richmond, Southampton, Tower Hamlets, West Sussex and West Riding, with new bookings planned for 2006-2008.

Early Years Foundation Stage Advisor, Andrea Sully, North Somerset says,

‘There’s so much in the conference and the book too. The more you read it the more inspiring it gets. It needs to be disseminated nationally for everyone who works with children, and for parents too. It’s really made a difference to what goes on in settings, not just in the Foundation Stage but also in Year 1 and beyond. Children are out and about more. Their learning makes sense to them. I thoroughly recommend the First hand experience: what matters to children conference to you.’

Delegates’ comments include:

‘Each session was really useful. I have taken away so many ideas and approaches to try and incorporate.’
‘Thank you for enabling me to think about ‘old certainties’ in a new direction.’
‘Informative and stimulating.’
‘Inspirational.’
‘Wow! What an amazing day!’
‘One day is just not long enough.’

The First hand experience: what matters to children conference at The Eden Project is the first two-day conference organised independently by Rich Learning Opportunities. There is still time to book places on this exciting conference about learning, for all who work with children or support those who work with children aged 3-8 and are eager to explore new directions and old certainties. Come to this conference. It may save lives.

Book on line at www.richlearningopportunities.co.uk phone 01473 737405 fax 01473 737613.

* Four conference places have been offered as bursaries in memory of Annabelle Dixon.

Bookings, sales and enquiries
Organised by Rich Learning Opportunities, conference places, book orders and other conference bookings and enquiries for the
What Matters to Children team can be made:
from the website www.richlearningopportunities.co.uk
phone 01473 737405 fax 01473 737613.

[END]

*NOTES TO EDITORS

1 About the authors, other members of the What Matters to Children team and invited speakers for the First hand experience: what matters to children conference at Eden 24-25 March 2006.
2 Evidence causing concern over the lack of first hand experience in schools
3 Trialling the materials
4 Media Enquiries

1 About the authors, other members of the What Matters to Children team and invited speakers for the First hand experience: what matters to children conference at Eden 24-25 March 2006.

Authors
The authors are a team of experienced and respected education researchers and consultants. Over many years they have come together to work on a variety of projects, and have always been committed to promoting what matters to children.
Diane Rich runs Rich Learning Opportunities: keeping creativity, play and first hand experience at the heart of children’s learning. She co-ordinates the What Matters to Children team and has been involved in children’s learning for many years, as play worker, teacher, deputy head and advisory teacher, researcher, education consultant, writer, trustee for children’s charities. She appears on Teacher’s TV.
Denise Casanova is an artist and freelance arts education consultant who is committed to education through the arts. She has taught extensively in schools, for museums and arts organisations in the USA and UK.
Annabelle Dixon’s classroom was, in the words of a friend, ‘a place of genuine intellectual search.’ As psychologist and teacher she was committed to offering first hand experiences to children as the essential basis for such a search. First hand experience: what matters to children is dedicated to Annabelle, who died while the book was in press.
Mary Jane Drummond is a writer, teacher and researcher with an abiding interest in young children’s learning. She has recently retired from the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge.
Andrea Durrant has taught both children and teachers. She is now a freelance consultant in early years and primary education. Her mission is to bring back creativity into children’s learning.
Cathy Myer has been a teacher, advisory teacher and university lecturer. She is now a freelance education consultant, passionate about children and their capacity to learn from their experiences of the real world.

Other What Matters to Children team members
Emma Hertzberg
is a freelance consultant and photographer with experience of working with young children and their educators. Through her work she promotes ‘the independent learner’.
Sam Kendall is an education development officer at The Eden Project. This involves design and delivery of Eden's programme for schools. She has taught in schools in the UK and abroad, and is committed to education which connects children and young people to the world they live in.
Jennie Lindon runs People Consulting Ltd, a training and consultancy company specialising in early years. Jennie is an established and much respected author, committed to practice that focuses on the children.
Sue Pearson is an experienced teacher; throughout her career has worked in schools and settings developing appropriate practice for young children. She was a curriculum advisor at Early Excellence, Huddersfield and has held advisory posts in two local authorities. Sue is now an independent education consultant.
Jane Turner has eighteen years experience in primary education as a teacher, researcher and author. She has developed award winning curriculum projects in literacy, technology and science. She has designed and led science workshops in schools across Hertfordshire. Jane is now Deputy Director at the Science Learning Centre for the East of England, planning and implementing an innovative programme of training for all science educators.

Additional Eden Conference speakers
T
im Smit is chief executive and co-founder of The Eden Project. He is also a director of the Lost Gardens of Heligan and trustee, patron and board member of a number of statutory and voluntary bodies both locally and nationally. He has received a variety of national awards including The Royal Society of Arts Albert Medal. In 2002 he was awarded an Honorary CBE and he has received honorary doctorates and fellowships from a number of universities. Tim is the author of books about both Heligan and Eden and he has contributed to publications on a wide variety of subjects.
Charles Desforges taught school science from 1973-1983. Since then he has been a university researcher focussing on classroom learning. He is now an emeritus professor at the University of Exeter. Professor Desforges serves on the National Education Research Forum (NERF) which is working to shape national strategy for educational research. He is also a research adviser to various government bodies in the UK and overseas. Other current work involves supporting the professional development of head teachers and promoting teacher research on lesson development. Professor Desforges was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to education.
Peter Dixon is an author and poet who writes for parents, teachers and all those concerned about early years education. Peter has worked as a teacher and before becoming a full time writer he was a senior lecturer in education. He is a much sought after conference and after dinner speaker. He offers evenings of poetry, music and relevant irreverence.

2 Evidence causing concern over the lack of first hand experience in schools is reported in:
Adams, S., Alexander, E., Drummond, M.J. and Moyles, J. (2004) Inside the Foundation Stage: Recreating the Reception Year London: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

3 Trialling the materials
Materials in this book have been trialled by 66 educators from 18 different settings, in eight LEAs.
The authors are very grateful to all those who gave up their time to come to meetings, and to work in their settings with children, parents, colleagues and governors, trying out these materials and providing valuable feedback.
The settings represent a mixture of rural, urban and multicultural areas. A variety of educators took part, including headteachers, centre managers, class teachers, support staff, nursery nurses and class room assistants. They include staff from:
Abbotsmede Primary School, Peterborough; Capel St Mary Primary School, Suffolk; Coton Primary School, Cambridgeshire; Crabtree Infant School, Hertfordshire; George Street Primary School, Hertfordshire; Highfield Nursery School, Suffolk; Histon Infant School, Cambridgeshire; Icknield Infant and Nursery School, Hertfordshire; Kingshill Infant School, Hertfordshire; Malorees Infant School, Brent; Low Hall Nursery School, Waltham Forest; South Axholme Peripatetic Nursery, Doncaster; Thongsley Fields Primary and Nursery School, Cambridgeshire; Tottenhall Infant and Nursery School, Enfield; The Wroxham School, Hertfordshire; Westfield First School, Hertfordshire; West Grove Primary School, Enfield; Wickham Market Primary and Nursery School, Suffolk.

4 Media Enquiries:
Diane Rich Rich Learning Opportunities
www.richlearningopportunities.co.uk

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Wednesday 29 June 2005

Read this book. It may save lives

First hand experience: what matters to children is published on June 29 2005. The book sets out to reinstate real world experiences at the centre of children’s learning. It takes the form of an alphabet of first hand experiences. Each page has been designed as a springboard, from which children and their educators can launch themselves into the beautiful, mysterious, difficult world in which we all live.

The book is written by Diane Rich, Denise Casanova, Annabelle Dixon, Mary Jane Drummond, Andrea Durrant and Cathy Myer, a team of experienced and respected education researchers and consultants, who are concerned that many children today are starved of first hand experiences. They want to guarantee first hand experience as a core element of every child’s entitlement in educational settings for 3-8 year olds and beyond. The authors’ concern is based on their own observations, practitioners’ comments, and findings from a recent study of 4-5 year old children’s experiences in reception classes (Inside the Foundation Stage, Adams et al 2004 published by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers).

Endorsing this new publication, Dr. Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said,

ATL is well aware of the pressures which prevent many early years professionals from providing the first hand experiences that underpin effective learning for young children. We are therefore delighted that ATL’s initial research on foundation stage practice in reception classes has led to this timely publication.’

In the foreword, Tim Smit, chief executive of the Eden Project (click here for Eden Project) concludes,

Read this book. It may save lives.’

In her TES ‘Book of the week’ article, ‘Sanity amid the madness’, Sue Palmer writes,

‘I will go further than Mr. Smit. If you work in nursery or primary education, buy this book, read it, enjoy it and consult it daily until you’ve regained your professional identity. It’s aimed at those working with children aged between three and eight, but there are important lessons for teachers with older children too…

…Altogether a remarkable achievement, and I cannot recommend ‘First hand experience’ highly enough… This splendid alphabet of first hand experience is essential if children are to grow into balanced, creative adults…

…So please buy this book; it can change your professional life.’

Times Educational Supplement, June 24 2005

One book reviewer concluded,

It will be essential reading for everyone working with children from 3-8 or even beyond. Student teachers, nursery nurses and those studying for NVQs or SVQs could also benefit from this book.’

Educators taking part in the trial project found the book

‘...very readable’… ‘thought provoking’… ‘user friendly’… ‘inspirational’… ‘a real motivator to change the way I work with children.’

The authors, all experienced in-service educators, also offer conferences with keynote presentations and practical workshops to support First hand experience: what matters to children.

Published by Rich Learning Opportunities, the book can be ordered and conference enquiries made:

from the website www.richlearningopportunities.co.uk

[END]

*NOTES TO EDITORS

1 About the authors

The authors are a team of experienced and respected education researchers and consultants. Over many years they have come together to work on a variety of projects, and have always been committed to promoting what matters to children.

Diane Rich runs Rich Learning Opportunities: keeping creativity, play and first hand experience at the heart of children’s learning. She has been involved in children’s learning for many years, as play worker, teacher, advisory teacher, researcher, education consultant, convenor of the Forum for Maintained Nursery Schools in England, author and trustee for children’s charities.

Denise Casanova is an artist and freelance arts education consultant who is committed to education through the arts. She has taught extensively for schools, museums and arts organisations in the USA and UK.

Annabelle Dixon’s classroom was, in the words of a friend, ‘a place of genuine intellectual search.’ As psychologist and teacher she was committed to offering first hand experiences to children as the essential basis for such a search. First hand experience: what matters to children is dedicated to Annabelle, who died while the book was in press.

Mary Jane Drummond is a writer, teacher and researcher with an abiding interest in young children’s learning. She has recently retired from the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge.

Andrea Durrant has taught both children and teachers. She is now a freelance consultant in early years and primary education. Her mission is to bring back creativity into children’s learning.

Cathy Myer has been a teacher, advisory teacher and university lecturer. She is now a freelance education consultant, passionate about children and their capacity to learn from their experiences of the real world.

2 Evidence supporting their concern over lack of first hand experience in schools is reported in:

Adams, S., Alexander, E., Drummond, M.J. and Moyles, J. (2004) Inside the Foundation Stage: Recreating the Reception Year London: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

3 Trialling the materials

Materials in this book have been trialled by 66 educators from 18 different settings, in eight LEAs.

The authors are very grateful to all those who gave up their time to come to meetings, and to work in their settings with children, parents, colleagues and governors, to introduce and work with these materials and provide valuable feedback.

The settings represent a mixture of rural, urban and multicultural areas. A variety of educators took part, including headteachers, centre managers, class teachers, support staff, nursery nurses and class room assistants. They include staff from:

Abbotsmede Primary School, Peterborough; Capel St Mary Primary School, Suffolk; Coton Primary School, Cambridgeshire; Crabtree Infant School, Hertfordshire; George Street Primary School, Hertfordshire; Highfield Nursery School, Suffolk; Histon Infant School, Cambridgeshire; Icknield Infant and Nursery School, Hertfordshire; Kingshill Infant School, Hertfordshire; Malorees Infant School, Brent; Low Hall Nursery School, Waltham Forest; South Axholme Peripatetic Nursery, Doncaster; Thongsley Fields Primary and Nursery School, Cambridgeshire; Tottenhall Infant and Nursery School, Enfield; West Grove Primary School, Enfield; The Wroxham School, Hertfordshire; Westfield First School, Hertfordshire; Wickham Market Primary and Nursery School, Suffolk.

4 Media Enquiries:

Diane Rich · Rich Learning Opportunities ·

email: office@richlearningopportunities.co.uk

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Learning: what matters to children
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