Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Time to Pause

Time to pause and think about what we are all about. It is not just about outcomes, nor standards, not even reports and report writing, not tests, assessment tasks, learning outcomes or co constructed success criteria. 
It is about children. May our politicians and we remember that we are working with children each day. they want to play, have fun, be engaged, run, jump, laugh, interact, read, write (well at least some of them) yes do maths but ultimately they do these things because they enjoy them. Maths is in there in primary school as a thing children enjoy because they are still (or at least were) "getting it", they are successful, challenged but successful, they know they were right! Play, fun and games are fun because the child is having a great time with friends and usually they are experiencing success. 
Time to pause and consider how important play, fun, and success are to the child. Are we to keen to create "mini me's"?, mini adults who are consumed with achievement outcomes and goal setting (dare I say it) and all sorts of grown up notions.
Lets celebrate the child, who they are and should be. Lets not rush them to the finish post. Pause and let the children be children!

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