Using journals with third year classes

Sorry about the writing—I was in a rush to let you know love Rosie
Third year groups (pupils of 13–14) have always presented me with the most difficult problems of management in the mixed-ability classroom. Each year as August ends, I convince myself of the need to radically rethink this area of the curriculum. Each September, as the term swings into full action, I find my intentions swept away by what appear to be the more pressing requirements of other groups. Third years appear to occupy an educational no-man's land in the middle reaches of secondary schooling. Old enough to have lost the spontaneity and enthusiasm that makes the junior forms so rewarding, they have yet to complete the metamorphosis which makes fourth years co-operative and self-motivating. Third years have frequently been the irritant in an otherwise pleasant, smooth running day.     

Students with autism in regular classes: a long-term follow-up study of a satellite class transition model

Students with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are increasingly being educated within mainstream schools. While there is often an assumption that students with ASD who are academically capable will succeed in an inclusive educational placement, previous research has indicated that this is not always the case. Indeed, it seems that students with ASDs are often not equipped to cope with the social and communication demands of a mainstream classroom. Autism Spectrum Australia's (Aspect) satellite class programme aims to address this gap by blending specialised intervention with strategies to prepare students and receiving schools for transition to more inclusive educational placements. A long-term follow-up study comprising a parent survey of satellite class graduates and four detailed case studies was undertaken to determine whether these classes led to successful placement of students with ASD in more inclusive educational settings. Results indicated that a majority of graduates remained placed in more inclusive educational settings. Overall, parents were satisfied with the programme. Attendance at a satellite class was just one of a number of factors associated with positive outcomes in late adolescence. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for teachers and school staff planning for and supporting students with ASDs in their transition to inclusive educational settings.     

The impetus for organisational change: An exploration

Abstract

This paper examines the factors that cause universities to undertake academic change, specifically, changes to achieve more effective teaching and learning. Based on an analysis of 30 reform‐oriented US colleges and universities, it suggests that universities respond to diverse environmental pressures, not solely to external mandates. There is evidence, too, that internal forces within universities can be an impetus for change.     

Looking Back to the Future: Māori and Pakeha Mother–Child Birth Stories

Māori adults have earlier first memories than adults in any culture studied to date. To test the role of early memory socialization in this advantage, Māori ( n = 15) and New Zealand European (or Pakeha, n = 17) mothers told birth stories and stories of shared past events to their children (3–4 or 7–8 years). Compared to Pakeha mothers, Māori mothers elaborated more in the birth stories, relative to their elaborations in stories about shared past events, and included more references to relational time and internal states in their birth stories. These data provide the first empirical evidence that Māori children experience a richer narrative environment than Pakeha children for significant events in their past.     

Reception Teacher Responses to the Foundation Stage Réactions des enseignants des premières classes du primaire à la phase de fondation Las Racciones de los Maestros del Primer Año (de un parvulario) respecto a la Etapa Preparatoria

Teachers of children aged four and five years in England (the Foundation Stage), since 2000, have been bound by the Curriculum Guidance produced by central UK Government. We were interested to learn of the responses of these teachers to this newly introduced document. We found that teachers welcomed the Foundation Stage Curriculum Guidance, not least because it recognised that there exists a valuable and separate stage in children's education. Further, the teachers were relieved that there was, within the document, the acknowledgement of the importance and value of play as integral to the educational needs of young children. The teachers indicated that the document was also beneficial in that it allowed them to return openly to what they felt to be sound Early Years practice which some had felt had been undermined by previous curriculum guidance. However, concerns remained in that not all stakeholders are yet aware of the needs of young children and of the resources necessary to meet these needs. En Angleterre, depuis 2000, les enseignants des enfants de quatre et cinq ans (phase dite de 'fondation') doivent se conformer à la Curriculum Guidance (Lignes directrices des programmes scolaires) produite par le gouvernement central du Royaume-Uni. Nous souhaitions connaître les réactions de ces enseignants face à ce nouveau document. Nous avons constaté que les enseignants accueillent favorablement la Foundation Stage Curriculum Guidance tant elle reconnaît l'existence d'une phase utile et distincte d'assimilation chez les enfants. En outre, les enseignants ont été soulagés de constater que la document reconnaît l'importance et l'utilité du jeu comme faisant partie intégrante des besoins éducatifs des jeunes écoliers. Ils ont également fait savoir qu'ils trouvent ce document utile dans la mesure où il leur permet de revenir ouvertement à des pratiques qu'ils considèrent comme étant saines pendant les premières années scolaires des enfants et qui, selon certains, avaient été amoindries par les lignes directrices des programmes scolaires précédents. Ils s'avèrent néanmoins toujours préoccupés du fait que toutes les parties prenantes ne sont pas encore conscientes des besoins des jeunes enfants et des ressources nécessaires pour les satisfaire. Desde el año 2000, en Inglaterra, los profesores de niños de la edad de 4 y 5 años (la Etapa de Fundación) han tenido que conformar con las reglas de curriculum introducidas por el gobierno central del Reino Unido. Tuvimos interes de enterarnos de las respuestas de aquellos profesores a ese documento nuevo. Encontramos que los profesores estan de acuerdo con la 'Guía de Curriculum de la Etapa de Fundación', por lo menos porque reconoció que existe una etapa válida y aparte en la educación de niños. Además estuvieron contentos que el documento reconició la importancia y validez de juegos infántiles imprescindible en el desarrollo del niño. Los profesores indicáron que el documento fue beneficioso también porque les permitió volver abiertamente a lo que sentieron que fueron 'prácticas sanas' de los años primeros que algunos de ellos pensaron que habían estado desacreditadas por las 'Guías de Curriculum' previas. No obstante quedan preocupaciónes que algunos interesados todavía no estan enterados de lo que los niños necesitan y los recursos que hacen falta.