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Learn and Shine!
To say that a great deal has happened within our learning community over the last two weeks (since we closed to pupils on Friday 20 March) seems like a vast understatement.
With so much change it can be difficult to focus on learning. However, keeping your mind active is essential and, in a time of uncertainty, you can feel reassured that the knowledge and skills that you will develop through learning will remain with you forever.
In school we talk a lot about the Learning Power Approach and how the 4 Rs are essential tools in helping us to become confident, happy and effective learners. Over the past 14 days the staff at Deer Park School have all been demonstrating Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reciprocity and Reflection. Our own learning curves have been steep – we have been learning to use lots of new technology such as MS Teams, discovering how to enhance old favourites such as PowerPoints, developing Google forms for quizzes and even creating podcasts! We have all had to upskill over the past few weeks and go on our own learning journeys in order to make sure all of our pupils continue to get the opportunities they deserve to learn and shine!
The next few weeks will provide us all with a great opportunity to develop these learning traits. So, as well as training with Joe Wicks, consider the 4 Rs as useful tools for getting a mental workout:
Resilience |
Establish routines to try to manage the distractions of home. Follow your home timetable. There will be some days or some tasks that you may find tricky but don’t give up! |
Resourcefulness |
Make use of what’s around you. Remember Book, Buddy, Boss works at home! |
Reciprocity |
Communication is essential. Keep in touch with your teachers and classmates and don’t stop asking questions. |
Reflection |
This is a good opportunity to look back over previous learning and identify any gaps which could be filled. |
Reading |
Although not technically one of the 4 Rs, this one is also essential. Make sure you are reading something new every day. Vocabulary is an essential ingredient to learning and one that we can all empower ourselves with. |
"The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go." Dr Seuss
People are a challenge-seeking species. Our brains are wired to reward ourselves when we solve a problem, so it’s important that we continue to step up to the challenge. You may have heard the expression that 'knowledge is power', but have you heard the expression 'knowledge is sticky'? Perhaps not, but this is important to understand. Learning helps to create building blocks of knowledge called schema and these blocks provide a foundation for new knowledge to build on and so the more you know, the more you can learn!
"To develop a complete mind: study the science of art; study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realise that everything connects to everything else." Leonardo Da Vinci
Many of you have probably had holiday plans disrupted by COVID-19 and so will have to restrict your learning adventures to your homes. Over the past few weeks there has been a wave of celebrities, companies, theatres and musicians offering to support young people with home learning in various ways online.
We have created a list of just some of the ways you and your family could continue to build that sticky knowledge and all from the comfort of your home!
>> Go to our Cultural Quarantine...
Happy learning!
Miss Lillington, Associate Assistant Head