Max's Blogging...

I am always pleased to see more teachers sharing what they are doing. At a time when there are more pressures than ever on teachers, it's important that we support each other.
Max Rayner has shared his planning for a unit on personal geographies (and other things...) at the St. Joseph's College blog, which uses WEEBLY.
Any other new teacher blogs I should know about ?

Philip Allan Course

Just over a month to the first of the courses that I am running for Philip Allan Updates.

Download a PDF of the courses...

David Holmes and I would love to see you in March in London...
I'll buy you a doughnut :)

Sheffield: no place like home

Sitting on my colleague's desk today at the GA was a copy of Carl Lee's intriguing new book, which I went out to get a copy of later that day. Called "Home: a personal geography of Sheffield"

Have also been invited along to a conference that Carl is organising in September on Inequality.

Article in the Sheffield Telegraph gives a flavour for the background

"I wanted to write a geography book for people who wouldn't normally read a geography book.

"I also wanted to try and get to the heart of why Sheffield was such a great place to live. I've thought the city is one of the best-kept secrets of Britain. I've had a go at exploring the ingredients that make up the city and contribute to it being such a great place to live.

"I hope that Sheffield can continue to be the radical city that shaped its creation, now more than ever we need to think about alternatives to the discredited status quo.

"Sheffield was one of the first industrial cities in the world, one of the first to de-industrialise, and hopefully the city which leads us into a greener, more equal and more sustainable future."

Another connection with the city came today when I was told that my old mate Pete Rawlinson is one of the directors of the new Sheffield Brewery. The names of the beers that they brew have plenty of geographical connections.

Brewing and distilling is an area that I have long meant to develop as the context for a teaching (or learning) resource - got a growing collection of materials now. Perhaps a trip to the brewery would be a good idea...

Brighton Personal Geographies

Earlier this week, spent a day with Brighton and Hove teachers. One task I asked for was a post it note with some 'first geographical experiences' and was really pleased with the range of answers, which took in local explorations, Mumbai toilets, international migration, childhood holidays and hand rearing a pygmy hippo...

Here's a WORDLE of the responses, and will post a few more of the personal geographies during the week...



Click the image to go a larger one: what's interesting is the fact that a lot of the memories are related to activities: particularly playing, going and holidays, and the significance of things being 'different'...
Some powerful personal geographies here: I hope they are shared with students.