Website Hibernation... 2

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:16:39 +0000

Thank you to all my readers for your interest thus far.
Thirty-six blog entries, many with videos, six take-away lessons and over 500 visits since September is a decent record.
However, recent research suggests the website is not being used as widely as I would wish by our pupils. As I am also busy with a personal media project before Christmas, this site is entering the tortoise shoebox of hibernation until the new year.
I leave you with a commentary on a Wilfred Owen poem and a motivational classroom talk on ‘befriending exams’ - both available at the Take-Away.
I’ll be back...

Website Hibernation...

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:39:29 +0000

The Art of Demotivation

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 19:46:35 +0000

Welcome back after the holiday break.
Lewis Hamilton F1 Champ, Barack Obama destined for the White House - a time for optimism. But if you’re viewing the prospect of the next few weeks with little relish, dark evenings, endless schoolwork, mocks revision...you could do with a little motivation. I think I’m pretty positive but I offer you - on the day I put up in my classroom a motivational poster given me - a selection of ‘demotivational posters’. Negative and cynical they may appear, but ironically, thinking about the message can have a positive impact. I shared this one with 11.2 today...and how quickly they perked up!
Check out the whole collection at
http://www.despair.com/viewall.html
Which is your favourite?

Mick the Role-Model

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:22:20 +0100

Boris talks on his symbolic waving of the Olympic flag

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:37:41 +0100

A tale of three mugs...

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:07:48 +0100

Coming after Christmas...

Britain's Got Talent...

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:47:39 +0100

Rewarding badly-behaved pupils...

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:57:02 +0100

That solemn and special moment...

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:51:18 +0100

The US Election - the funny side...

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:44:12 +0100

Morcambe & Wise 1 - with Andre Previn

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:26:21 +0100

Morcambe & Wise 2 - with The Beatles

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:20:28 +0100

Jamie Oliver passes it on...

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:07:49 +0100

Bohemian Rhapsody in Lego!!!

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:12:25 +0100

'Rabbit, Rabbit'... the art of giving a talk

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 19:55:32 +0100

Did you mean ‘ideas’?

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:29:10 +0100

Google idais and the mighty search-engine will ask you this question. Now, how could it possibly know that’s precisely what this website is all about?
This sign, found at the Eden Project in Cornwall, is one of the saddest yet most thought-provoking I’ve seen all year, prompting me to unofficially but aspirationally adopt this notion as a kind of strapline for this website and Room 6:
‘The Arcade of Ideas’. My hope is that those who enter either meeting-place discover an irresistible space illuminated by exciting ideas. Come on in...

The Vital Importance of Having Breakfast...

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 20:18:50 +0100

Websites of two messiahs - Jesus & Jamie...

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 19:25:49 +0100

Now this is interesting...
‘JesustheMessiah.co.uk’ - a bold choice of domain name if ever I saw one - is not quite what you might think...It is, in fact, as I learned today, the website url of my BCS colleague, drama & media teacher, Mr Heath!
Strongly recommended and my students will find the film page very useful having analysed the music video ‘Warning Sign’ (see below). Film-making terminology is explained and there are some excellent examples of storyboarding. The teacher even makes a video appearance - now what sort of crazy idea is that...
There is a rumour that Mr Walker, not to be outdone, is soon to publish his own website at www.god.com...
And speaking of messiahs, I tip my hat to Jamie Oliver and mention him in today’s Take-Away podcast. His ‘Ministry of Food’ programme on Channel 4 follows a fascinating social experiment in Rotherham where he’s teaching people to cook. It is entertaining but also instructive regarding what helps and hinders people’s learning. Food for thought...
Visit Jamie’s Channel 4 website and read all about it.
What have YOU passed on today..?

Learning about learning with 11.1

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 15:39:02 +0100

Jamie Jones-Buchanan in Bradford

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 22:03:38 +0100

'We're Leeds Rhinos..!'

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 15:53:27 +0100

an introduction to bcs

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 13:21:47 +0100

'Warning Sign'

Thu, 2 Oct 2008 17:19:30 +0100

Kirsten O'Brien @ BCS for the BBC!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:12:42 +0100

A Mocha in Saltaire...

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:11:15 +0100

God in Striped Pyjamas...

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:08:42 +0100

'One Day More' from 'Les Miserables'

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:50:30 +0100

Brian & Ken...in the Dragons' Den

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:55:30 +0100

idais high in the ‘Google Chart’!

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:22:26 +0100

Just googled idais - and we’re up to no.2!!
Check it out (it’ll take you to the main idais site)...

BCS English Review

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:16:28 +0100

Looking back at the week in Room 6...
...are you named & famed???

"This is Mr Archer for 'Newsround' at the BBC..."

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:07:16 +0100

A great place to find hot English lessons!

Go straight there now!

Why be a teacher ?

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 22:47:37 +0100

30 years ago...

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:30:10 +0100

As the new school year beckons, I look back to the start of my career in - yes, I know it’s hard to believe - 1978...

You may also be interested in going back just 1 year and listening to my Real Radio ‘appearance’ in September last year at the beginning of a new term!

welcome to the problem

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:25:34 +0100

when problems are good for you...

marginal gains

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:06:10 +0100

lessons from the Olympic cyclists...

Top 5 Sporting Moments: 1966

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:27:34 +0100

‘They think it’s all over...’
Watch this classic clip!

rob brydon request

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:54:03 +0100

Played for my wife this Bank Holiday Monday morning on BBC Radio 2.
Ahh...

Rob Brydon’s website