It is the return of the Friday Five. Five diverse ideas, videos, books etc. to inspire creativity and joy for teachers. Enjoy!
 
1. The Educator : A Podcast by BBC Radio – This year I have spent time working on my own personal fitness. I needed to make time for myself to get outdoors and get fit agian so I started running. Running is not my first choice of exercise, but it is convenient. I just need to put on my shoes and walk out the front door. The only problem is that it bores me silly. The longer I was running the more I was frustrated that I was wasting time and I started cutting my runs short in order to go and do the things I needed to do such as plan lessons, read for uni etc. Well that WAS the case, but then I discovered podcasts. Ok, I am pretty sure the rest of the universe has been listening to them for ages, but they are new to me and I am now obsessed with them.

One of my favourite series is The Educator. This series is produced by BBC radio and touches on contemporary educational trends, esteemed educational practioners and successful school environments. Nothing spurs my running on more then listening to the enthusiasm of Sir Ken or questioning the validity of Hattie’s arguments. Now I can run for a solid hour without feeling it is a waste of my time! 

2. Stories in the Dark by Debra Oswald – As I mentioned a week or two back, I was lucky enough to direct Stories in the Dark for our school’s junior production. When we started to discuss texts for production I struggled to find a text that moved beyond predictable teenage angst, was suitable for a junior students in a Catholic school and could cater for a significantly large cast. Stories in the Dark was the exception. 

When I first read Stories in the Dark, I was touched by the profound importance Oswald places on story. Storytelling in any form - fables, fairytales, novels, art, music, film or theatre - help us make sense of the world. We have the opportunity to experience the world through the eyes of another, to share in their experience and connect emotionally to the time, place, people and events that occur. In theatre this is profoundly true for both the audience and the actors. This is why I chose Stories in the Dark. I wanted both the students and the audience to reflect on this and they did. I highly recommend this play to schools and would be willing to answer any questions you may have about it.

​3. The Focus on Ability Film Festival – My year 10 students have been working in collaboration with the learning support students from one of our feeder primary schools. As a qualified special education teacher and a parent of one of the younger children involved, this has been one of the amazing highlights of my year. You can view our film here (and VOTE if you like!), but I encourage you to check out all the inspiring films this film festival has on display. I assure you it will widen your eyes and warm your heart. Maybe your school can enter next year.

4. World Economic Forum – Ok, you may be wondering why someone like me is posting about the World Economic Forum. Well, take a look at this article and you will see why.  According to a World Economic Forum Report, “Children need to learn social and emotional skills if they are to thrive in the workplace of the future”. No surprises here. I will be using this diagram for senior subject selection next week. Creativity, communication, critical thinking and collaboration are explicitly taught in Drama and I believe this makes Drama the subject of the future!

5. Embrace – As a teacher in an all girls school, I saw this trailer and immediately wanted to get my hands on the full documentary. Unfortunately the film is having difficulty getting out there as according to the film maker, “The trailer for the film is not allowed to be seen in cinemas (with a rating M or less) and the film poster cannot be promoted on Facebook as it is showing too much "flesh".’  Typical! So I am sharing it here. I am a mother of two daughter and the alarming rates of body image issues across the globe worry me. I want my daughters and the girls I teach to love themselves and ‘not spend a minute’ worrying about their bodies. There is also some great resources on the website. 

​I love the idea of a Friday five. Five quick great ideas, resources, videos, stories, inspiration… whatever I like really… to share with you.  Not sure if it will be a weekly, fortnightly or monthly kind of a thing yet, but while I decide here is my first Friday Five.

1. A Creative Blessing – My beautiful friend and an amazing artist Lori Portka gifted her followers with this heart-felt Creative Blessing. I love the feeling inside of these words. It will adorn the wall of my classroom and the desktop on my computer this year. Maybe yours too? Download it here. 

2. The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey – I usually find that when my brother recommends a book or tv show I make it through one chapter or an episode and then give up on it. We have different tastes entirely. So when he recommended this zombie book I nearly passed it by. I am glad I didn’t! Now I don’t usually go for ‘zombie’ anything, but when you mix ‘zombie’ with ‘inspiring teacher’ it is hard to turn away. Miss Justineau opens up the world for her hungry students… yes hungry. In fact, Miss Justineau does more then this, she changes their nature. Read it, or at least wait for the movie to come out later this year!

​“The best day of the week is whichever day Miss Justineau teaches. It isn’t always the same day, and some weeks she doesn’t come at all, but whenever Melanie is wheeled into the classroom and sees Miss Justineau there, she feels a surge of pure happiness, like her heart flying up out of her into the sky.” (pg.11)

3. This Beautiful Reminder - I actually wish my students in my class would make me a video like this to let me know what I can do to help them more. 
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4. Giant Colouring-In – Everyone is into adult colouring in at the moment. I can’t say I have my own book (or even time to colour!), but my six year old daughter has one and lately she has been inviting me to sit with her and help her fill the most detailed of pages. As I do this I find she relaxes and begins engaging in deep conversation with me as we choose our colours. I relax too. I can’t do anything else while I colour (I tried and it is impossible!) so the task at hand, and my daughter, have my full attention. When I saw these giant colouring-in posters at Typo I decided I needed one for my classroom. I have set up a colouring-in station at the front of the room and I am going to invite my students to come and contribute during tutor group or lunchtime.  When it is complete I am going to hang it on my wall for the year. This has two primary intentions – If the students contribute to the art in the space, they will feel more ownership of the space, or so I hope; By colouring with my students I hope to get to know them more as we begin the year.

5. Free Compliments – I have used these for a few years in my classroom and they are always a smash hit. Who doesn’t like a free compliment?? Visit Kind Over Matter, print the PDF and hang in your classroom. There is even a blank page which you can customise for your space. I have added ‘You were brave to take that risk today”, “Your creativity astounds me” and “Loving your ideas!”. There is also a ‘free positive thoughts’ printable too.