Inspiring lessons in Year 7

[Suzfly]

Does anyone else feel the curriculum is, well,sort of dull? Why no Oceanography? Our planet is mostly ocean, so it's not that silly. Geography was dull 25 years ago and still is, it seems to me. Such a shame. Also, languages are a bit behind the times? French.... Hmmm. Why not Mandarin? It's not that much more difficult. Easier, in some ways, in fact. I just feel there's been too little change since I was at school. Education has fossilised.

Um... what subject do you teach?

The world of education has been going through non-stop revisions, changes and shake ups for decades. We wouldn't mind a bit of fossilisation it would give us a chance to actually get used to one curriculum for a change.

The latest change in KS3 science (and many subjects) is APP and PLTS both of which are about developing skills and about producing engaging lessons willed with excitement (or they are if planned out properly).

I six years of teaching I have had to rewrite schemes of work for KS3 and 4 no less than 2 times each (some modules more than that).

My current role is about developing lessons to be as engaging, exciting and amazing as possible. This has been increasingly the case for years.

Oh and in the 4 schools I've been in Geography has been the most exciting department in the school (after science).

Oh and Mandarin amongst many other languages is actually taught in schools.

*Willed = filled
*I six years = In six years

And take any other spelling mistakes as read...

Geography is one of my Y7 ds's favourite subjects and he is very hard to please. It all depends on the teacher.

It's dull because otherwise, when DCs get to Yr 9 and are thinking about options, everyone panics that they might be thinking about taking frightening new-fangled subjects which will ruin all chances they have of getting into a decent university, whilst they should really be focussing on the traditional subjects we were all taught in the past.

Just wait until the horror that is the 'Opening minds' curriculum engulfs us all....

They do that at my school. Kids seem to love it.

Come on Tethers, give us a taster.

Agree with earlier poster re geog, mine learn about globalisation, climate change, sustainability..

At our school, OM consists of Art, DT, History, Geography, ICT, Music, PSHE.

It's utterly shit, and has ended up with skilled subjects being taught by unskilled teachers. In other words, I as an art teacher teach geography whilst the geography teacher teaches art.

When the kids get to Y10 they haven't got a clue.

Plus, the kids get bored of the thematic projects really quickly, although I do work in a PRU.

Oh, and this half terms' topic is bikes.

I want to eat my own feet with boredom, so fuck knows how the kids must feel...

Is it better in your school, EvilTwins?

The kids seem to really like it. It basically covers humanities and PSHE with bits if IT thrown in - they still get Art, DT, Music, Drama and so on as separate subjects, but the History, Geography, Politics, Current Affairs, PSHE side of things is done thematically. The woman in charge of it is totally fabulous and amazing, and all the kids adore her, so I think it's working really well. We're fairly low ability in general, and also have really long lessons (3 x 1hr 40mins per day) so I think they get their teeth into things. Not sure what this term's theme is, but am fairly sure it's not bikes! Also, a two of the teachers who teach it (including the one in charge) were primary trained, and the other two are humanities teachers who really wanted to teach it, so it does seem to work.

Sounds like the bloody diplomas