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  • Is the ‘Curiosity Approach’ for Reception and Year 1 classrooms?

    Is the ‘Curiosity Approach’ for Reception and Y...

    My own pedagogy aligns very closely to the Curiosity Approach and has done for decades. In fact none of it is new.  I have always observed that children play much...

    Is the ‘Curiosity Approach’ for Reception and Y...

    My own pedagogy aligns very closely to the Curiosity Approach and has done for decades. In fact none of it is new.  I have always observed that children play much...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • A Parent's Guide to Buying Christmas Presents

    A Parent's Guide to Buying Christmas Presents

    What shall I buy the kids for Christmas?  I’m sure your children will have some very definite ideas about what they want for Christmas if they are old enough to...

    A Parent's Guide to Buying Christmas Presents

    What shall I buy the kids for Christmas?  I’m sure your children will have some very definite ideas about what they want for Christmas if they are old enough to...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Buttons

    Buttons

    Inside my Grandma’s button tin, there was so much treasure. Old ointment tins, bits of lace, old bodkins and all sorts of buttons to handle and categorise as favourites or...

    Buttons

    Inside my Grandma’s button tin, there was so much treasure. Old ointment tins, bits of lace, old bodkins and all sorts of buttons to handle and categorise as favourites or...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Displaying Children’s Work

    Displaying Children’s Work

    I suppose I am very old fashioned about displaying children’s work.  When I was at college, at good ole’ Bishop Grot, we had workshops on triple mounting, they measured our...

    Displaying Children’s Work

    I suppose I am very old fashioned about displaying children’s work.  When I was at college, at good ole’ Bishop Grot, we had workshops on triple mounting, they measured our...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Why do we have 2 clocks in our classroom?

    Why do we have 2 clocks in our classroom?

    As you can see, we have both analogue and digital clocks, side by side in our classroom environment.  Children actually find it easier to first tell the time, (other than...

    Why do we have 2 clocks in our classroom?

    As you can see, we have both analogue and digital clocks, side by side in our classroom environment.  Children actually find it easier to first tell the time, (other than...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics is probably the best website you can possibly find to support you as a parent or practitioner when it comes to teaching or supporting Mathematics.

    Are you familiar with the NCETM?

    The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics is probably the best website you can possibly find to support you as a parent or practitioner when it comes...

    Are you familiar with the NCETM?

    The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics is probably the best website you can possibly find to support you as a parent or practitioner when it comes...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Twig Displays!

    Twig Displays!

    Lots of people love our wall of beautiful paintings and charcoal pictures of Arctic Creatures hung on birch twigs.  Here are some close up shots to show you how we...

    Twig Displays!

    Lots of people love our wall of beautiful paintings and charcoal pictures of Arctic Creatures hung on birch twigs.  Here are some close up shots to show you how we...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Children's patterning: a window into their mathematical thinking.

    Children's patterning: a window into their math...

    A pattern is a thing of beauty; a creation, born from imagination... far more, of course, than a mere mathematical assessment devise!  As a child I loved to make patterns,...

    Children's patterning: a window into their math...

    A pattern is a thing of beauty; a creation, born from imagination... far more, of course, than a mere mathematical assessment devise!  As a child I loved to make patterns,...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Independence is key but it takes work!

    I spent time with my 17 year old daughter, Lyddie, today, teaching her how to decorate.  We had a great time together, choosing colours, shopping for what she needed, teaching...

    Independence is key but it takes work!

    I spent time with my 17 year old daughter, Lyddie, today, teaching her how to decorate.  We had a great time together, choosing colours, shopping for what she needed, teaching...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Legends and Yarns, our new Hooks into Writing Exhibition

    Legends and Yarns, our new Hooks into Writing E...

    We are so excited that we are ready to share our exhibition with you.   We have over 25 exhibits to support practitioners to make writing enticing.  Make sure you...

    Legends and Yarns, our new Hooks into Writing E...

    We are so excited that we are ready to share our exhibition with you.   We have over 25 exhibits to support practitioners to make writing enticing.  Make sure you...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Sponsored Training on Literacy

    I am being sponsored by Provident Financial Group to deliver training on Literacy in Bradford, exclusively for Bradford Schools. On 9th January 2018, 9.30 - 3.30 I will be training...

    Sponsored Training on Literacy

    I am being sponsored by Provident Financial Group to deliver training on Literacy in Bradford, exclusively for Bradford Schools. On 9th January 2018, 9.30 - 3.30 I will be training...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Ice Princess

    Pretty in cool ice blue, she could be useful as , the ice princess in The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe

    Ice Princess

    Pretty in cool ice blue, she could be useful as , the ice princess in The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Training for Success

    Training for Success

    At this time of the academic year, never under estimate the significance and importance of training children. By training them to tidy and clean up to the highest expectations, you...

    Training for Success

    At this time of the academic year, never under estimate the significance and importance of training children. By training them to tidy and clean up to the highest expectations, you...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Ingredients for making play dough

    Children making their own dough – I dare you!

    It has become a trend in some schools for children to have the means to make their own play dough, which in theory is a lovely idea. Children have a...

    Children making their own dough – I dare you!

    It has become a trend in some schools for children to have the means to make their own play dough, which in theory is a lovely idea. Children have a...

    By Rachel Jacobs
  • Role play equipment - a shop till, money tin and receipt book

    Should we always have a home corner in Reception?

    Some children thrive on domestic play and it tells us a lot about them. Most children, however, also benefit from other scenarios such as role play Shops, Offices, Vets, Post...

    Should we always have a home corner in Reception?

    Some children thrive on domestic play and it tells us a lot about them. Most children, however, also benefit from other scenarios such as role play Shops, Offices, Vets, Post...

    By Rachel Jacobs