The half-term holiday is nearly over. But, as someone told me soon after I started teaching, teachers are never more than seven weeks away from a holiday! We break up for Easter on 30 March…
The week before half-term was particularly hectic, as we were visited by the National Inspector for ICT. Although it was my ICT colleagues who were really under the spotlight, he was also very interested in how ICT is used across throughout the curriculum. The language lab installed last summer holidays has enabled students to use ICT more often in language lessons, ranging from accessing language websites to making mini-films of themselves to skyping Chile (in Spanish). Websites and apps to aid Mandarin learning are increasing in number, and it is hard to keep abreast of what’s out there. One of my current favourites is http://www.hellomylo.com/. If anyone reading this has their own favourites to share, it would be great to hear from you.
Returning to the subject of holidays, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) has just confirmed the dates of this year’s ‘China camp’. In October half-term, I hope to take a group of students from the current Year 9 and 10 to China. What a fabulous opportunity for them! Our school has participated several times, and students (and staff) have found it an eye-opening experience.
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