admin's blog

Language isn’t just about the words we speak. It can also be about how we carry ourselves, how we make contact with others, tone of voice. Sometimes it's even about what we wear. If you’re off to a formal meeting, for example, you’d probably wear a very different outfit from what you’d wear for weeding the garden or spring cleaning your house.

All of this sends out a message, though, just as body language does - so we thought we'd have a peek at how a few different gestures can sometimes be interpreted in different ways around the world.

Did you know, on average, most people speak at over 100 words per minute (wpm) in their native tongue? That’s around four to five syllables per second. And although it’s a generalisation, it does seem that some languages and dialects are faster than others – just try getting an excited Geordie to slow down, for instance! (Disclaimer – I thought I’d use the Geordie dialect as an example as I’m from the North East of England originally.

Anyone in education knows that every pupil is different, and learns in a different way. And for SEN teaching, making the curriculum as accessible as possible in an appropriate format is essential.

Stories are our business (and our delight), and we know from experience and observation that they’re an excellent teaching tool as well as essential to help children (and adults) develop oracy, logical thinking, vocabulary, memory skills, and compassion and empathy. It’s always reassuring, however, to see that we’re not the only people who know this. We also love to learn about research being carried out by academics into the science of storytelling.

It’s a major life milestone, your first day at school. Even for those who’ve already attended nursery, the first day at school can be so daunting. There are so many things to remember, so many new people to meet, new routines to get accustomed to – and that’s just for starters.

One of the most important aspects of starting somewhere new is learning the best ways to get on with all the new people you meet. And you’ve probably heard the expression “breaking the ice” when it comes to meeting people for the first time; but what does it mean, and what are some useful methods?

As the foundation for so many other aspects of education, literacy is one of the most important skills that we can develop. It isn’t just a case of reading fiction – we need literacy to understand instructions, read ingredients in recipes and on grocery packaging, to apply for jobs, and make sure that any medication we take is appropriate. Around the world, as educational opportunities have improved in many countries, the literacy rate has also gone up.

While it doesn’t seem like five minutes since we were all breaking up for the summer holidays, THAT time of year is here again. Yes, it’s time to start sharpening the pencils, making sure all the uniforms are in order, and getting the sandwich boxes ready: back to school for the autumn term. (Yes, we know in some parts of the world the school year has been underway for a while!)

Have you ever wondered why, when it’s the eight month of our calendar year if we start counting in January, August is called August in English?

You might be a little surprised to learn that, until about 8BCE, the Romans called August Sextilis, since at that point, it was the sixth month of the year. The Roman lunar calendar used to start in March, not January, and originally the Roman calendar only had 10 months.

In England, late August sees the final bank holiday of the year. Traditionally, it’s a time for day trippers to head for the nearest beach, complete with bucket and spade. The theory is that we can all enjoy a final day of glorious sunshine and relaxation before preparing for any new school terms, heading off to university for the first time, or starting to prepare for the longer nights and shorter days of autumn.