Philosophy4Children Blog: 2009
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Dot Lenton
on 18 November 2009 at 15:56
At the meeting of The Association of Philosophy for Children
last week, at Hanford Hall Primary School in Ipswich, it was
agreed that we should organise a conference for children from
Norfolk and Suffolk schools who had been using philosophy in
the classroom! One suggestion is to hold it in Norwich! This
would give a real boost to the children and schools who had
previously taken part in the Thinking Schools, Thinking
Children initiative held in Norfolk in 2000. Suffolk schools
are excited about the project and are going ahead with a
Newsletter, as well as starting a website. Watch this space!
Dot Lenton
on 5 November 2009 at 21:39
Barbara and Dot had a fascinating evening with a group from
TeachFirst
in Piccadilly discussing Challenging Issues. Our secondary
colleagues were exploring ideas relating to academic
argumentation. Katherine Richardson shared some of her recent
research with the group. She demonstrated that the method of
using clear argumentation in the development of reasoning in
the classroom has a strong impact on children's ability
to become engaged with their learning. This is a subject that
is dear to the heart of Philosophy4Children. As she spoke the
correlation with the work that we do with our primary
colleagues was very apparent. The group willingly became
involved with an experiential session with us (shortened from
two hours to about twenty minutes) and had a very positive
discussion about "Willy the Champ" by Anthony
Browne.
The discussion was relayed to Twitter users through
@Teachfirst.
Barbara Vidion
on 31 October 2009 at 14:40
Having submitted our first assembly draft to the publishing
company, the feedback was very encouraging. We have been
asked to put forward a more formal proposal for consideration
at their next editorial meeting. If this is accepted our work
will begin in ernest!
In the meantime, Dot has tried one of our assemblies in a
Norfolk primary school and it went down very well with the
children. Dot saw lots of evidence of deep thinking amongst
the children and possibilities for further development.
Dot Lenton
on 25 October 2009 at 10:02
This enthusiastic feedback has been supplied by the head
teacher of a school that we worked with recently. He has
given us permission to use it in our blog!
"Every KS1 class has had structured P4C since the
training and I think staff and children are learning a
lot! As ever, the better we seem able to deliver
(whether the story works better or engages the children) the
better the children respond. I had my best session last
week where the children (Y1-2 class) were really engaged.
"The children were a Y2 class and two comments amazed
me.
"One child said… ‘I think I agree with Sarah now…’ which
was brilliant. We briefly stopped and discussed what it
means if you say that
(the now being so
significant). I was thrilled as it suggests an open
minded approach – it was also a boy who took on a girl's
viewpoint which I thought was interesting.
"Another child later said something along the lines of
‘I’ve been thinking about what James said and I agree with
him’ which again shows that children can reflect! This
is after six sessions – I can’t wait to find out what it will
be like for Y2 next year after having had a year doing it in
Y1."
We are absolutely delighted and look forward to seeing just
how far the children will have progressed in their thinking
by next year too!
Dot Lenton
on 25 September 2009 at 22:16
A wonderful afternoon was held at the Holiday Inn at Ipswich
today, when teachers, head teachers, advisers and inspectors
attended the launch of the newly formed Association of
Philosophy for Children. Many of the Suffolk teachers had
visited the Buranda school in Australia and had come back
enthused with the ideas of teaching philosophy. There were
many teachers who had wonderful examples of how children had
been transformed through the teaching of philosophy in their
schools. Inspirational talks were also given by Roger
Sutcliff, from SAPERE, and Gary Nethercott from Suffolk. How
could anyone teach without using philosophy4children?
The committee, made up mainly of dedicated teachers from
Suffolk, along with one or two heads from Norfolk and also
Philosophy4Children, has produced a folder for teachers to
use in the classroom. A must for all!!
Dot Lenton
on 16 September 2009 at 22:00
We had a wonderful afternoon at Lodge Lane Infant School
introducing Philosophy4Children to the children and staff.
The children were brilliant for a first attempt - even
getting into the nature/nurture debate....pretty
sophisticated for a class of year two children! The staff
were very enthusiastic and are keen to get started. We look
forward to seeing the results later in the year.
Dot Lenton
on 7 September 2009 at 21:15
Barbara and Dot, with Tim, are working hard to find the best
way to promote philosophical thinking into assembly.
We are definitely having to think very hard to see how this
will work successfully. However, we are loving the challenge
and trust the publishers will like our ideas!!
Barbara Vidion
on 13 August 2009 at 16:50
Philosophy in Assemby? This is a new area being considered by
a publishing company who have approached us to work with
them. We had an initial meeting yesterday. This is a new area
of work for Philosophy4Children, which could prove to be
challenging and very exciting. More news as, and when, this
develops!
Dot Lenton
on 7 July 2009 at 15:53
The meeting of the local group of the Eastern Region
Leadership, led by Wendy Garrard from the National College of
School Leadership, was a great success yesterday. Head
teachers from Norwich spoke about the visionary work that is
taking place in many of our Norfolk schools. Two schools have
been successful in their bid to become Enquiry Schools in
which children use the philosophy4children approach to
teaching and learning. Creativity and enjoyment were key
words and schools who use this approach and have been
recently Ofsteded were identified as outstanding! It was
encouraging for all present to see that innovation and a real
desire for children to be at the centre of what happens in
school is alive and well and happening in Norfolk! Wendy was
impressed and is reporting her findings back to the National
College. Thanks Sue(Eagle) for organising this meeting and
getting us all together.
Barbara Vidion
on 11 June 2009 at 12:35
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
ISBN 0-06-025665-6
Published by HarperCollins
This is a beautifully illustrated book with simple line
drawings and a thought provoking, moving story - ideal
for philosophy.
The questions children usually bring up revolve
around the meaning of love, the purpose of giving and what
happiness means. These are questions children throughout
the school will ask.
In fact, with it's universal themes, this is a book
that Dot and I often use very effectively when working with
adults too.
Barbara Vidion
on 27 May 2009 at 16:15
No half term break for Philosophy4Children! Dot and I have
had a busy half term planning for our next events.
June starts with a full day in a Great Yarmouth school. We
are looking forward to this very much. Both of us find the
most rewarding part of our work is when we are able to
introduce philosophy directly to children, so a whole morning
working with children throughout the school will be a
delight. The afternoon will be spent reviewing and planning
the next steps with their teachers.
The following day we have an introductory session with
headteachers in the south Norfolk, north Suffolk area. By the
end of this session participants should have the skills to
deliver a philosophical enquiry with their children. As
a backup to the session, there is a pack to buy.
Dot Lenton
on 2 May 2009 at 22:06
Barbara and I have enjoyed two very interesting sessions in
school, one in Gt Yarmouth and one north of Norwich. Very
different settings but alike in wanting to give their
children an exciting and challenging approach to learning. We
get very excited going into school and working with different
adults and children. Our bookings seem quite full at the
moment and we are already planning our next series of
meetings. We are holding a free introductory session at
Harleston Primary on June 2nd at 3pm and look forward to
bringing philosophy4children to them.
Dot Lenton
on 27 March 2009 at 12:26
At the Norfolk Association For Primary Head Teachers (NAFPHT)
Spring Conference there was a real buzz from the impact of
the keynote speech by Alison Peacock, head teacher at
Wroxham
School, Hertfordshire. She led her school from Special
Measures to Outstanding in three years - from one in which
the children were described as "unteachable" to one
in which children found learning irresistible. As one boy
said, "Nobody can stop you from learning". Her
message came over loud and clear: "If we think nothing
can change then we shouldn't be teachers. Every child,
and teacher, should have the capacity to surprise us."
Her belief that no child should be labelled gifted, talented
or special needs has created a culture where all feel that
they have the capacity to be transformed and the sky is the
limit. All who attended were ignited with the desire to do
some of the same - with real enthusiasm! Philosophy4Children
is a way in which this transformation can begin. We believe
that in transforming schools children can be transformed. We
have seen children change from passive onlookers to active
participants, with a genuine desire and enthusiasm for their
work and with a real hunger for learning!
Dot Lenton
on 27 February 2009 at 17:08
Barbara and I have just come back from spending two wonderful
days with the staff and children at Terrington St
Clement's School. We worked with all the children -
including those in the Nursery - a real challenge for us! All
the children showed just how well they can listen to each
other for long periods of time. Many demonstrated how deep
their thinking is. After reading Six Dinner Sid,
they eventually came up with some BIG questions on the nature
of love, friendship and feelings. The staff encouraged us by
their enthusiasm and involvement. The head teacher's
comments have given us a real boost!
"The staff are still buzzing about the philosophy even
in Year 1/2, where the children have taken the discussion
into adult on child bullying and inapproproate behaviour
(violence) in adults.
"The painting is beginning to cause quite a stir in Y6
because one child said it represented heaven. A whole host of
ideas then came about who the characters are and whether they
were candidates for heaven etc. As you may tell, I am also
buzzing. I am loving it.The owl poem, did I tell you? A group
of Y6 children came out with a lighthouse which is
amazing...it is more like a lighthouse than an owl!" Liz
Hackett
This is what it is all about - children and teachers excited
about learning!!
Barbara Vidion
on 4 February 2009 at 10:52
Feedback from the event was very positive. Here are some
comments from the evaluation forms:
Was the session useful?
""Yes. It made me realise how little time is given
to our children to discuss and question each others points of
view."
"Yes, very useful to intoduce myself to
Philosophy4Children and be confident in doing within the
school."
"Very useful - great balance of theory / practice
/ practise ."
Have you learned enough to be able to run a philosophy
session at school?
"Yes, and can't wait to learn more"
"Yes, Dot and Barbara made it very clear"
"Certainly. I am sure it will develop with
practise"
Do you think you will use philosophy?
"Definitely - it was inspiring. I can see how my school
would benefit from philosophy sessions to develop an
enthusiasm for learning"
"Yes. I will expect whole school to develop or at least
try a philosophy session once I have cascaded info to
them."
Barbara Vidion
on 4 February 2009 at 10:29
After a day of heavy snow on Monday, the weather turned mild
and the sun shone - a huge relief for us. The Head
Teachers' conference in Norwich was able to go ahead!
Dot and I gave a brief talk about our involvement with
philosophy, how and why it works so well for
children and for the whole school.
The main thrust of the conference was an experiential
philosophy session demonstrating the process and skills
so participants could go back to school and deliver a basic
philosophy lesson. The process we use is effective with both
children and adults - the difference is in the level of
enquiry that takes place.
A range of questions came up from the stimulus and the
group chose the question - Do things make you
happy? A very thought provoking enquiry followed,
touching on the nature of happiness, what is happiness, why
we give and what giving means. Time constraints meant that
the enquriy was in full flow when we needed to bring it to
closure - something that happens so frequently with children!
Both Dot and I enjoyed ourselves very much - it was a joy to
spend time with such enthusiastic heads (or their reps) and
feel that there is such interest in developing philosophy in
schools. The evaluation forms showed the conference had been
a success. See the entry on feedback from the session.
Dot Lenton
on 19 January 2009 at 14:01
![Debating in the Forum, Norwich [1]](http://syndication.netfundi.com/_resources/76625098-3FBB-4D59-81A2-BD4EBA5B8D7E/sc0000993f.jpg)
![Debating in the Forum, Norwich [2]](http://syndication.netfundi.com/_resources/76625098-3FBB-4D59-81A2-BD4EBA5B8D7E/sc0000a898.jpg)
![Debating in the Forum, Norwich [3]](http://syndication.netfundi.com/_resources/76625098-3FBB-4D59-81A2-BD4EBA5B8D7E/sc0000b768.jpg)
![Debating in the Forum, Norwich [4]](http://syndication.netfundi.com/_resources/76625098-3FBB-4D59-81A2-BD4EBA5B8D7E/sc0000d027.jpg)
Looking at some pictures, I happened to come across
photographs of our children demonstrating their philosophical
debating skills to the general public in the Forum, Norwich.
It was part of an exciting week when children from Norfolk
schools shared their creative learning ideas. Our children
debated for over an hour and were so focused that they were
oblivious to the people watching them, and could have gone on
for much longer.
Barbara Vidion
on 13 January 2009 at 18:01
Dot and I are excited at the enthusiastic response we have
had to the Head Teachers' Conference on February 3rd.
Bookings are coming in from Norwich head teachers - we have
even had enquiries from London and the Midlands! We plan to
repeat the event in the near future in the south of the
county and in the Yarmouth area. If there is a lot of
enthusiasm for introducing philosophy in your area, please do
get in touch and we will try to organise a session near you.
Barbara Vidion
on 6 January 2009 at 12:01
Philosophy With Young Children – a Classroom Handbook by
Philip Cam et al
ISBN 978-1-875864-56
Published by ACSA (Australian Curriculm Studies Association)
It is wonderfully refreshing and exciting to know that around
the world children are engaged with philosophical enquiry. In
Buranda State Primary School in Australia philosophy
underpins the whole school ethos. From their commitment has
come this excellent book packed full of ideas and practical
work.
The book is structured and clearly set out in three section.
The first looks at the discipline of philosophy and what
philosophy means for children. The next section recommends 12
books suitable for philosophy in a primary school and looks
in detail at focus themes, with activities to develop
children's skills. Finally there is more practical work
to elicit good questions and encourage conceptual
understanding.
The ideas and ways of working with children outlined in this
book are entirely in line with the way we work at
Philosophy4children. Commitment to developing children's
critical thinking and exploring issues and ideas at a very
deep level is the core of philosophical enquiry.
There is one huge problem however – as it is published in
Australia, the book does not appear to be available yet in
the UK or on Amazon. But keep an eye out for it when it is
finally available.