Mr Kelly's Virtual Classroom

Start of Series 3: In this episode I begin Series 3 with a discussion around planning for your New Year. Yes, everyone starts with great intentions in January of every new year and most have crashed and burned by the end of the month! 

I look at how January is really in the middle of my 2nd quarter of my YEAR and how this actually enables me to avoid the obvious pitfalls of the 'New Year Crush'. 

I look at how I have split my year up to fit my life cycle rather than falling into one dictated by commercial and corporate direction. My year runs concurrently with my teaching programme: Sep-Nov, Dec-Feb, Mar-May and Jun-Aug. I then split these 3 month quarters into monthly segments and also then 3 week internal cycles with a 4th week for review and update, in order that I am continually reviewing how my progress is going. 

I also discuss the fact that we have to look firstly at the big picture and then break it down into manageable pieces in order to then rebuild it just like a jigsaw as we put together all the pieces the picture becomes more and more visible until eureka..completion! Each new cycle leads to the completion of another picture but in each case we cannot complete it without taking the 'Baby Steps' that allow us to begin to be able to take bigger and bolder steps on the way to our goals, hence the need for planning and back engineering from the full picture or goal into manageable chunks. While most will have crashed and burned by the 2nd and especially the 4th week of January a little time taken for planning will ensure that you will pass through this phase and get on your path to achieving your goals. 

I talk about the areas that I use for my goal planning; Work, Personal Development, Family, Social, Sport & Recreation and how these are just for me and that while they are headings they are just that and yours may be different and you need to sit down and plan to find this out. 

Just as Schools have to be willing to make difficult decisions around some of the children that I engage with because quite simply what they have been doing to date has obviously not been effective in bringing about positive changes.  They have to be willing to look 'out of the box' because one size does not fit all. Indeed the great Albert Einstein is broadly credited with exclaiming “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”.  The individual has to be willing to make decisions and plan for a different life based upon their own unique circumstances. 

To follow up on any of my current and past output:

The Podcast programme notes & back episodes can be picked up by logging onto anchor.fm/ateachersstory platform along with the ability to include comments from listeners and also the interview possibilities.  

My Twitter feed is the best place to continue the discussion or indeed contact me about topics you would like me include in an episode: twitter.com/GPK__  

And also on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/a_teachers_story particularly my Instagram Story and TV output as they contain transcribed video versions of some podcast episodes.

You can also visit my blog on: http://www.beingthebestucanb.com/ with over 3000 views of posts to date!

Welcome to GPK Radio in this episode I have a fly on the wall log of my day in Belfast at the staff Christmas Party My Twitter feed is the best place to continue the discussion or indeed contact me about topics you would like me include in an episode: twitter.com/GPK__ 

And I have just started an Instagram presence at: www.instagram.com/a_teachers_story

You can also visit my blog on: http://www.beingthebestucanb.com/

Welcome to A Teacher's Story, in this episode I look at some of the challenges we have when we look to effect change with some of their more challenging pupils. In a lot of cases they are a mirror of the situations that they come from in the home environment, they have learned what they have lived. They come to us from a variety of home experiences and as such have an inherent built in value system. This has been strengthened over time by the way in which they gain attention or gratification and when they require either of these. So schools have to be aware of this diversity and take steps to initially accommodate and then effect change over time in order to embed a more desired value system that befits the pastoral system within that particular establishment and also better prepares those children for life in society as mature, respectful and caring adults Schools have to be willing to make difficult decisions around some of the children that I engage with because quite simply what they have been doing to date has obviously not been effective in bringing about positive changes. They have to be willing to look 'out of the box' because one size does not fit all. Indeed the great Albert Einstein is broadly credited with exclaiming “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”. I'm dedicating the bulk of the production and output of the Podcast through the anchor.fm platform and the Music link through Spotify along with the ability to include comments from listeners and also the interview possibilities. 

My Twitter feed is the best place to continue the discussion or indeed contact me about topics you would like me include in an episode: twitter.com/GPK__ 

And I have just started an Instagram presence at: www.instagram.com/a_teachers_story

You can also visit my blog on: http://www.beingthebestucanb.com/

In this episode I look at some of the reasons why schools struggle to effect change with some of their more challenging pupils. Indeed the great Albert Einstein is broadly credited with exclaiming “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”. This can be true even in our academic institutions where small changes implemented diligently over a period of time can yield much greater gains than 'quick fix' solutions that are poorly thought out and end up not being endorsed by all the relevant players: Teacher, Classroom Assistant, Dinner Lady, Caretaker etc and indeed the most important person the child we are working with. Schools have to be willing to make difficult decisions around some of the SEBD children that I engage with because quite simply what they have been doing to date has obviously not been effective in bringing about positive changes. I'm dedicating the bulk of the production and output of the Podcast through the anchor.fm platform and the Music link through Spotify along with the ability to include comments from listeners and also the interview possibilities. 

My Twitter feed is the best place to continue the discussion or indeed contact me about topics you would like me include in an episode: https://twitter.com/GPK__ 

And I have just started an Instagram presence at: https://www.instagram.com/a_teachers_story

In this quick episode I reflect on how a major building works programme in a school caused me to have to radically rethink my lesson plan with a particular child and how this was turned into a positive by me being able to go with the flow and adapt to the new situation as it presented itself I'm dedicating the bulk of the production and output of the Podcast through the anchor.fm platform and the Music link through Spotify along with the ability to include comments from listeners and also the interview possibilities. 

 I hope everyone enjoys the podcast and don't forget to LIKE & SHARE and do SUBSCRIBE for notifications of new episodes, thanks.