In-service
Training and Workshops |
Horizon
School places great importance on the professional development
of its teachers. Throughout the school year there are a variety
of opportunities for in-service training for staff as well as
workshops for both staff and parents.
Horizon School is a key member of the BSME UAE Professional Development Group. Please click here for the PDG group website. |
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Middle Leaders Training at Horizon School by Karen Ardley |
Five members of staff, Ms Simpson, Mrs. Fazal, Mrs. Daya, Mrs. Green and Ms. Caswell went on a four day Middle Leaders Course recently run by Educational Consultant, Karen Ardley. This accredited course, providing credits towards a master’s degree, has provided our teachers with a challenging introduction to leading in schools. The school will continue to provide opportunities for our emerging leaders which will impact ultimately on the learning process for students.
Here are some of the teachers’ comments on the course.
“A very worthwhile and well delivered course. The chance to step outside of the classroom for 4 days and work with such a professional as Karen was fantastic. We came away crammed with new knowledge, some of which could have immediate impact in the classroom.”
The 4 day course has provided me with a wonderful insight into leadership skills and how to manage others. We had the opportunity to develop our skills of observation, feedback and presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed the course!
One of the best leadership workshops I have attended! In addition to knowing that we were not alone on our journey, I learnt about the different management styles. Through the course, I was able to identify my management style, my strengths and explore ways to be a more effective teacher and leader. Coming out of the course on Thursday, I felt motivated and better knowledgeable about how to deliver a clear message, set expectations, give feedback and most important – celebrate the achievements of my team.
I attended the four day leadership programme led by Karen Ardley in Horizon School last week. The course was very interesting and covered various leadership areas such as monitoring, giving and receiving feedback, communication and motivation of your team, setting goals and lots more! All four days were filled with various activities, observations and presentations and is was lovely to get to know teachers from other schools and to discuss and compare good practice going on. I left the course feeling very enthusiastic and looking forward to get back into school and using all the great ideas generated!
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| In September 2007 many of Horizon School's staff attending a workshop at Jebel Ali Primary School on reveiwer training. The workshop was run by Karen Ardley, and educational consultant and Ofsted inspector from the UK. The session dealt with how Performance Management can be established and run effectively within the school. |
Learning, Teaching, Classroom Climate and Inclusion |
| At the beginning of the academic year 2007, the whole school staff was fortunate to attend a workshop run by Karen Ardely, an educational consultant and Ofsted inspector from the UK. During the day the staff looked at the links between teaching and learning and how learning can be better enhanced within the classroom. They also looked at ways in which learning can be better evaluated within the classroom. |
Ofsted Conference |
Ms Sinclair attended an Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) conference last weekend to find out more about the expectations and changes in the School Inspection system in England . The new emphasis is on schools preparing their own self-evaluations as a basis either for an informal visit by an inspector who will guide the school development or a more formal Ofsted Inspection. The two-day course was conducted by Christopher Green, a former Chief Education Officer, current Ofsted Inspector, and consultant and trainer of inspectors. |
Middle Management Training with Shirley Clarke |
Ms Rambocus (Early Years and Key Stage One Co-ordinator) and Mr. Hoskisson (Key Stage Two Co-ordinator) attended a Middle Management Conference at Rashid School for Boys on 'Managing Yourself and Others'. The course was led by Shirley Frances Clarke, a Educational Consultant from Sheffield . They explored key aspects of effective leadership and looked at empowering teams of people. They explored the knowledge, strategies and skills needed to manage yourself and others more successfully and resourcefully.
The first day of the course focused on communication skills. This is obviously highly important between staff but is also vital when forming positive links with you as parents. They explored the principles, the practice and the strategies of interaction. |
Childhood
Reflexes and their Effect on Learning and Development |
Claire
Hocking, one of Australia's leading Educational Kinesiologists
conducted a workshop to both parents and staff about the retention
of primitive childhood reflexes and the effects on learning
and development. If retained reflexes are noticed early and
dealt with, a child's development is enhanced. If they are
allowed to continue they can become an underlying cause of
many learning, emotional and behavioural problems in childhood
and adulthood such as poor memory, lack of concentration and
poor coordination. Dealing with retained reflexes can even
assist children with hyperactive, disruptive behaviour.
Ms Meyler attended the 3 day course on "Childhood Reflexes and their effect on Learning and Behaviour" presented by Claire Hocking from Australia . Primitive reflexes are an essential part of early development; they are primarily concerned with survival in those first early months of life. If these primitive reflexes remain unintegrated beyond the first year of life, they may cause extra stress on the central nervous system leaving less energy and function for other development and learning. Ms Meyler learned about the effects of each primitive reflex if still inappropriately retained within a person's system and how to correct this developmental delay and improve the processing of sensory information using Brain Gym, Vision Gym and Edu K in-depth techniques and procedures.
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Brain
Gym 101 with Edith Laidlaw |
At
the beginning of September the staff from Horizon School attended
a full day workshop with Edith Laidlaw, a regsitered Brain
Gym® instructor. She was able to build on the knowledge
that Horizon School staff already have on brain friendly learning
and the benefits of Brain Gym®. IN addition to this one
day workshop some of our members of staff attended a three
day workshop, where they learnt about 3D body/brain integration
for better communication, comprehension and organisation,
as well as 26 Brain Gym® movements to access full learning
potential.
If you
would like to know more about Brain Gym® visit the official
website at www.braingym.org |
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Brain Gym and Accelerated Learning with Mr Alan Heath |
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week of professional development with Mr Alan Heath was a
great success. Ninety teachers from British schools
in Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi enjoyed a full-day workshop
to start the week then various workshops on the use of Brain
Gym and Music to enhance concentration and creativity ensued
throughout the week. During the mornings, Alan worked
with our Year 5 and 6 children which was beneficial to the
students and our teachers who observed him at work.
We were delighted to be joined at every workshop by teachers
from other schools and by several of our own parents.
The attendance at the meeting specifically for parents showed
us that many of you are interested in being involved in your
child’s education.
Alan’s comments and observations about Horizon and about
our children were most complimentary and he was very impressed
with 6F’s fantastic assembly based (loosely) on Charles
Dickens ’Christmas Carol’ which Year 6 were studying.
He’s never seen ‘Scrooge with Brain Gym’ before and he loved it!
Please find time to read the children’s posters in the
foyer to discover what they learnt from Alan Heath’s
workshops.
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Story
Sacks with Mr Neil Griffiths |
The
teachers and parents who attended Neil Griffiths talk on ‘How
to Raise a Life-long Reader’ were both entertained and
inspired by his presentation. Those who did not make it missed
a great opportunity.
The essence of his message was that parents make the biggest
difference to a child’s reading by showing and sharing
– by showing children that they love reading and by sharing
stories with their children in such way that they induce excitement,
interest, inquisitiveness and an eagerness for books. To do
this, every reading time should be a theatrical, dramatic experience
which the child will never forget.
For those parents who plead pressure of work and lack of time,
Neil had no sympathy. His response was, “Tough! Make time!
If your children are a priority in your life then you will find
time for reading to them daily.”
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The
story sack pictured here, for the book 'A Very Hungry Caterpillar',
was made by Mrs Kofteros, the mum of one of our Preschool
children.
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