Comments for Bill Boyd's Literacy Adviser

Comment on Plus Ca Change………. by Louise Jones

Louise Jones — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:04:54 +0000

Great video clip, I’m just about to write a blog about the history of health promoting schools. Perfect link! Thanks Bill.

Comment on Plus Ca Change………. by literacyadviser

literacyadviser — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:51:54 +0000

I’m sure that would be useful Lucy but quite a big task. Fancy taking it on?

Comment on Plus Ca Change………. by Lucy

Lucy — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:48:47 +0000

Is there scope for a wee section on the LTS Online Service - perhaps in the New teachers site - with a few clips on teaching as its been practised/seen at different times and places?
eg there could be this clip and quote, plus
perhaps information/links to documentaries (or even dramas) from Britain and abroad eg ‘Etre et Avoir’, which could be used as the basis for discussion/inspiration by trainers and teachers/students.
Lucy

Comment on Plus Ca Change………. by literacyadviser

literacyadviser — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:12:05 +0000

Thanks guys. No, I’m one of the malnourished urchins doing the PE drill in the playground. And our teacher (female) was like an army drill sergeant. The class learning to spell took me right back to my old primary class which had 42 pupils in it.

Comment on Plus Ca Change………. by Iain Stanger

Iain Stanger — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:54:32 +0000

Great clip Bill the PE footage was fantastic to watch. Not much has changed in PE over the past 70 odd years!!! Only joking female PE staff dont wear skirts to teach in these days.

Comment on Plus Ca Change………. by Aileen Monaghan

Aileen Monaghan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:38:25 +0000

Loved the the film Bill. I’m going to let a lot of other teachers see this.
Are you the one with the hammer????

Aileen

Comment on Life Beyond Exams by literacyadviser

literacyadviser — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:59:53 +0000

Just because, that’s how, Lucy! The problem is compounded for Scots of an older generation by the “Whit wey?” option as in the following story. The “Wee McGreegor” stories by JJ Bell which were popular in the 1960s, told of the adventures of a cheeky and inquisitive young lad in the style of Oor Wullie. In one episode McGreegor visits the zoo with his da and on spying the polar bear asks his father, “Whit wey does that bear have oose (fluff or fur) on its feet?” When his dad replies with misplaced confidence in his own knowledge, “Because it’s a Polish bear”, McGreegor instantly comes back with, “Aye, it would shin (soon) polish aff you and me!”

Comment on Life Beyond Exams by Lucy

Lucy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:53:37 +0000

‘the difference between success and failure is whether a candidate is aware of the difference between “how” and “why”, not always an easy distinction to explain in the west of Scotland’

How no?

Lucy

Comment on The Examination Business by bill

bill — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:04:33 +0000

Couldn’t agree more. To persist with a subject called “English” doesn’t seem to make much sense any more, as it covers everything from language to literature to media studies and a whole load of other things besides. Let’s talk about literacy up to a certain level of development then a variety of specialist studies involving literature or media etc. That notion seems to me to be at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence, although English teachers may well see it as a threat. Does teaching English for thirty plus years entitle me to say that?

Comment on The Examination Business by Clarinda

Clarinda — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:24:24 +0000

Bill,
You will be aware of the restructuring of the detailed marking instructions for the Critical Essay paper in Higher English. Marks are now to be ‘pegged’ and a response which last year would have gained 13 out of 25, will gain 17 marks this year!
I have searched the SQA website in vain for the rationale behind this move upwards. I must not be cynical…I must not be cynical…
Surely the time has come for a separate award in English Literature. The demands of the literature aspect of the course are inappropriate for too many of the candidates. Rather than giving them more marks we should be offering them more meaningful alternatives.