WEEKLY WHITEBOARD 📝

Hi there!

In a hurry? Here's a quick look at what we will cover in this edition:

Did you know that 93% of communication is non-verbal?

🗣️ Read on for easy, low-prep games to teach effective communication.

News updates that matter:

💡 How a year off-curriculum changed these teenagers' lives

💡 New AQA maths tests that help prepare students for life

💡 Mayor of London urges primary schools to teach students about misogyny

Check the 'latest news' section to read more.

📚 A dose of inspiration

Six-year-old Jayce, who has written and published three books (no, that is not a spelling mistake), is set to receive the British Citizen Youth Award, Medal of Honour in recognition of the impact he has made on his community.

Jayce wrote and published his first book when he was four years old and has since also started running story sessions in his community.

"Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress" - James Clear

Our Perform Better programme, built in partnership with world-leading Ski Academy Apex 2100, is designed to provide your students with the skills, systems and beliefs to perform better across all areas of their lives. 

From ages 8 through to 18, this programme covers how to: 

🍎 Eat Better

🛌 Sleep Better

🧠 Think Better

🏃 Move Better

👍 Live Better

Start your journey to becoming a Perform Better school

WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT: TEACHING COMMUNICATION

Communication is something you already practice daily in the classroom. Still, it can be helpful to explicitly outline how to communicate effectively so that students can practice communication more intentionally. Here are a few easy games that can help enhance students' communication abilities. 

🗣️ Build non-verbal communication: Say it with feeling 

 Preparation (5 mins): Write down different feelings or moods on pieces of paper (guilt, surprise, joy, confusion) 

Have students each take a piece of paper and say the same sentence, for example, "We need to leave now" while expressing the feeling on their paper. The rest of the class should guess the emotion of the reader. Encourage discussions about why they made the assumption.

👁️ Practice eye contact: Look into my eyes 

Sit students in a circle and choose one person to start the game. The first person must make eye contact with another student; they must both nod to confirm it is received, and the eye contact should then be passed on to another member of the circle. If students break eye contact or hesitate too long, they are out. The game carries on until only two remain.

👂 Develop active listening: Popcorn storytelling

Like popcorn popping and bouncing, one student starts a story and then hands it off to another person to continue. It is helpful if the first person can establish a main character and setting. This can be played as a class in a circle or in pairs. For a more advanced version only allow one word to be said by each person. 

TOP THREE EDUCATION UPDATES THAT MATTER💡 

1️⃣ Off-curriculum transition year: Did you know schools in Ireland offer students the chance to take a 'Transition Year' (TY)? This year, typically taken halfway through secondary school, allows students to explore various subjects and activities without the pressure of formal exams. Options are incredibly varied, wether it's art, aviation, coding, car maintenance or boxing.  While there is no curriculum, core subjects are still covered, with work experience and PSHE recommended. Both Cillian Murphy and Paul Mescal trace their introduction to acting back to their TY.

 Why it matters: The article highlights the power of what we traditionally refer to as 'extra-curricular', with students who took the TY achieving on average 40 more points in their Leaving Certification (Via The Guardian) 

2️⃣ Real-world maths: AQA are piloting a maths test that feels more like real life. Students across the UK could soon be taking a maths test focusing on real-life applications such as calculating net pay from a wage slip or looking at telephone contracts to see which is the cheapest. The new test could also give students a proficiency certification (much like a driving license) even if they never pass the GCSE subject. 

 Why it matters: This new test aims to show students that maths is more than just numbers - it's a tool they require to navigate the world. By making maths more relatable, AQA hopes this move will help students grasp concepts more easily while also empowering students with skills for life. (Via The Guardian)

3️⃣ Primary students to learn about misogyny: London's Mayor is calling on primary schools to help ensure young people understand what healthy and respectful relationships are before they are exposed to misogynistic content. The programme designed to be delivered by teachers focuses on helping young people confidently recognise harmful or controlling behaviour and call out sexism and inequality in their peer groups. 

 Why it matters: This is part of a wider programme to tackle violence against women and girls. By creating programmes that are suitable for primary-age students, we can challenge potentially problematic attitudes at their root. (Via BBC News)

8billionideas Tales

Week 1 of Invention Camp ✅

The team spent the last week in The British School of Kuwait , Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai and Nord Anglia International School Dubai running holiday camps.

This isn't JUST a holiday camp. It’s a stepping stone to confidence, a launchpad for innovation, and a playground for curiosity.

At Invention Camp, we don’t just play games. We create thinkers, communicators, and entrepreneurs.

It was inspiring to see all the student's inventions come to light and watch them pitch to parents with passion and confidence.