http://www.wisehat.com/splog Learn Together - Change Together - All Together Now! Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:51:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en No Homework And Recess All Day Jerry Mintz Bravura Books ISBN: 9780974525204 Year: 2003 Pages: 139 This slim book serves as a great introduction to the Democratic School Movement, and it is a movement. There are democratic schools of various kinds all over the world. There is no simple definition but all schools that claim ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/24/2008/02/02/a-mini-primer-on-democratic-education/ 2008 is the Year Of The Rat . Notable Rats include Prince Charles and the Rapper Eminem. Princess Diana was a cow, or perhaps I should say an Ox, since I'm one as well. Curiously, rats and oxen are supposed to get on well. The Rat is the first sign ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/23/2008/01/01/happy-new-year/ Trick or Treat, trick or treat Halloween's here, move those feet! Run Away! When I was a child Halloween was little more than bobbing an apple or two in a bowl of water or dangling one from a piece of string. At that time in England Plot Night on November 5th ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/17/2007/11/01/halloween-horror-four-parties-in-one-day/ Today is Friday the 13th. This morning I learnt that Kurt Vonnegut, who came up with the title above, is dead. There is an obituary of sorts in the New York Times. It mentions his most famous novel, Slaughterhouse Five, but glosses over the fact the book is about ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/13/2007/04/13/life-is-no-way-to-treat-an-animal/ As the man who ran the man who organised the destruction of cities across Europe during World War II put it, "democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." Considering that he also said that "the best argument against democracy is a five ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/10/2007/01/02/from-dictators-to-democracy/ Last night I found myself on Hiroshima FM radio with my wife, Hideko. We had been invited to be on Vibe On Music. They have an interview slot which features local people. Initially the focus was to be on Hideko and what she did. Before the program they telephone ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/7/2006/01/11/do-it-the-dj-way/ Chris, You wrote: "Personally, I don't think competition is fun." I use a fair number of competitive games in my kids' classes and have also incorporated some of the principles of cooperation and non- competition you have been talking about on this list and on your website. As others have mentioned, ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/8/2005/12/31/a-discussion-on-competition/ A Workshop with Children, Kagoshima, July 23rd 2005 Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism; the way you play it is free will. Jawaharlal Nehru Doing a demonstration workshop with children you never know what to expect. The number, ages and experience of ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/6/2005/08/08/games-more-games-almost/ Half a year and more since my last report. No wonder I call this a splog rather than a blog! These notes are based on my experiences in two kindergartens and two nursery schools. I go to these schools and do English with the youngsters. Typically, I spend 20 minutes ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/4/2005/01/31/preschool-travels-january-2005/ There's been a lot of discussion recently on the ETJ Activities list about the letters b and d. When written in lowercase these can be very confusing for Japanese youngsters. Many young children go through a period of mirror writing. They write some letters backwards. A backwards c or s is ... http://www.wisehat.com/splog/5/2005/01/16/phonics-bed/