Book reviews
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Book reviews 100 Ideas for Secondary Teachers : Engaging Parents J. Goodall and K. Weston
Dr Goodall is a lecturer in educational leadership and management at the University of Bath, with extensive experience in research related to parental engagement. Her colleague, Dr Weston, is an educational consultant and a research fellow in education, as well as being the host of a weekly radio show on parenting, education and family life. She also presents a podcast #GettaGrip, which explores the latest research evidence relating to children’s mental health and wellbeing. The book is organised into eight parts, each of which follows a similar format, opening with a quote and a brief summary, followed by an explanation of the idea, with teaching tips and extension activities. Topics include: ‘What’s special about secondary’, ‘Understanding the parents of teenagers’,
‘Setting up to support : an iterative process’, ‘Helping parents to help’, and ‘Sustainable practice’. The 100 ideas in this book cover a wide range of situations that are familiar to parents and teachers dealing with children’s learning. They also encourage building positive relationships in these challenging times by tackling common issues such as homework, exams, transition, mental health and social media. This is a very useful text that will be of great value to a wide audience.It has a positive focus which encourages secondary teachers to work together with parents by recognising the difficulties that exist on both sides. The authors encourage readers to see the book as a starting point in supporting building relationships.
Bloomsbury Education ISBN: 978-1-4729-7663-5 £14.99
How to Get Kids Offline, Outdoors and Connecting With Nature: 200+ Creative Activities to Encourage Self-Esteem, Mindfulness and Wellbeing
B. Thomas
Bonnie Thomas is a Child and Family Counsellor based in the U.S. who incorporates creative expression, art and nature based activities into the work she does with her clients. In this book, she seeks to create enthusiasm for the great outdoors, recognising the benefits of nature in terms of improving physical health, drawing on natural surroundings and boosting imagination, creativity and wellbeing. The book opens with an explanation of why nature is so important to her, followed by sections that cover, for example: ‘Relaxation and Mindfulness’, ‘Gardening for Wellbeing’, ‘Forest and Trees’, ’Puddles and Mud’, and ‘Bring Nature Indoors’. The main ethos of the book is that children benefit from connecting with nature, even if that only means images
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of natural spaces decorating walls to support sensory awareness of natural surroundings. The many activities she suggests require little in the way of resources and could easily be integrated into daily practice in settings. This is a lovely book that supports the current interest in mindfulness and that recognises the ways in which the natural world can act as an antidote for children whose lives are increasingly dominated by online learning and social interactions. In the current climate, her ideas and activities can be seen as a useful way to support schools in developing creative ways to increase the awareness and significance of the natural world.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers ISBN:978-1-84905-968-8 £15.99
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