I never thought that writing a book would be THIS hard

For those of you that don't know, for about the last 2 years (yes, I did say 2 years), I have been writing a new GCSE Geography textbook to support the CCEA specification.  At the start of the project I was full of energy and excitement about what was to come and I got stuck in, writing away and trying to plan what I would include and work out what my book might end up looking like.  

I never realised how much time it would take up, how much effort it would take and how much effort in particular I would have to spend in 'tweaking' the final stages of things before publication.   It has been a long and laborious process.

Don't get me wrong - I have enjoyed the process.  It has helped me as a teacher and has helped me think a bit more carefully about how I present information, facts and case studies to the students that I teach.   I have enjoyed the freedom that my publisher has given me in thinking through the format and the layout for the book.   I have enjoyed the creative process and even though it has meant many long nights and many hundreds of emails being fired back and forth between me and my editor - it has been a rewarding process.   I am proud of what I have put together.  I can't wait to see the final product.  To hold it in my hand and flick through the pages, smelling that new book smell and know that this is something that I can be proud of.  

I can't believe how hard it has been - finding sources for pictures, trying to contact people for copyright and permissions or finding photos and diagrams that will illustrate what I am talking about in a really useful, meaningful way  (even though my editor took a lot of the heavy lifting!)

It has been hard for someone like me to keep going back and forth from one section to another - I usually prefer doing things in blocks but the editorial process has really surprised me.  Its been slow.  Its been painful.  Sometimes I have had to listen to advice and take it when I did not want to.   Sometimes I have had to stick to my guns to make sure that the book did not lose the flavour of me.

I can now understand why people who write novels can go slowly crazy.   This wasn't a novel and in some ways, maybe if it was - things would be a lot easier.   This is going to be about a 300 page textbook with depth and detail that hopefully students will want to use.

When I started doing A Level Geography in 1989, I got a brand new copy of a textbook that would change my life.  'An Integrated Approach' by David Waugh - was and still is the bible of A Level Geography teaching.   I still use this tombe of a book today in lessons.  Part of me wonders if in classrooms around NI, teachers will  say 'get your Manson book out'.  Who knows?  I just hope that some students find it useful and hopefully it helps them know a little more about the fascinating world that we live in.

So, as this project gets towards the last hurdle . . . . the supporting revision guide has been started plus I might have a think about doing something for A Level . . . .   I must learn how to say No at some stage in my life.

Who works harder - students or teachers?

Mr Gove likes to stir things up a bit, doesn't he.  He seems to want to be constantly on the back of the teacher - criticising, cajoling, undermining and calling into question established truths and ways of practice that have been in place for eons.

His latest statement concerns the length of time that students should be in school.  Gove seems to be in favour of a special 12 hour a day learn-a-thon where students (and teachers) will be subjected to more education, more education, more education.  So is this a wise and healthy move?  Is this what is missing from schools?  I don't think so.

The thing that concerns me the most at the minute is how do we realistically and strategically (and even sensitively) deal with the stress that students are put under as they complete their big exams for GCSE and A Level.   This year I have Year 11, Year 12, Year 13 and Year 14 Geographers all working away preparing for final exams through May and June.   It has been steady progress and work all through the year but now, as we get to about 3 weeks out from the first exams - the pressure is starting to tell and some students have whipped themselves up into such a tizzy that they have a mental block about working.

But, the question that I have year in and year out as we pass into exam season - is about who is working harder at this time - the students or the teachers?  The obvious thing to say is that as the students are the ones who actually HAVE these exams - that they are the ones under the most pressure, with the most to lose.  But, is this the reality?   All around me I see teachers beating the final morsels of knowledge and understanding into students at warp speed - making sure that everything is done, that every question is covered, that every exam technique tip is explained and practiced.  I see teachers organising revision sessions through the day and after school but - do the students make a commitment to attend?   Are they they scribbling down every word, asking every question and clrifying what they need?

My experience is a sad no.  Most students do NOT use every opportunity open to them.  They dont attend the after school sessions.  They don't engage their teachers in conversation about their learning and they still do not work as hard as they need to - they don't make the sacrifice needed to get THAT grade.

So, listen up students - teachers are busy people too.  And, we really do want to help, encourage and support YOU.  But, you need to be the one making the moves, asking the questions and telling us what you need help with.  If you are still watching TV more than revising - you have a problem.  If you are still out and about more than revising - you have a problem.  If you still spend more time on facebook or playing on your Playstation - you have a problem.   You need to be working flat out.

If your teacher is asking themselves whether they are working harder than you - you have a problem.  You need to be doing more.   Organising more.  Spending more time learning.  Practicing your knowledge.

So, Mr Gove - rant and rave all you want about the education system, standards, results and the quality of teachers - but what I see are many, many deeply professional individuals who are committed to the success of their students and who will stop at nothing to see them succeed.  Often the students themselves don't even realise themselves HOW much their teachers have done for them and they don't really see the hard, behind the scenes work that many hardworking professionals have been engaged in.

Does Facebook make you lazy?

I had a thought this morning about social media.  Has the advent of all this social media stuff actually meant that I am more lazy than I used to be?  It used to be in the past that to build and maintain a friendship you had to spend time and effort to make sure that it was moving in the right direction.   And yes, I know, that for a really deep friendship you don't always need to be meeting up but that your friendship can be picked up just where it left off  . . . .

But - we live in an age where depth of contact is measured in numbers of followers or friends.  Our interaction is limited to comments on photos or 140 character synopses of how things are.   Are we losing the point?   Have we misplaced the value that true friendship needs to develop?  Why are we happy to allow digital media like Facebook and Twitter to become the places where our friendship lives . . . and nowhere else . . .

Facebook has made us lazy - we live our lives and speak about our lives using our internet devices but the reality is often very different.   We edit out the important bits.   We dont always confront the hard things but instead try to paint a picture of tranquility and joy which might be far from the reality.

what the last few weeks look like . . . (in pictures)

up to Derry for the teachmeetnorthwest

Well, lets face it  . . . . 

Sigur Ros in Glasgow, Bliss  . . .

Speed testimonies at IMPACT in school 

Watching my daughter (and niece) at Cello Spike Choir 

students teaching students  . . . .

the great snow of 2013 #igcastle

Dublin and Bray on a fine day 

posing for the album cover shot  . . . . 

my 2nd favourite Dublin treat  . . . 

Happy families  . . . always exploring 

Back to the day job 

Have you found out what you are REALLY good at?

I have a confession to make.  Sometimes, during some of my slightly madder moments over the last few years I have wondered if maybe I should move out of education/ teaching and into something different.  I have toyed with the idea of going into the world of ICT full time or maybe working alongside a few wider educational organisations.   But usually this was  every time I got reminded and scared by the fact that I have been working at the same school since Aug 1997!   Its been a while since I really had to take a deep breath and challenge myself in a way that scares me rigid.  I am someone who likes to be challenged.  I like challenge. I like change.  I am not afraid of different.  I am surprised myself that I am still in the same place and though part of me would be delighted to stay where I am, sometimes you do wonder  . . . .

I suppose this question has been more in mind recently as I have been challenged and trying to think a bit about what I am really good at.  I have been wondering how many people actually know/ find out/ realise and implement what they are really good at?   What were you designed to do?   What is it that you are better at that anyone around you?  I do wonder if over the last 40 years of my life that I might have missed what I am here to do and even though I have led a very busy and fulfilled life - I am someone who wants to make a difference, to make an impact and everytime I feel that impact is reduced - I think it is time for some self-circumspection.  (I am glad the spell-checker did not auto change that last word into something else!)

Have you found out what you are REALLY good at?  Do you WHO you are?   Have you found that thing that makes YOU unique/ invaluable?

I'm not going to tell you what I found at - thats for another day and another post - but I will tell you that I discovered it as I sat in a big hall crammed with people as I was talking to a Year 10 students and 2 parents last night.   It was a bit of a Eureka moment.   Sometimes I think that you are only meant to be good at something for a season and then it is time to move or do something different.   Certainly I am better at some things now than I was years ago.   Equally though, there are some things that I am not as good at as I once was.   I am not totally the same person that I used to be.   Growing up has changed me.  Being married for 15 years has changed me.   Having kids has changed me.   Working with kids has changed me.   Some of the people I work with have changed me.  Some of the things that have happened in my life has changed me.

Maybe over the last 20 years I have been looking for something.  Maybe I have been trying to answer the question of what it is that I am actually any good at.   I'm pretty good at a lot of things.  But I want to be really good at one thing.  I want to work at that.  Build on that.  Sell that and use it to change others.  

Its a good question to ask yourself today too.
Have you found out what you are REALLY good at?

Ps - feel free to have a guess at what you think I  found out!

Things I hate about the internet . . .

Its Monday morning and the day is alive with new possibilities and opportunities.  Yet, when I open my email inbox it the same old story of useless things and things that annoy me.  Let me give you an example.

I dont know how many times I have received an email that I could but electronic salt and pepper grinders.  Seriously.  Why on earth would my life be fulfilled by the purchase of electronic grinders.   Then there is the raft of digital cigarettes - I dont smoke, never have, so why would I want to buy these?

Its things like this that frustrate me about the usually amazing world of the internet.  I want some programme that will protect me from this advertising drivel.

Though, I did quite like Google's addition to the April Fool thing this morning - watch the video here 


Happy AFD!

Forty, its not that big a deal.

Tomorrow I turn Forty. 

Its not that big a deal.  Is it? 

I don't feel Forty.  

Some nice (and misguided) people tell me I dont look Forty. 

I am not that bothered about it.  

My wife wanted to get a big party going. 

I wasn't that bothered. 

Too many things to do at the minute. 

Maybe because I spend every day with people more than half my age, it keeps me youthful? 

Or maybe its just in my head  . . . 

I have been very blessed through my forty years 

An amazing family, some great friends, fantastic wife and kids 

The journey has been fun 

I have tried to inspire, to dream to bring laughter. 

I'm hoping for Forty more 

But its all about how you do it  . . . 

So tomorrow is just another day . . . .