Abstract This proposal suggests that the incorporation of ‘child-led play’ into the school day can have significant developmental and psychological benefits, particularly with regards to social and emotional well-being. Social and emotional skills are arguably foundational to later well-being and success, however the development of these skills tend to be...
With mental health in young people at an all time low across developed countries, many are demanding schools to do more. Though there is yet to be much in the way of clarity for how that should look. I began this blog when I started my MA in Mental Health in Children and Young People and wanted a platform to process and share my thoughts on how research on Mental Health may relate to our learners in school. Expect some half formed thoughts, some fully formed thoughts and hopefully some inspiring or practical ideas thrown in!
In the Blog, I share both a bit of theory alongside ideas that I have tried out in class.
In the Essays, I share a full write up of my university assignments. I hope to continue adding more academic/researched based content after my MA is finished. (If I manage to find the time alongside being a class teacher and Mum!)
In the Resources, I share anything that I have referred to in the blog that I have found helpful when teaching. Most are linked to my TpT store.
Who am I?
- Primary/Elementary School Teacher with experience across the age range.
- International (currently based in Taiwan but have also taught in South Korea and Thailand) though I originally trained and taught in the UK
- Passionate about student wellbeing and currently studying for a School Counseling Certificate with the Principal’s Training Center
Below: Left: In my Year 2 classroom; Right: World Book Day (with my teacher husband, Tom)
Should play be prioritised more in schools? I began my Masters in mental health and wellbeing this term and hope to apply many of the insights I’ve gained into my classroom practice. One area that was particularly enlightening was the role of play for development and wellbeing. During a group...
The benefits of teaching students about their own brains The brain is a pretty fascinating thing, for adults and six-year-olds alike. Though I always try to embed growth mindset into my teaching, I hadn’t gone into great depth about the workings of our grey matter beyond that. This year, I...