Gulp!

My first ever Blog post. It is a terrifying prospect, proposing to reflect my thoughts, feelings ideas, moans and groans about Learning on a Blog but I’ve been putting it off for ages now. Always an admirer of others who Blog freely and effectively, I’ve never found the courage to do so myself. Until now.

The choice of Learning as opposed to Education is a deliberate distinction made. Over the last year or three I’ve begun to sway away from the traditional classroom ideas I’d grown used to and begun to read more on this new fangled thing they call the web. The Worlds I’ve entered have been extraordinary.

I discovered the Professional Development capabilities of Twitter in the summer and have not looked back. To say that Twitter has transformed my approach to my own teaching would be understating the fact. Some of the people I’ve ‘met’, shared ideas with, received advice from and been entertained by have changed my life.

Reading Blogs from, I think, like-minded educators from around the world is not only refreshing and inspiring, but has also shown me that another way is possible. Not any more mere hopes and dreams of transforming my teaching. Others were already doing things I’d only wished for. Now it is my turn.

I intend to use this Blog not only to reflect on my classroom practice as Scottish education changes in light of the Curriculum for Excellence, but also to share my thoughts on professional reading that I’ve done and how that affects my teaching. I’m an English teacher. I read. So forgive me if I mention other books which touch me along the way.

So, it is the first day of a New Year. A line I read in John Williams book, ‘Screw Work, Let’s Play’, I think accredited to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, was, ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ For today and perhaps today only, my answer is, ‘Yes I would.’

Deep breath. Eyes closed. Jump....