tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45073477539228933452024-03-08T08:47:23.290+00:00Sauntry's WorldMy musings, are you really interested?Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-50992121422194402312013-11-20T17:00:00.000+00:002013-11-20T17:00:08.652+00:00Poor old England<div class="MsoNormal">
In a departure for me I am going to be blogging about what
strikes me as interesting at any particular time. Today it is football but it will usually be
education!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What has prompted me to write is a friend bemoaning the
inclusion of one Tom Cleverly in the England team to play Germany. I was surprised at this. As a professional he
is hugely supportive, and inclusive, of all people. Yet when it comes to football a fug descends. I like to give people a chance and believe
that if you give people time to grow, and an opportunity to fail without fear
of damnation, they will often surprise you.
I cite, as an example, Cristiano Ronaldo. When he arrived in the UK he was derided and written
off as a ‘show pony’. I remember an ‘expert’
probably Hansen, saying that the English league was different and would be much
harsher so he probably wouldn’t make it.
However, he also said that United would win nothing with kids so perhaps
I should not quote him! The point is
that he turned out ok.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having argued on Facebook (it is 2013 after all) I used a
stats site to show that he had, actually, performed pretty well. Our argument centred on his inability to do
something ‘special’. Whilst I would agree he is not Ronaldo he is not, as was
argued, a ‘bad’ player who is not good enough.
The issue is, I believe, one of expectation. Not one, maybe Rooney, of England’s team
would make the Germany team. As a result
whilst the Germans are dreaming of winning the final we are slightly nervous
about getting out of the group and hoping that if we work hard we might fluke a
quarter final. That is probably the best
we can hope for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what has Hodgeson done?
I believe he has taken a pragmatic approach and attempted, as Jack
Charlton did with Ireland, to make his team greater that the sun of its
parts. The manager clearly feels he has to play Gerrard, probably as a result of a feeling that his
talismanic presence is essential for England and the fragile mentality of the
players and fans. As a result he needs a
mobile, combative midfielder disciplined enough to monitor Gerrard, cover his
runs, feed him the ball and always be available. Cleverly does this extremely well. This is
also the reason why Lampard and Gerrard should never pay together. Lampard is, at heart, a selfish player. He rarely tracks back and will only bust a
gut when trying to score a goal. This was painfully obvious against Chile where
the midfield of Lampard, Milner and Wilshire were given a football lesson as
the Chile team danced and passed around them. The stats make dreadful reading.
The midfield three only retained possession 43% of the time. The approach of Lampard was useful, and
accepted, at Chelsea as he had Makelele to cover him in his pomp. It is now, no longer acceptable. His MO of nine backwards passes and one
speculative forward ball, invariably to the opposition, means his stats stay
impressive. Fortunately, for him, his goal
scoring exploits have distracted the, less cognitively gifted, football
supporter into regarding him as being better than he is. Modern football
requires more than this. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Football requires a holistic approach. Each part contributing to make the whole
better. In this reality players with less individual ‘ability’ may lose out to
players who ‘fit’ better. There are many
examples of this. Giroud is far from a superb forward yet Wenger has moulded a
team around him which is working really well. Well until you come up against a
top team who counters that avenue and overloads the supply, as United did. Wenger’s system would not work with a forward
like Hernandez, for example. His,
natural, game of playing off the shoulder of the defender would not allow
Arsenal to pivot around the centre as they currently do. Therefore, despite having a far better return
of goals Hernandez would lose out to Giroud at Arsenal. There are plenty more examples of teams
buying players who do not fit in the team and so fail, my favourite is Diego
Forlan. Woeful for United and then scoring for fun in Spain.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Perhaps my assertion that modern football requires this is wrong? When I look at the truly great entertaining teams (the United of Charlton, Best and Law. Liverpool in the 80's, Holland in the seventies) they all had a player who was unassuming in his work and rarely praised. Stiles, Gillespie, Neeskens to name but three.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, perhaps we need an honest press conference from Hodgeson
to explain it to the masses. Something
like, ‘I am very pleased with Tom tonight.
As you can see from his stats he was the third most effective player on
our team this evening. This is despite
my instructions to keep it simple, break up play and be a constant outlet for
Steven. Steven is not the athlete he was
and, therefore, to continue to play him I need someone to do his running. Tom does this selflessly and we thank him for
it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps then people would get off his back?<o:p></o:p></div>
Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-40423630715843895172013-04-10T16:56:00.002+01:002013-04-10T16:56:40.138+01:00How tech is helping!I have been tracking my training, you can see <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/profile/Russsauntry">here</a>
or join me on Endomondo <a href="http://www.endomondo.com/profile/7459237">here</a>
So, I have decided to ride home for a couple of days a week. This, free, website is fab! It shows the route I will be taking to get home. It works for bike rides and runs too<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="350px" scrolling="no" src="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/render_route_video?route_key=542136398882951446&site=mapmyride.com" width="100%">
<a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/183839548">Ride home</a> and more rides in Canterbury, United Kingdom on MapMyRide. <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com">Find ride</a>
</iframe>
Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-65960740031229347852013-04-10T09:10:00.000+01:002013-04-10T09:10:25.370+01:00A Triathlon, really?At my Daughter's birthday, last year, an old friend suggested I join him in a sprint Triathlon. Initially I dismissed the idea but then I decided 1. I was too fat and 2. I was too unhealthy. So I agreed. What followed was an education! Christmas and Birthday have passed in a whirl of Internet shopping and eBay watching which has left me fully kitted out and ready to go.<br />
<br />
Spending New Year's Day in a cardiac ward with Atrial Fibrillation was a set back I have now got over. What has been more difficult is the news that a friend has Cancer again and needs a Bone Marrow transplant. Those of you that know me will know that my Stepdad had one 27 years ago and is still going strong, my cousin was not so lucky...<br />
<br />
So, Anthony Nolan has always been my charity of choice but it has come into sharp focus again. Go <a href="http://www.anthonynolan.org/" target="_blank">here</a> to see the brilliant work they do. I have, therefore, decided to do a Triathlon, a proper Browlee brothers Olympic jobbie. Shouldn't be a problem for a fit, healthy, PE teacher! What a shame that is not me.<br />
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So I will take my bike riding , wetsuit wearing, speedo sporting, heart monitoring, stability shoe wearing body to the limit to show my respect for People like Ron, Philip, Geoff and Sarah who take on these hideous types of Cancer with dignity and determination. It seems like the least I can do...<br />
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What's more, you can help! Please go here to sponsor me, I really do appreciate it.<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Russell-Sauntry" target="_blank">http://www.justgiving.com/Russell-Sauntry</a>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-62597592669004166572010-11-22T18:33:00.002+00:002010-12-17T09:11:34.442+00:00Is being stupid a defence?Time magazine has recently reported on people getting themselves into trouble on Twitter. The two stories ( http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2031116,00.html) focus on a Politician who jokes about stoning a female Muslim and a man who threatened to blow up an Airport. <br /><br />Now, it seems to me that these are ridiculous things to say and if you said them on Tv you would get slated and arrested. I think perhaps twitter should carry a warning, "are you mind bendingly stupid? Yes? Do not use twitter then. <br /><br />The simple fact is we are responsible for what we say and do and to pretend otherwise is nonsense. I will use these examples to teach my kids about responsibility when commenting but I expect they will already know! <div style="clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-16901277726436856422010-11-13T06:44:00.001+00:002010-11-13T11:40:50.181+00:00Is being stupid a defence?Time magazine has recently reported on people getting themselves into trouble on Twitter. The two stories ( http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2031116,00.html) focus on a Politician who jokes about stoning a female Muslim and a man who threatened to blow up an Airport. <br/> <br/> Now, it seems to me that these are ridiculous things to say and if you said them on Tv you would get slated and arrested. I think perhaps twitter should carry a warning, "are you mind bendingly stupid? Yes? Do not use twitter then. <br/> <br/> The simple fact is we are responsible for what we say and do and to pretend otherwise is nonsense. I will use these examples to teach my kids about responsibility when commenting but I expect they will already know! <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-17841934369980319872010-10-29T08:29:00.001+01:002010-10-29T08:29:21.010+01:00Eric Cantona on school attendance"when the Seagulls follow the Trawler it is because they think fish will be thrown into the sea." <br/> <br/> When Eric Cantona mused about Seagulls and Trawlers it caused huge media interest. Nobody quite understood what he was going on about. However, I do believe that the quote has a place in education. Why do kids gather at your school? Is it because they are made to or because they want to? <br/> <br/> If you understand that children who want to attend school will be more interested and engaged shouldn't this guide your practice? If you are worried about your attendance ask yourself why they do not want to attend. Each kid will have a reason, find out and solve the problem if you can. <br/> <br/> Some children will have issues you cannot solve, why not be the best place for them? <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.4</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-28430769287425058452010-10-16T17:30:00.001+01:002010-10-16T17:30:40.856+01:00Time for a holidayIt is always interesting to see how students behave as we near a holiday. Years ago and brilliant head of year told me that some kids have such unhappy home lives that holidays scare them. Over the years I have noticed that there are more disclosures and more negative behaviours shown in the last week than at other times. <br/> <br/> So as we head into the last week I wonder what this week will bring. More importantly I wonder what more we can do to support and reassure our most vulnerable students. If anyone has done any specific work on this I would be grateful to read about it. In the meantime tell your kids how much you like them, you may be the only one who will. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-20627594765825278102010-10-06T15:54:00.005+01:002010-10-06T15:57:13.148+01:00Youth Mental HealthI had a brilliant meeting today with Nick Coulter of the youth MHFA. I love this idea and I love the way Nick goes about it. he is not interested in what cannot be done but only what can be done. <div><br /></div><div>As a school we helped by being involved in filming the promotion and training video and I am attending a launch on the 10th. Take a look <a href="http://www.mhfaengland.org/mhfauk/en/about-us/nick-coulter/">here</a> and tell me what you think of this as an idea.</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-87930861390956920032010-10-02T15:05:00.002+01:002010-10-02T15:11:14.621+01:00An interactive whiteboard for £84, really?If your school is anything like mine we are well stocked with projectors but liht on interactive whiteboards. It was with great excitement that I saw, on youtube, an instructional video on how to use a Wii remote to run an interactive whiteboard.<div><br /></div><div>There are lots of videos on how to make an IR pen but when I added up the cost of all the bits the package from <a href="http://www.irpens.co.uk/">http://www.irpens.co.uk/</a> was aout £20 more. I am to busy to learn how to solder so that's the one I bought.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now 10 Mins later I have an interactive laptop screen, it really was easy. There is only one thing, the instructions tell you to press 1 and 2 on the Wii Remote. This does not work on mine, I used the sync button inside the battery compartment.</div><div><br /></div><div>The software you download allows you to write on the top of your windows programmes just like a pro board.</div><div><br /></div><div>This means that for the £5000 one board would cost I could kit out the entire school!</div><div><br /></div><div>Check it out</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-22362515841147561842010-09-26T09:23:00.004+01:002010-09-26T09:32:43.640+01:00Trusting management, really?Today I read an article about a school district that was allowing Principals to have the latest technology, (<a href="http://www.rgj.com/article/20100924/MVN01/9240346/New-program-allows-principals-to-use-iPads-to-evaluate-teachers">read it here</a>) iPads, in order to give immediate feedback to staff that they observe and then move on. The comment on the piece from a parent was bemoaning the waste of money when schools needed more funding in classrooms.<div><br /></div><div>I will not argue about that sut, seriously, do we not want our leaders to have the best tools to do their job. If it is all about saving money why not have the Principal teach? It would save one teaching post and we could buy more 'stuff' for kids. The reason we do not is because we need our Principals doing their jobs to the best of their ability and with the best tools. I believe they do not invest in their own equipment enough because they fear what staff will say. </div><div><br /></div><div>We constantly see calls for management to trust staff, is it not time to trust management?</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-81544902587154992982010-07-10T14:01:00.001+01:002010-07-10T14:01:34.726+01:00Revenge? Seriously!I have been pondering what, if anything, education staff will do in response to the government's continued and sustained attack on education. I do not believe that you can treat some of the most intelligent people, whose job it is to find creative solutions to problems, this way and not expect a backlash. <br /><br />So what can we do? Teachers, for right or wrong, rarely strike so other options are needed. Here are some things I have heard:<br /><br />1. If they go for pensions EVERYONE opts out. Why is this significant? Well we are paying the pensions of all those retired teachers with our contributions, the government would have to take up the shortfall, an it would be huge!<br /><br />2. Heads will call in the Heath and Safety executive to look at schools. They will find many unsafe. Heads will then send kids home on rotation as they do not have the money to fix the school. Can you imagine the carnage that will cause?<br /><br />So, Mr (Bush Jnr) Gove, you may want to think again. Please do not say you were not warned!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-37045290728599010822010-06-18T18:04:00.001+01:002010-06-18T18:04:49.040+01:00Edexcel helpful?I have a problem with a missing marksheet, nothing terrible but, a pain. I got an email at 5.15 tonight, Friday, asking me to deal with it. <br /><br />I responded in the usual way, email, but then decided to do something radical. So I picked up the phone and spoke to someone. She turned out to be delightful and put me at ease. As a result I will now think of Edexcel in a different light, for the timebeing anyway.<br /><br />So what did I learn? We need to train our staff who answer the phone. Not to be nice, they are lovely already, but to have confidence to be themselves. Perhaps more people will then have a better experience of contacting the school.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-20337265001515917412010-06-14T20:40:00.002+01:002010-06-14T20:46:56.765+01:00Loving the TwitterWhy is Twitter fab? Today we looked at an Technology conference that offered the 'latest' things in education. When I looked at the list of things going on I found that I had tried most of the things advertised in the past six months. <div><br /></div><div>The amount of ideas I get from Twitter and my PLN is almost overpowering. These range from major, important, finds like <a href="http://wolframalpha.com">wolframalpha</a> to minor (but great fun) things like <a href="http://www.revolvermaps.com/?target=setupmini">revolver maps</a> (thanks <a href="http://twitter.com/DeputyMitchell">DeputyMitchell</a> )</div><div><br /></div><div>So keep it up, you are making me look fantastic!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to all my PLN</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-45309182534797932952010-06-12T07:38:00.001+01:002010-06-12T07:38:05.316+01:00Timetable timeThis is my least favourite time of the year. Staff find out their timetables and there is the usual to-ing and Fro-ing regarding what they want to do over what they are doing. It is almost like a contract negotiation every year.<br /><br />Tears will be shed, old coffee stained mugs smashed and bottom lips stuck out. Two weeks from now all will be forgotten an the timetable will be running smoothly. <br /><br />An added difficulty is the squeeze in finances, as a result I have been attempting to match the timetable requirements with the available teacher periods as closely as possible.<br /><br />What drives me insane is the nature of education propriety. We have fantastic staff and I would love to give them their own subject for 100% of the time, but it is impossible for lots of people. However, there is an answer and it lies far away from the governments idea of schools being independent.<br /><br />There are three schools (non-grammar) that we could work closely with, four if you count the academy. Imagine if all the schools got together and agreed a full common timetable and calendar (not so mad we already have a common sixth form timetable in the area). We could then put staff in front of kids teaching their own subjects all the time. <br /><br />Once the schools are working together our staff would have massive CPD opportunities, priority promotion oppotunitues, salaries organised by one office rather than the hugely expensive system we have. <br /><br />There are loads of issues, of course, but in this technologically amazing age surely we could try?<br /><br />What do you think? I want to start with a common HR/payroll department.Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-9958581063063952972010-06-01T07:49:00.001+01:002010-06-01T07:49:05.591+01:00HolidaysWell I decided to have a healthy holiday to see if I can lose some weight for summer. My wife's friend told her about a de-tox diet that involves not eating wheat. I gave it a go and lost 5lbs in a week, just not eating wheat! Time to look at a wheat intolerance?Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-77668467917737444962010-05-30T08:37:00.001+01:002010-05-30T08:37:45.798+01:00iPod postingI am now trying a lite blog poster on my iPod. This should make my musings more regular and, probably, shorter and sweeter!<br /><br />I am finding it hard to understand why the Government would want to halt a process of rebuilding every school in the UK to enable a few 'free' schools to be built. Lunacy unabridged, argh!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-23647956482925529612010-05-29T21:31:00.002+01:002010-05-30T06:46:40.459+01:00GooglewaveOk, I read a post by @angelamaiers about using Googlewave to set up a live bloggin site. Well I have done it but truth be told I have no idea what it does. It also does not work in Safari, bugger. Still it is better than watching Eurovision.<div><br /></div><div>So you will find it at the bottom of my page, join in?<br /><br />In other news i have been trying to find a mobile technologies policy that will let the kids actually use the Internet, ill keep you posted!</div>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-80358783828904159962010-03-25T06:31:00.004+00:002010-03-25T10:59:40.921+00:00Communication with parentsI have been observing and participating in a Twitter conversation about the best way to converse with parents and get them involved in what you are doing. There were loads of brilliant ideas but it seemed to boil down to just a few simple rules.<br /><br /><ol><li>Make good contact with the parents <em>before</em> the kids even get to your class/school. A brilliant suggestion was to send a questionnaire to the parents asking them to tell you about their kid. </li><li>Make as many positive calls as negative ones. Do you have a positive call Friday? would it be that hard to implement?</li><li>Be careful of your tone, both in calls and on email.</li><li>Keep trying, if and when something does go wrong being able to refer to the efforts you made will give you a shield.</li></ol><p>I love the first two and will be implementing them this year. I have always taken great pleasure in calling a parent to tell them their kid is doing better or is simply just a pleasure to teach. If you have not done it for a while then give it a try, I bet you feel better!</p><p>I have to go to sort out my Coffee morning, for parents, that I run every week. My turn out is about 0.5% of the school population but it is still enlightening and fun. What other things in school can you say that about every week?</p><p> </p><p>Russ</p>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-78519410616888587192010-03-23T21:54:00.001+00:002010-03-23T21:54:49.189+00:00Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507347753922893345.post-61557567978473866612010-03-23T21:25:00.001+00:002010-03-23T21:57:09.395+00:00I'm a newbie and I think England is better than AmericaYes it is true at the age of 40 (41 tomorrow) I am creating my first blog. I have tried a couple of things before but they were on school websites and so do not count!<br /><br /><br /><br />I have become enthralled by Twitter, it gives me so many ideas and so much information <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">I</span> can hardly keep up. the people I have 'met' encourage and inspire, and for no reason other than they want to. I am a responsive tweeter, I comment on what people write and I congratulate them on the good things that they do. This common courtesy seems to endeer me to others in this virtual world. But now it is time to strike out, be bold and controversial.<br /><br /><br /><br />England is better than America, there we go, cue all my American PLN disposing of me as someone to follow. Please bare with me. It is not because you took our worst games and made them into national sports, Netball and Rounders anyone, nor is it because you elected George W (twice) but because no matter what difficulties we face in England with our system it pales into insignificance to what is faced in the States.<br /><br /><br /><br />My evidence is entirely based on what I have learnt from my PLN, so you may have to correct me;<br /><br /><br /><br /><ol><br /><li>Principals are not always teachers, really? I still have trouble processing this. Now we have some bad managers who were great teachers but I would much rather that than a system where a good organiser can run a school. Now I could be wrong in this assertion and if I am I apologise, I just hope I am!</li><br /><li>Guns, when were they ever a good idea to just have lying around?</li><br /><li>The way teachers are treated, I saw a description of teachers as weeds in the grass of the education system, from the member of a school board!</li><br /><li>An entire school staff was sacked, sacked! Now I do not know the full story and perhaps I should find out but surely someone was worth keeping? Again we have a system where it is hard to get rid of someone, but it is possible. This level of comfort allows people the confidence to experiment, try things and make the changes needed. We know from kids that being tense and uptight inhibits performance, it is the same for all humans.</li></ol><br /><p>Yet in the midst of this there are genuine diamonds of edcationalists. People who really care, who stick a metophorical finger up to the system and lead. These are the American people I follow, the pioneers, the true Americans perhaps, That spirit of doing what is right in the face of overwhelming odds. This spirit appears to have gone from the general culture in America and yet here, in cyberspace it is alive and well.</p><br /><p>These educationalists are the cyber Reveres spreading the word to all who will listen and I hope that, unlike Revere, the work done by these brave few will amount to a change in education that will benefit all.</p><br /><p>This is not meant to marginalise the fantastic British people I also follow but is simply a thank you to the many many, mainly American Twitterers who have made my foray into this domain such a pleasure.</p><br /><p>So thank you one and all and may it continue as it has started,</p><br /><p></p><br /><p>The regulars are coming!</p><br /><p></p><br /><p>Russ</p>Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05453520880691692970noreply@blogger.com2