Sandra Harwood

The School of Boring Sandra Harwood

For parents, guardians, carers or teachers: A note from the author

School was incredibly challenging for me as a child and I had many limiting beliefs about my learning abilities. For example, I decided that because I failed many spelling tests, there was no way I would ever, ever learn how to spell. And guess what? Because I thought I would fail, I did. My challenges have inspired a deep desire to equip children with empowering tools and strategies that I wish I had as a child.

One evening, when I was in my twenties, I was playing billiards with a colleague after work and he said, 'You know, if they told me at school, that learning geometry could make me a better billiard player, I would've paid more attention at school.' Now, still teaching into my fifties, these words have stuck with

me. Whenever I am learning or teaching something new, I ask myself, 'How is this skill going to improve our lives and bring out the best in us?'

Here are some conversation starters to facilitate expansive conversations with our children as we explore what it means to be a life-long learner using open-ended questions. It is important to notice ways we can explore the world, while sprinkling our uniqueness into everything we do.

Discuss what you notice about the:

- Teacher?

- Students?

- School of boring?

- Illustrations?

About school:

- Why do people go to school?

- What is important for students to know about learning and teaching?

- What is important for a teacher to know about learning and teaching?

About you:

- What are your strengths?

- How do you make learning fun?

- What have you learnt to do with confidence?

- How would you teach someone to do what you can do?

- How could you include the things you enjoy into your learning style?

- What are some ways that help you remember things that are important to you?

It is a privilege to witness and contribute to a child's learning in any way. It is important to encourage and nurture a child's unique skills, intuition, unique abilities and personalities to help empower them to be their best.