For those times when you cant focus on a task........

So I came across this recently, and if anyone is like me, sometimes struggling to focus and always finding something else to do, you may find some useful tips here......

Tips to help get your brain working again

Sit up straight
Posture affects your thought process. Prove it to yourself. Think through a maths problem in your head while slouching, looking at the floor and letting your mouth hang open. Then do another sitting up straight, keeping your mouth closed and looking forward or slightly upwards.

Take a short break
When you find your concentration waning, take a walk around the office or, better still, outside. This will get your heart rate up, increase your alertness and give your mind a chance to work on the problem. Try walking up and down the stairs a few times.

Mix up your environment
It can also help to work in different places. A change of scenery – even another part of the office – can refresh the mind and give you new stimulus.

Avoid sugar
Simple carbohydrates can give you a sluggish feeling that makes it hard to think clearly. It results from insulin rushing into the bloodstream to counteract the sugar high. So avoid pasta, sugars, white bread and potato chips (crisps) before any important mental tasks.

Speed read
Contrary to what many believe, your comprehension of material often goes up when you speed read. You get to learn a lot more in less time and it’s a good brain exercise.

Make a plan
When you sit down to work without a plan, it’s easy to get caught up in activities like checking email. So make a clear plan of action beforehand. If you need to check email, do so but then close your inbox –or at least the ‘new mail’ pop-ups – while you work on the task.

De-clutter
Cluttered rooms and offices can contribute to cluttered thinking. Organise a clear space for mental work.

Eat fish
Scientific studies suggest that eating fish can help improve concentration. Research in the US found that older people who eat fish regularly have quicker and better memories.

Don’t skip breakfast
Having breakfast improves concentration, reaction time, learning ability, mood and memory. A breakfast high in fibre helps slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, so you have more energy for a longer period of time.

Snack on blueberries
A study in the US found that eating blueberries can slow and even reverse age-related brain decline, as well as improve short-term memory loss.

Drink lots of water
Dehydration can be detrimental to the brain. Drink lots of water, particularly before a potentially stressful situation.
Doodle
Drawing stimulates the right hemisphere of the brain and inspires creativity. Doodling can kick start your brain when it’s bored.

Laugh
Laughter causes a natural release of the brain’s endorphins – chemicals that drown out pain and increase overall well-being. Laughter is a well-known natural stress reducer.

Think positive
Take ten minutes each day to think more positively and you’ll begin to notice an improvement in thinking abilities and problem-solving skills. It will also make you feel empowered.

Switch hands
Try using your less dominant hand for tasks such as eating or writing to stimulate your brain.

Yawn
It is thought that a yawn works to send more oxygen to the brain, cooling it down and waking it up.

Do something new
If you get stuck following the same routine every day, your brain won't ever be challenged. Do something different for a change. For instance, why not take a different route to work?

5A- Codes of Practice, My own thoughts

So there are a few areas here I wanted to write about, such as an actual dance class- written from an instructors/teachers point of view, and then working within a classroom environment.

Dance class etiquette

• Always be early for the class, ensuring you start on time.
• Ensure a full warm up and cool down at the start and end of each class.
• Wear appropriate clothing- Uniform if necessary
• Ask the participants of the class to inform you of any injuries
• Ensure you have a lesson plan and stick to it
• Explain a brief structure of the class to the partcipants and what they should concentrate on.
• Ensure all pupils have the same learning experience, no favouritism.
• Maintain an approachable manner throughout the class
• Conclude the class and make notes of what could be worked on in the next class
• Be professional at all times, no bad language
• Set a good example

Primary Class Etiquette (TA)

• Always be on time, if not early and ready to support the teacher
• Always set a good example
• Maintain an approachable manner at all times
• Have a full knowledge of school policies and adhere to them at all times
• Have a full understanding of the curriculum and the tasks set out for the day, and ready to help when necessay
• Dress appropriately

Some of these points, as you can see adhere to both situations as there is a general etqieutte and certain policies that an individual must follow, and alot of the time would do without thinking, when it comes to working with children. The individual would be looked upon as a role model and thherefore should act and speak they would want their young students to act and speak.

These would be my personal thoughts on policies and regulations for my place of work, and policies that I always try to adhere to. For example, when I was working as a freelance TA, I often worked and was sent to many different schools. I always made sure I asked for info on school polices at he start of my day, so I was clear about my role in the school and what steps they followed as every work place is different, and although may be similar, they will all have their own way of doing things.

Reviewing my Rewad Title

I find myself thinking about this one at the most random times, when im driving, or in the shower. I dont know if Im alone in this, but I never realised this was a factor I would need to consider in the BAPP course! However, knowing that it is I have been exploring different titles, obviously keeping in mind that I want to work in Primary Education. I would also lik to keep options open with working in Nurseries and private education too. I spent a lot of time volunteering at a local Sure Start Nursery working with children with special needs, having never worked one-on-one with children with special needs, I was surprised by how much I learnt from the children themselves and the environment. I attempted a few dance classes with them and loved seeing how they responded to the different music. With this in mind, I dont know wether to keep my award title quite general rather than being too specific.  I was toying around with ideas such as "BA Honors in professional Practice in development in education" but that doesnt really specify my previous training. But then, do I need to mention this when the feild I want to go in to, will not specifically be dance? Or will it get me slightly ahead by adding a specialty into my title such as "BA Honours in Professionl Practice in Dance and development"

I came to the conclusion that I will always be proud of my previous professional training, and, whilst not specifically using it for a performance job, I do feel that it will give me a strong background to further educate myself and have future employees know that i can bring something different to their school. Therefore I think I have settled on myaward title being

"BA Honors in Professional Practice in Dance and Education"

Id really appreciate any feedback my BAPP colleagues may have, please feel free to let me know! Thanks in advance :)

4C- Questions for Professional Associate

I have a few colleagues who I am lucky enough to be able to put these questions too. They are also in different areas of teaching, some in primary, some as freelance in the area and local schools and two who have just set up their own dance schools. I have compiled a few questions (similar to the ones in my earlier blog that I asked myself) to put to them about their practice and their path of how they got there. Here are my proposed questions for them and I will blog their answers and see how they vary with their different backgrounds.

• Did you always see yourself teaching, or is this where change of events and choices have led you to?
•  How did you gain your teaching qualification? (PGCE, GTP, Examining boards)
• How has your previous training helped in gaining your teacher's qualification and indeed now, with your teaching career?
• Do you feel there is enough government support for aspiring teachers? In the education system and also for the Arts?
• Is having a background in Arts and performance an advantage when looking at job prospects in education?

As my Line of enquiry is looking at different pathways into Primary education I wanted to focus my questions on what may help me with this, learning from others experiences. I will blog again once they have got back to me..

SIG-What Im learning

So before embarking on this second module of the BAPP course I had never come across a SIG before and it took me quite a while to get my head around what it actually was. Once I had looked into a few things and requested to join Sarahs and Liams SIG aboutteaching qualifications, I realised what it actually envolved. What a brilliant way to communicate with others who may be colleagues or in some cases cmplete strangers who might be in the same situation as yourself and can offer help and advise or even just shed some light on info the individual has been looking for.

I initially looked at Sarah's ideas with regards to a SIG group, as I know she was on a similar path to me with becoming a TA and looking at possibiliteies to take that path further. I then came acroos the SIG on LinkedIn where the converstaion explores the different qualifications and path ways in to teaching. A GTP is something I have looked in to and was looking in to doing before I embarked on this course, but decided I wanted to gain this qualification first. I have a few friends who are teachers and work with people who are training all the time, wether it be through a PGCE (which is also a widely known teaching qualification) and a GTP. However, I was surrised and grateful to learn about PCET as I had never come across this before. After researching further in to this I noticed that this was for teaching in post compulsory secors such as colleges and higher education. Although fantastically useful to know, I am trying to home in and concentrate on becoming a Primary School teacher. But like I said, having all the information available and continuing to learn about different pathways is great, you can never know too much and it is always better to have a few options available, or at least aware of.