Recent interest in personalized learning and the issues raised by Every Child Matters have led to renewed enthusiasm for the more personal and holistic aspects of schooling. This fascinating monograph draws on empirical evidence from schools across the world to answer key questions such as: - What is the spirit of the school? - How does it differ from school ethos? - What can teachers and pupils do to contribute to the spirit of the school? Drawing heavily on research into learning theories (from the social constructivist tradition), community (from the philosophy of John Macmurray) and dialogue (from the philosophy of Martin Buber), Julian Stern's unique and illuminating book will stimulate fresh thinking about spiritual education.

This book provides an optimistic account of the value and role of schooling. Schooling is a common but not universal approach to education and has need of its own distinctive justification, in contrast to other approaches such as home-based or work-based education. The book tackles and rejects the various large-scale ‘functional’ theories of schooling which continue to dominate current debates and policies, such as schooling supporting employment and the economy, or developing citizenship. Instead, it argues that schooling and schools should be viewed as places to learn community within and through community. The lived reality of relationships within schools, based on care and curiosity, is as strong as ever: and upon this foundation is built an original philosophy of schooling. This reflective book will appeal to students and scholars of philosophy of education and to all professionals concerned with schools.

Jan experiences loneliness. In this illustrated guide, he explains what loneliness is, how it can affect his daily life at home and school and what others can do to help. It is an ideal way to start conversations about loneliness with children aged 7+ and also includes advice on how best to support a child who is lonely.

This book presents a thematic analysis of various aspects of solitude, silence and loneliness, from the ancient world to the present day, explored thematically with consideration to the links between aloneness to other social and political issues. The themes include exile (expulsion from a community), ecstasy (getting 'out of oneself') and enstasy (being comfortable within oneself), to the Romantic idea of the artist as solitary. There is work on aloneness in and through nature, especially the importance of natural settings for positive experiences of solitude. A central theme is alienation and its emotions, with the idea of loneliness and the rejected self being a more modern experience. The book explores modernism and postmodernism as presenting new forms of solitude in the twentieth century, and how, more recently, there have been attempts to 'recover' the self, through therapeutic uses of the arts. All of these types and experiences of aloneness are described through the lenses of artistic, literary and musical forms of expression, as aloneness is not only explored and articulated through these art forms, but is in many ways created through these art forms.

An updated, expanded, edition of the popular textbook for student and practising teachers of religious education. It is a book for and about teaching and learning religious education in schools, which is a lively and open-ended subject, ideal for those wanting to explore how people understand the world, and how they live their lives. A wide range of religious and non-religious ways of life are explored. New to this edition are descriptions of more recent research on teaching and learning religious education from the UK, Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australia. Also included are personal accounts written by pupils, teachers and researchers, giving voice to those learning and researching religious education in practice. As well as revising and extending every chapter of the first edition, there are brand-new chapters on: - the real lives of teachers and pupils in religious education - religious education around the world - spirituality - thinking about philosophy, truth, and religious education - ethics, rights, values and virtues - creativity and religious education. A key feature of the book is the 33 classroom activities for learners aged 7 to 18, which are also designed for use by student and practising teachers. These activities enable those studying and teaching religious education to be active researchers.

Dealing with parents is often harder than dealing with the pupils themselves. This can cause a lot of anxiety and distress amongst teachers. Stern offers practical advice on how to involve parents with school life. He demonstrates how this involvement leads to improved relations thereby alleviating not only the stress of dealing with parents but also reducing the teacher's workload. Understand parents' needs. Develop roles that benefit parents and school. Relate positively with all parents - even the 'hard-to-reach'.

The link between schools and religions is an area of lively debate. Looking at two challenges of the 21st century - social inclusion and globalization, this book analyses the role that religion can play in fostering communities in schools and its implications for social, cultural and other developments in both national and international contexts.

This is a new edition of a successful book for trainee psychiatrists preparing for postgraduate examinations such as the Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Concise but comprehensive, it presents in one volume the essential core of knowledge required for these examinations. It will also be useful for general practitioners, psychologists and senior medical students.

Properly structured homework is critical in ensuring that a student is progressing within full-time education. In this second edition the author provides a range of techniques that can be applied to motivate the most laziest of students.

Mastering Primary Religious Education introduces the primary religious education curriculum and helps trainees and teachers learn how to plan and teach inspiring lessons that make religious education irresistible. Topics covered include: · Current developments in religious education · Religious education as an irresistible activity · Religious education as a practical activity · Skills to develop in religious education · Promoting curiosity · Assessing children in religious education · Practical issues This guide includes examples of children's work, case studies, readings to reflect upon and reflective questions that all help to show students and teachers what is considered to be best and most innovative practice, and how they can use that knowledge in their own teaching to the greatest effect. The book draws on the experience of two leading professionals in primary religious education, Maria James and Julian Stern, to provide the essential guide to teaching religious education for all trainee and qualified primary teachers.