BY TIM VAN DER MERWE

Writing & reflections.

Thoughts on teaching, learning and the everyday decisions that shape a school. Seven reflections grounded in classroom experience, with research references where they inform the discussion.

Classroom community · 3 MIN READ

Why community is as important as curriculum

Why feeling safe enough to ask, make mistakes and try again belongs alongside academic learning.

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Inquiry & learning · 3 MIN READ

Why experiential learning matters

A student-run restaurant offers a real purpose for learning—and a reason to look carefully at who is doing the thinking.

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Assessment · 3 MIN READ

From collecting work to evidencing learning

How a few revealing examples can help students, families and teachers understand what has changed.

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Literacy · 3 MIN READ

Putting words on paper teaches children to think

Putting an idea into words can reveal a gap, sharpen an explanation or help a learner change their mind.

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Curriculum design · 3 MIN READ

How clearer units make room for deeper learning

Choosing what to leave out can make more room for the understanding a unit is meant to develop.

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Technology · 3 MIN READ

Rethinking technology in primary classrooms

A practical question for digital tools: what does this add to learning, and what does it replace?

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Leadership · 3 MIN READ

Legitimacy in school leadership

A title gives a leader authority. Credibility grows through the decisions a school community experiences.

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