We were encouraged to back our school books to stop them getting tatty. Daniel and Eleanor had to back theirs in sticky back plastic, but we were allowed to back our books in whatever we liked. I went for a Holly Hobbie design.
.jpg)
My Maths teacher in 1980/1981 was Mr Forshaw, he was my favourite teacher ever. I used to love my Maths lessons because he made them so interesting and fun. If lessons are boring, the kids won't learn anything from them, I wish that teachers would understand this. I know from my own experience as well as from Daniel and Eleanor going through school that kids learn more from teachers who they like because they make the lessons enjoyable than teachers who stand in front of a class and recite facts with no passion.
This was homework from September 1980, I'd just turned twelve, so this is from thirty three years ago. I wouldn't have a clue how to do this work now.
.jpg)
Logarithms. This work is dated 1980, but it was actually 1981. It's funny how I couldn't get the date right, but the sums were all correct.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Whilst looking for my old school books, I came across some of my school reports. This is my very first one, I was five years old.
.jpg)
When I started school, they'd just brought in a new way to teach reading called ITA, which stood for Initial Teaching Alphabet. Words were spelt as they sound, so was would have been taught at woz, alphabet would be alfabet. Once children could learn to read using this method, they then had to be taught the correct spelling of words. This method wasn't taught in schools for long.
I could already read when I started school, so it was decided that I could carry on as I was and I didn't have to learn the ITA method. My first report states that I'd reached Indigo Book 2. I'd love to know which reading scheme this was from and see the sort of things I was reading at this age.
I'm really pleased that my mum kept some of my school books and reports, they're lovely to look back on.
What lovely memories. It makes me smile how little some things change - as you said, Eleanor was doing similar work at a similar age - and I was much the same.
ReplyDeleteEleanor was doing some of the work at a similar age, but not everything. She's ready for taking her GCSE's yet she hasn't learnt logarithms, I don't think they teach it at this level anymore.
DeleteI remember learning about logs - but maybe that was at Alevel instead.
DeleteYou may have done it at GCSE, I was only twelve when we learnt it so I don't know when they stopped teaching it at this age. I must ask Daniel if it was part of his A level course.
DeleteMaths at school was probably one of my worst subjects, it is a shame because as an adult I quite like numbers, you know where you are with them - I like rules! Love the Holly Hobbie paper, I had a Holly Hobbie bag with a doll that went in a pocket on the front! xx
ReplyDeleteMaths was always my favourite subject but I know so many kids just don't enjoy it. Holly Hobbie was such a popular character for so long, I bet most people can remember her.
DeleteInteresting post. Maths was never one of my favourite subjects, and I have few memories of my long gone school days. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting looking back at the work we did in school so I'm really pleased that my mum kept these books. I have to say though that I wouldn't have a clue how to work out most of these things now, it's as if someone else did the work, not me. Memories of my own school days are getting vague as time goes by, though the memories I do have are of happy times mainly.
DeleteI can remember doing long division at school, yet when our man from the Local Education Authority came a few years ago to look at the children's home school work he said they don't teach this anymore. I think it's one of the easiest ways to divide!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. It's the same with multiplication, they don't do it the way we were taught anymore, though I think our way is much simpler.
DeleteI love the Holly Hobby paper, so sweet!
ReplyDeleteI can't say I ever had a liking for maths, it was certainly never a strong subject.
How lovely that you have these books still.
Lisa x
I never remember being much of a girly girl so the Hobby Hobbie paper surprises me. Maths was always my favourite subject and my strongest too, Art, Drama, Music and PE were my worst. I'm so pleased that my mum kept these books and reports, she didn't keep many things from my childhood so I'm especially grateful that these were saved.
DeleteGosh, they bring back memories. I used to love Maths, too. I started to read on the Janet and John books. Your Indigo book was from the Through the Rainbow reading scheme.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
xx
I remember Janet and John, I suppose they were some of my first books too. Thank you so much, I've been trying to find out which reading scheme Indigo Book 2 was from, I'm going to see if I can find a copy to buy now.
DeleteI always thought maths was my worst subject at school, I actually became rather good at it so much so my job now is part based on it. P.E was definitely my worst subject I hated it with a passion.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we change as the years roll on. I always thought I hated PE but when I look back, I was in the netball team, rounders team and swimming team, so I can't have been bad at it.
DeleteI absolutely hated PE with a passion at school so how I ended up with three gymnasts and a swimmer I will never know.
DeleteIt's funny how things turn out. Neither Mick nor I can draw, we both hated art, and we've passed that on to Daniel, but Eleanor isn't bad at art.
DeleteI loved Maths at school. In fact, I went on to be a Maths teacher. Boy, that was an eye-opener. I hated teaching. Actually, that's not quite true. I hated teaching the classes I was given. I mean, how was I supposed to teach Maths to 14 year olds who couldn't read? I'm serious. I had a class I was supposed to teach algebra to who could not read. Dearie, dearie me.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Maths at school but I wouldn't have wanted to teach it, especially if I'd been given a class which couldn't read. It's terrible to think how many kids slip through the net where reading and writing is concerned in this day and age in a country like this. The system is definitely falling down somewhere.
DeleteIt's wonderful that you have these. My parents did not save much from my childhood, if anything at all, really. I save so much from my kids, probably too much. But I think they'd love to see it someday. I still think you were ahead of what we did at the same age here. I think I learned trigonometry for the first time at about 14-15! I loved Hollie Hobbie too, I had a bedspread with her on it. :)
ReplyDeleteMy parents were the same, they didn't save very much from my childhood so I'm so surprised that these books survived. It's interesting how education differs from one country to another, and even from one generation to the next.
DeleteWow, I bet re-discovering your old books bought back some memories Jo!
ReplyDeleteYou are right in saying that a good teacher makes a huge difference to the pupils, and it is sad that it can affect the lives of these children adversely, and switch them off a particular subject or even learning altogether.
Am still seeing it with my daughter at uni! A lecturer is apparently about to be sacked and deservedly so by the sounds of it!
Gill xx
I'm sorry to hear about the problems at uni. As you say, teachers can have a huge impact on how well kids learn, or even if they learn at all. We've had problems with certain teachers at Eleanor's school to the extent that she isn't considering subjects at A level which I thought she would. The only reason I can see why she doesn't want to take the subject or why she's gone off a particular subject is becuase of the teacher. It's such a shame. On the other hand, there are some fabulous teachers out there who actually love what they do and their enthusiasm rubs off on their students. It's a shame that not every teacher enjoys what they do as it has a detrimental effect on the kids they teach.
DeleteI can't believe you still have all your old books and reports. What a fantastic collection. I bet you didn't get them out too often when Daniel and Eleanor were younger to make comparisons, I know I definitely wouldn't they would of found out too many of my skeletons. But very true what a difference a teacher can make as to whether you enjoy a subject or get completely turned off by the attitude of the teacher.
ReplyDeleteI don't have them all, my mum only kept a few of my school books, and we weren't allowed to keep some of my reports, they had to be taken back to school, though my mum did jot down my grades. I've done the same with Daniel and Eleanor, I haven't kept all of their books, just some of them and some other work too, but I've kept all of their reports. I think it's a real shame how a teacher can influence how a child takes to a subject or not. It would be fine if all teachers were enthusiastic and enjoyed their job, but unfortunately, kids are taught by some teachers who shouldn't be in the profession and they end up losing out.
DeleteI remember Holly Hobby things as they were around when my daughter was young. I can't believe you still have some of your old school books.
ReplyDeleteI still have a special book I was presented with in 5th class for coming first for the year. Loved maths and still use it in my quilting. Take care.
I don't think as many parents kept their children's work when I was a child as they do now, so I'm lucky that my mum kept them for me. I've kept quite a few of Daniel and Eleanor's. It's lovely that you still have your special book, that one must bring back some happy memories.
DeleteLike you I'm sure I could have solved those maths problems once - algebra was my favourite thing - but I'm clueless now. How does that happen? I suppose we fill our heads with facts that have more relevance and value for us.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post Jo :)
I think we just get out of practice as we don't use algebra and such like in our day to day lives. When Daniel and Eleanor have asked for help with homework, I've had to ask them to jog my memory how to do certain things before I can help them, but it does come flooding back. I think there must be many things lurking in the back of our brains.
DeleteI loved Hollie hobby and had a blue lunch box with her on. I went to a school in Wales for a short time and never understood why maths had to be done in pen. I was not very good at maths so lots of crossing out happened!
ReplyDeleteWhen I started at middle school, we didn't only have to use pen but fountain pens. There's some pages in my books where there's splodges of ink. Pencil would have definitely been better for a subject like Maths, it would have been so much easier to rub out the mistakes.
DeleteJust catching up Jo! We used to use wallpaper to back our books and it was expected of us. If they werent backed with something we used to get into trouble.
ReplyDeleteIt was the same with us. I remember using wallpaper on some of my books too.
Delete