Professional Learning

Recently, I’ve become interested in how the development of fine motor skills in students has changed over recent years and the impact it is having on their academic progress. My interest in this topic can be traced back to when I observed the absolute mess my year 8 students, particularly the boys in the class, were making of their Plague Doctor masks. They could not cut a straight line or use tape to neatly connect two pieces of paper to save their lives.

What comes to mind when you think of the Toastmaster’s Club? Personally, for some reason, I envisioned people dressed in formal attire, delivering eloquent speeches with ‘elite’ accents on topics concerning world affairs. They would ring their dessert spoons against their crystal wine glasses and say things like “hear, hear!” I don’t know why this is the vision I had. Likely I’ve just watched too many movies.