Extended Project Qualification Level 3

For the last year I have been the EPQ Coordinator for 3 students studying for their AS. The EPQ, for those who don't know, is a qualification whose main purpose is to help students develop independent learning skills and study a subject that they enjoy or want to pursue in real depth.

The students develop time managements skills, research skills, the ability to synthesise and analyse the information they find, and reflect on the what they have learnt, where they have gone wrong and what they would do differently.

My students all did the dissertation. They all want to go to university and felt that this would be a good opportunity to develop the skills they would need there.

As much as it has been a learning curve for them - it has also been one for me.

For the first time I was solely responsible for ensuring that they were learning the skills necessary to complete the EPQ to the best of their abilities. I was the one advising, supporting, encouraging and now marking their work for submission to the exam board.

I had been involved in the EPQ in a previous post but only to deliver the research element to all the students. I never actually saw the end product. Seeing everything from start to finish has been an eye-opener and a worry! I must have done something right though because I have just started the whole process again with a new cohort and the number has doubled to 6!

We have started with the research element as that is the one I feel most comfortable with. We have looked at e-resources, catalogues, subject gateways (what happened to Pinakes! Hear hair being torn out during lesson when realisation that the site that was there a month ago had gone!), and a multitude of other resources. Each students has a mini-project to do by the end of term, of a 1000 words on various subjects of my choice.

I have decided to use my blog as an attempt to reflect on the EPQ - from my side. The students have to keep a log - so should I. Watch this space as I try to convey the horrors that is an ethics lesson, develop thinking skills, teach the finer points of literature reviews and much more. I would be grateful for any feedback or support that may be out there.

Fun, Films and Froth

Book Review: What Nora Knew by Linda Yellin

Molly, a writer still getting over her divorce 5 years later, is set a challenge by her editor to write a piece on love in the style of Nora Ephron. A self-confessed romantic film fan, especially of Nora Ephron's films, she takes up the challenge only to realise that though she may not be afraid to jump out of aeroplanes, she is afraid to stick her toe back in the dating pool and more importantly fall in love. The author uses Nora Ephron's famous films: When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You've got Mail! and many more as a basis for her novel. The novel combines all those characteristics of the classic rom-com which adds up to a fun-filled quick read.  I was in New York in the summer and felt this book really captured the flavour of the city. I really enjoyed it as I had not read anything by this writer before.

A copy of this book was provided free by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Stella Bains by Anita Shreve

This new novel by Anita Shreve is set in the horrors of WW1 and tells the story of Stella who wakes up in a hospital tent in the battlefields of France with no memory of her previous life or of how she came to be in France. This is a fascinating account of the little seen side of the war and its effects on the women who had to treat the soldiers being sent back from the frontlines.
Anita Shreve's depiction of Stella's search for her identity and understanding of her place in the world both before and after her memory returns is a fascinating and thought provoking story. The characters she meets, the lack of understanding about shell-shock, the changing views of women in the post  war world all add depth to the story. A highly recommended story and will appeal to all fans of Shreve's work. I couldn't put it down!

A copy of this book was provided free by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

High Speed Read: Crash into you by Kate McGarry

Another in the Pushing the Limits series by Kate McGarry but which can also be read as a standalone title.
Isaiah and Rachel are from the opposite sides of the tracks and would never normally have crossed paths except for their love of fast cars. Isaiah seems to have all the cards stacked against him heavily-tattooed and in the foster system, he is trying to find his place in the world and stay out of trouble long enough to land his dream job. Rachel is the straight A students with the seemingly perfect life whose family have never recovered from the death of one of their children. Expectations, fear, and a desire to fit in unite these two and they fight against the odds to deal with big troubles and those trying to keep them apart. The characters are believable and the story races along at high-speed. I have to admit I couldn't put it down! I thoroughly enjoy these stories and can't wait for the next one in the series!
A copy of the book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Marriage, family, race

Marriage Material by Sathnam Sanghera is another title I received through Netgalley.
I found it to be a very amusing, endearing and engaging story about multiple generations of a Sikh family in Wolverhampton. The story revolves around a newsagent shop from the 60s to the present day and covers love, religion, race and prejudice big subjects but done with humour and pathos. I really cared and liked this family and enjoyed seeing how their stories developed. Sanghera told the story of 2 generations of the famiy in alternating chapters.
In the 60s the newly immigrant family are dealing with a Wolverhampton that is trying o come to terms with an increasing Asian population, Enoch Powell is delivering his 'rivers of blood' speech, Sikhs are threatening to burn themselves in protest in the ban on turbans and the 2 daughters are contending with the possibility of arranged marriages. Surinder takes drastic action to this situation by eloping whilst Kamaljit marries 'beneath' herself and outside her caste.
30 years later Arjan returns to Wolverhampton from his life in London to help his mother in the wake of his father's death. This action results in his life being turned upside down as his tries to contend with life back in the city he tried to escape. Secrets from the past start to be unearthed as Arjan tries to take stock of his life, his relationship with his white fiancee, his mother's refusal to sell-up and the casual racism of the present coupled with the 2011 riots. The re-appearance of his runaway aunt and the shocking revelation at the end of the book all serve to make for an engaging story. The author admits that he has'borrowed' elements of the The Old Wives Tale by Arnold Bennett. I have to admit that I have not read the classic story but this modern retelling with an Asian slant has made me want to read it. A thoroughly enjoyable book that I would highly recommend.

Summer Reading

The summer has allowed me to read a variety of books: 2 for books groups that I belong to: Bring out the Bodies by Hilary Mantel & Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner, as well as trying out some yet to be published titles from Netgalley. I managed to read 3 pre-publication titles whilst on holiday plus another couple of titles as the e-reader is much easier to put in a bag than a book at times! The only problem I found was actually on the plane when you have to switch off the technology for take-off and landing. - sometimes you can't beat old tech!

Review 1: Rose harbour in bloom by Debbie Macomber

This is another title in the Cedar Cove sequence of books and the second title in the Rose Harbour Series. These can be read independently which is great as I have on read a few. They are pure escapism and a good excusee to curl up with a good read that will entertain.
Jo Marie is  coming to terms with the desth of her husband in Afghanistan, setting up a new business as a B&B owner, as well as  dealing with a grumpy handyman with his own issues, which I am sure will be covered in another title. She is also getting involved in the lives of her guests:some have come to celebrate a long marriage or escape a bad relationship and one to face up to a decision made in the past whilst battling serious illness in the present. This series is great to dip into a bit like a hot chocolate - a great comfort read that is not too challenging.

Review 2: The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

Being a bookworm I was attracted to the premise of this book. Esme a British student studying in New York discovers an independent bookstore staffed and patronised b a host of kooky characters - only in NYC! The shop becomes a lifeline when she discovers she is pregnant by her older boyfriend. who quickly deserts her when faced with responsibilities. I initially liked Esme as a character but did become annoyed by her  but did wonder if some of this was down to the author's wish to show off her own art history knowledge.
I was in New York when I was reading this and the author has captured the atmosphere of the city.
This is a bittersweet story that would appeal to chicklit fans. there is no clichéd happy ending but a possible hint at one which did make me feel more positive towards the story

Review 3: Love Overdue by Karen Morsi

I wanted to read this as the main character is a librarian and as one myself wondered how the author would tackle that stereotype of the single librarian. The story started well with DJ moving to a small town to take over the running of the library currently stuck in the dark ages. It is only when she arrives that she realises that she has moved to the one place in the country where the man from the one wild time in her life lives. To her relief he has no memory of their previous encounter. As DJ battles with difficult staff, a budding romance, and trying to raise the profile of the library in town, memories of that time resurface. A meddling mother, a host of characters make this a  fun summer read.
The biggest problem was the ending, the story had been building up to the big reveal which never happened instead it jumped forward 8 years. Did the author get bored?

On the whole a good summer of reading but the start of term beckons. This coming year will be interesting as my first batch of EPQ students will be submitting their projects and I will be working with the Literacy Coordinator to raise the profile of reading with the students.

Review: Dare you to by Kate Mcgarry

I have recently discovered Netgalley where you can get galleys of new and forthcoming titles to feed your e-reader. The only ask is that you review the titles. As a voracious reader I am always keen to keep my e-reader topped up!
My first review is for a teen novel by a Kate Mcgarry, an American author I am not familiar with.

Dare You To is about Beth, a girl with a troubled and traumatic past and Ryan, the golden boy who seems to have it all. Beth and Ryan are brought together by a dare, Ryan's failure to get her phone number only whets his appetite when Beth turns up on his home turf. What starts as a dare turns into something more serious as the secrets they are both hiding are gradually revealed. Beth's past continues to impact on her life and her loyalty to those left behind threatens to destroy her future.
I had not read any Kate Mcgarry before and this book is part of a series but each story is independent. The characters are believable and you care that they will find a solution to their problems without doubting that they will.
A good read for those who don't like their romances all sweetness and light with believable characters and a wellplotted storyline.

Networks

Thing 7: Real-life networks

I have been a chartered member of CILIP for more years than I care to to remember and for the last few years I have been asking myself the same questions - am I going to renew my susbscription this year? Is it actually worth the money? What do I get out out of it?
I have renewed and that has been due to the raised profile of CILIP in the media.
The network I do use use most is the SLN forum where school librarians share good practice, news and experiences via Yahoo groups. This network is a lifeline for us school librarians where we are often single-staffed without a wider professional network. In Leicestershire we are lucky to have a vibrant and effective SLS but this is not the case for many areas. The SLS arrange termly meetings to share good practice, developments and news. Previously they have arranged CPD but in recent years this has been reduced and we are looking at new ways of providing CPD. Libteachmeets seem to be becoming increasingly popular and we are looking at utilising this approach -is this informal system the way forward for networks?