1. 100 Followers!
I’m enjoying this Substack lark even more than I thought I would. That said, I do need to remind myself that the most important thing is to WRITE. Definitely spending a little too much time worrying about images, links, headers, footers and all the frills. So I must remember, as Stephen Covey says, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
I’m manifesting 1000 subscribers by the end of the year. So, reaching 100 by the end of January seems to me like a good start. On that note, I’m very grateful for the mention that Craig Barton gave me - I know I’d not have received an early spike in numbers without that. And the numbers do make me optimistic that I can get to 1000 without employing other social media. I have no interest in X, and whilst I have started a little Instagram page, the idea of making piece-to-camera videos in order to play the algorithm fills me with cringe.
I’ve taken pride in some of the nice things people have said, and appreciated the feedback. To that end, I am half way through recording audio for 11 Ways to Be Brilliant at School, and I will probably do the same for New Teacher Jetpack.
After years (actual decades) of coming up with ideas for creative projects and either not actually doing them, or starting them only to quit because they weren’t working out EXACTLY as I’d envisaged, I am most proud of the fact that I’m simply Just Doing It!
2. At School
I have been tasked with re-launching our school library. It’s a job I’m looking forward to - and it’s not without challenges. I’d be keen to hear from anyone with experience in library projects of this nature. In a nutshell, the library needs an overhaul - we would like it to become a hub for our multi-cultural cohort of students, and for it to dovetail with subjects across the curriculum.
I’m very aware of how important a school library can be to the life of a school. I’ll always be indebted to Hilary, the incredible librarian at my first school, who provided knowledge, wisdom, and warmth to the entire school community on a daily basis. And unbelievably good cake on Fridays.
I’m adamant that real-life-physical-hold-them-in-your-hands-books can still be cornerstones of children’s’ education. And this is a great chance to prove it.
3. Shelf-Reflection
On the subject of real-life-physical-hold-them-in-your-hands-books, I get to my local bookshop every couple of weeks - normally on a Saturday morning. I love it. But I’m becoming increasingly aware of my choice paralysis: the overwhelm of being stood, ready and willing to spend a few bob on a good book, but simply not being able to choose. It’s definitely a thing.
As a result, I’ve found myself revisiting some old favourites from my own shelves. Two books that I’ve loved re-reading in the past couple of weeks have been Bill Bryson’s Shakespeare and Ken Robinson’s The Element. Both authors have got it - that ability to tell yarns with a natural rhythm, an organic flow, and the knack of making their thoughts compelling.