LEARNING STYLES 

Slugs and snails and puppy dogs’ tails

(Carolyn Edwards, IVP)

2015 conference recommendation by Ian White and Carolyn Edwards

2014 conference recommendation by Jo Squires

‘We have such a problem with our boys,’ is a common refrain in many churches. The probability, though, is that boys are not actually the problem, rather our attitude to them; our ideas of what a boy really is and what he needs in order to connect with God. Over the last few years, boys have been perceived to have been under-achieving at school, a problem in our society, and disengaged from our churches. It is Carolyn Edwards’ heartfelt conviction that this is because we are not meeting boys’ spiritual needs. Her experience is that boys are willing to engage in the struggle to make themselves heard and seen as they really are: full of energy, fun, feeling and spirituality. In this intensely creative and practical book, Carolyn provides ten ways that boys would willingly connect with God, given the opportunity. Prompts and practical ideas help readers apply her findings to the boys they know and work with.

Top tips on inspiring all kinds of learners

(Andy and Claire Saunders,Scripture Union)

2015 conference recommendation by Andy Saunders

This short book identifies the different ways people learn, by seeing, hearing and doing, to enable people to respond to God in the way that suits them best. It also encourages children’s and youth workers to recognise their own way of learning, which affects how they then teach and nurture others.

Top tips on working with lads

(Richard Witham and Maggie Barfield, Scripture Union)

2015 conference recommendation by Alex Taylor

Tried and tested ideas, tips and resources based on real-life experience of working with boys. With lads’ ministry evaluation tools to help you grow your own ministry.

21st century boys

(Sue Palmer,Orion)

2014 conference recommendation by Sharon Prior and Jo Squires

2011 conference recommendation by Sarah Smart & Andy Saunders

What’s happening to boys? At home, they sprawl before a flickering screen, lost in a solitary, sedentary fantasy world; at school, the choice of role seems limited to nerd or thug, bullied or bullying. By the time they reach their teens, the chances of depression, self-harm, drug or alcohol abuse grow each year. Sue Palmer assesses the issues confronting boys from birth to when they leave school, and explains how we can all help to ensure they emerge as healthy, normal adults. Based on the latest research from around the world.

Oops! Helping children learn accidentally 

(Hywel Roberts, Crown House)

2014 conference recommendation by Sharon Prior

Some of the best learning takes place when, rather than imposing on young people a pre-determined curriculum, you find the stimulus that is relevant and engaging for them and build from there. Then the curriculum starts to emerge in a way that simply hooks students into learning almost despite themselves. There is nothing for them to push against (What’s the point?! This is boring..! ) as they have helped shape the direction of the lesson in a way that makes it real and useful to them. All this without them even realising what is going on! Reading this book will support teachers in developing ideas that motivate everybody in the classroom, from infants to secondary and beyond.

Outstanding teaching, engaging learners

(Andy Griffiths. Crown House)

2014 conference recommendation by Sharon Prior

Based on five years of intensive research through Osiris Education’s award-winning Outstanding Teaching Intervention programme, during which the authors have trained more than 500 teachers to teach over 1,300 lessons in schools nationwide, this book is packed with proven advice and innovative tools developed in these successful outstanding lessons.

The growth of love

(Keith White,Barnabas)

2014 conference recommendation by Joy Raynor and Martyn Payne

Identifying five essential elements of child development to resource adults working with children in churches, schools, at home and for children in care. Drawing together academic research, theology and stories from real-life experiences.

Sue says:A very clear and thought-proving read.

Boys and girls learn differently

(Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens, Jossey Bass)

2011 conference recommendation by Sarah Smart & Andy Saunders

A thoroughly revised edition (2010) of the classic resource for understanding gender differences in the classroom. Michael Gurian has revised and updated his ground-breaking book that clearly demonstrated how the distinction in hard–wiring and socialized gender differences affects how boys and girls learn. He presents a proven method to educate our children based on brain science, neurological development, and chemical and hormonal disparities.

Boys, God and the church

(Nick Harding, Grove Booklets)

2011 conference recommendation by Sarah Smart & Andy Saunders

This impassioned plea from an experienced children’s worker sets out some striking reflection on why boys are seriously under-represented in church, and what their specific needs may be.

Pink brain, blue brain

(Lise Eliot,Oneworld Publications)

2011 conference recommendation by Sarah Smart & Andy Saunders

Turning conventional thinking about gender differences on its head, and drawing on research and her own work in the field of neuroplasticity, Eliot argues that infant brains are so malleable that small differences at birth become amplified over time as parents, teachers, and the culture at large unwittingly reinforce gender stereotypes. By focussing on the ways in which differences emerge such prescriptive behaviours can be eradicated, and the boundaries that prevent boys and girls from achieving can be destroyed.

Why gender matters

(Leonard Sax,Broadway)

2011 conference recommendation by Sarah Smart & Andy Saunders

Psychologist and family physician Dr. Leonard Sax leads you through the mystifying world of gender differences by explaining the biologically different ways in which children think, feel, and act. He addresses a host of issues, including discipline, learning, risk taking, aggression, sex, and drugs, and shows how boys and girls react in predictable ways to different situations. For example, girls are born with more sensitive hearing than boys, and those differences increase as kids grow up. So when a grown man speaks to a girl in what he thinks is a normal voice, she may hear it as yelling. Conversely, boys who appear to be inattentive in class may just be sitting too far away to hear the teacher—especially if the teacher is female.

Boys and girls, are they really different? 

(Jo Squires, 2015 conference main stage session)

Delegate rating 8/10

Hands On ways to boy-proof your sessions 

(Carolyn Edwards & Jo Squires, 2015 conference)

Delegate rating 9/10

Top tips on inspiring all kind of learners 

(Andy Saunders, 2015 conference)

We all  have preferences to the way we learn best, but this can be influenced by venue, backgrounds and assumptions. Childhood is formative but this session will help in ministry to children and families.

Delegate rating 9/10

Top tips on working with lads 

(Alex Taylor, 2015 conference)

Often boys seem to engage less with church and groups than girls – why? Not all boys are the same, so we look at how to help form faith with boys in all their differences!

Delegate rating 8/10

10 HANDS ON ways to talk so children listen

(Ed Jones and Kate Traynor, 2014 conference)

Delegate rating 9/10

Using different learning styles 

(Sharon Prior, 2014 conference)

Exploring different learning styles and how you can plan sessions to incorporate these styles, so that children can learn in the way they were created to learn.

Delegate rating 8/10