If any of you are from my generation then you may see this title and immediately start singing ABBA, which I occasionally do in the classroom! However, it also relates to the interplay between the outer and the inner, which is characteristic of the 13-year-old’s development.
In the Class 7 student there is a growing sense of the self emerging, and a new relationship being established with the world around. Students at this age yearn for independence and solitude, but paradoxically become even more focused on their peer group and their fascination with the outside world. At the same time, they are undergoing physical and psychological changes which can leave them with a certain inner insecurity. They search for their own identity, and are keen to assert their opinion, often argumentatively, but cling to the jargon, fads and clothing of their peer group.
Thirteens need sympathetic understanding from the adults around them. They are in the age of discovery, of themselves as individuals and also as part of a group who are seeking new frontiers of knowledge.
Our curriculum aims to support students, individually and as a group, to meet both the challenges and strengths of this unique stage of life by providing them opportunities to discover more about themselves, others and the world they live in. In every subject, especially the Main Lesson, there is the opportunity for ideals and inspiration to permeate the blossoming individuality that characterises this delightful age.
Our PDHPE lesson this term is called Knowing Me, Knowing You and we will cover topics such as: growing and changing, belonging, my body, respectful relationships and sexuality.
As there is still an accelerated growth in the limbs of a 13-year-old, there can also be an associated awkwardness in movement and students may feel uncomfortable in their bodies. A fun way that we are working to address this issue is through dancing together every morning; having fun with the different dance styles and becoming less self-conscious along the way. The physical movement of dance is great for coordination, fitness and mental health. There’s also evidence that dancing with others helps you to feel a sense of connectedness and strengthens the social bonds and trust of a group… this is certainly the case in Class 7C!
Cherie Kendall
Class 7 Teacher
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