Christine Counsell
@counsellc.bsky.social
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counsellc.bsky.social
My @schoolsweek.bsky.social piece on curriculum reviews. If we learn from 35 yrs of them, we might avoid the ever-recurring problems. But without strong subject-curricular training, espec for senior/system leaders, the finest rubric will still feed old distortions.
schoolsweek.co.uk/what-a-natio...
Four ways the Francis review can succeed where others failed
In the first instalment of our new series, Chirstine Counsell draws lessons from 35 years of attempted reform
schoolsweek.co.uk
counsellc.bsky.social
A joy to see this. Feedback from pupils and parents shows #ChangingHistoriesKS3 is changing the game for KS3 history

Rich story, deep scholarly connections, rigorous enquiry questions and enquiry journeys all need to be embedded and integrated, not bolted on as extra texts.
egcarr.bsky.social
Lovely feedback from parents at our Open Evening tonight. Those new to the school blown away by our curriculum content. Existing parents telling me their children love History for the stories. It's #ChangingHistoriesKS3 Thanks to @counsellc.bsky.social @willgoodfellow82.bsky.social and authors!
counsellc.bsky.social
Teachers of American history, @johnsimkin1945.bsky.social has pulled together a rather nifty and very interesting history of US tariffs across the 20th century.
counsellc.bsky.social
Wow. This looks great! Thanks for sharing. Lovely to see the book being useful in an EAL context.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
sarabeddoeseal.bsky.social
Working on creating lessons based on the super new book Connected Worlds c 1000 -c1600 by @counsellc.bsky.social et al. Lessons Intended for equiv yr 8, French students so this might work for EAL. Possibly too ambitious as I have not taught these students before so no idea of their level but 💪
Reposted by Christine Counsell
markgoodrich.bsky.social
I am education podcasting my way around the gravel roads of #Hokkaido. First up, I enjoyed the final They Behave For Me of the year with @counsellc.bsky.social talking about her classic blog on genericism. I welcome these dips into the classic blogs of the past having missed them 1st time around.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
mxfb.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...

Really good episode with excellent food for thought for any senior leader trying to embed consistency in T&L across a sch alongside maintaining subject rigour and validity.

@adamboxereducation.bsky.social
@amymayforrester.bsky.social
@counsellc.bsky.social
🍎🎓📚
What is genericism, and why is it so important? With Christine Councsell
They Behave For Me · Episode
open.spotify.com
counsellc.bsky.social
A related issue is that the critique is then completely misunderstood – it's treated as an attack on knowledge, or cog sci or Rosenshine. But it's subject teachers passionate about knowledge, really thorough with it and fully cog sci informed but want to apply those things in subject-sensitive ways.
counsellc.bsky.social
That is awful. They usually twig it's not working after a year or two, but meanwhile, the wasted professional time, the emotional energy trying hard to fight it while remaining constructive/professional, the frustration of so many good professionals...
Reposted by Christine Counsell
aweatherall.bsky.social
Listening to this pca.st/episode/5203...

It's very good breakdown of all sorts of aspects of education changes over the last 10 years and @counsellc.bsky.social has a great sense of what went well and what mutated to more of the same.
What is genericism, and why is it so important? With Christine Councsell
pca.st
counsellc.bsky.social
Thanks Alex. Great to hear that it resonated in your context.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
adamboxereducation.bsky.social
Why did edu-legend @counsellc.bsky.social write Genericism's Children? Why is she worried about genericism, and why does she care so much about the dignity of individual subjects?

All this and more, in a stonkingly good episode!

open.spotify.com/episode/4UZr...
counsellc.bsky.social
This short thread by Cat Priggs made me think:
History planning is about tying things together into a shape, a flow – usually a story & often a parallel flow of the analytic direction created by the EQ. It isn't about breaking things up into propositions and it's rarely about teaching a procedure.
catherinepriggs.bsky.social
The chapter ties everything together into one rich and accessible narrative.

In just one lesson, we:
- Unpicked the chaos after William I’s death
- Learnt how Henry I restored stability in England and Normandy…
counsellc.bsky.social
It will be really good. @catherinepriggs.bsky.social and @egcarr.bsky.social are brilliant at explaining how to integrate rich extended story with critical disciplinary thinking. They explain the #ChangingHistoriesKS3 series really well, giving great practical tips.
Reposted by Christine Counsell
counsellc.bsky.social
How does an enquiry question sustain interest, build momentum and give all pupils access to disciplinary thinking across a lesson sequence? How does the EQ help you to integrate compelling stories and rich, extended text?
Register bit.ly/4nrA8Mv for Cat and Elizabeth's webinar on Tues 8 July 3.30pm
catherinepriggs.bsky.social
Really excited to deliver this FREE session with @egcarr.bsky.social
We’ll discuss the power of enquiry questions, including how they shape the analytic direction and purpose of a sequence of lessons, create a sense of intrigue & infuse lessons with energy! @counsellc.bsky.social
counsellc.bsky.social
Very kind. Thank you. Our subjects learn much from each other. I love those conversations where explore how the structures of history and geography differ!
counsellc.bsky.social
Thanks Alex. Only possible, as I said in my lecture, cos of such a strong community. You have been a towering force of good & strength in that, generously sharing terrific practice, providing helpful challenge, engaging with problematical policy moves on behalf of us all. So huge thanks to you too.
counsellc.bsky.social
As I said in my lecture on Weds eve, receiving the Medlicott medal for services to history has been deeply special for me, not least because it allows me to celebrate and promote the importance of subject communities. We would be nowhere without @histassoc.bsky.social. Thank you HA. You're the best.
histassoc.bsky.social
Christine Counsell is awarded the Medlicott Medal for services to history for 2025.
counsellc.bsky.social
I love that. 'feel at home in a period'. That is exactly it.
counsellc.bsky.social
Thanks Catherine. It was such a pleasure to talk to an audience of history educators *and* authors of historical fiction. Our work converges in so many ways!
counsellc.bsky.social
Thanks so much Cat. And many congratulations to you on your richly deserved @histassoc.bsky.social Honorary Fellowship. You have contributed invaluably to the community and for so long. (And very proud of you as one of my former Cambridge history trainees!)