What is ‘Thinking in Mind’?

Thinking in Mind or ‘TIM’ is a pioneering cross-curricular subject for Year 7, developed as a response to the new National Curriculum for 2008. The TIM logo is a feature of the work and reflects the importance of the students using their brains more effectively.

The aim of the new curriculum is to develop:

• successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
• confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
• responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society

The TIM Approach

The students have 16 TIM lessons with their form group each fortnight - all taught by the same teacher and in the same room. They are assessed through work on different themes and topics including My Brain, Origins, Leadership, London, Conflict, and Bridges. We deliver TIM in multiples of 2, 3 and 4 50 minute periods which allows for greater creativity and sharing of good practice and expertise. There are many opportunities for several class groups to work together and on occasion for the Year Group to work together as a whole.

Outside the classroom, students enjoy Planned Learning Experiences, which have included:

• Over 120 students went to an adventure weekend in Osmington Bay, Dorset in October
• Castle building was the order of the day as part of the Leadership project. The students created  Medieval Castles which were displayed and judged.
• Students expanded World Book Day in March into World Book Fortnight where students designed  book covers, and held an awards ceremony in fancy dress
• Students explored “Leadership in London” during a day in Westminster which included a visit to  the Cabinet War Rooms.
• Each TIM class is having the opportunity to plan their own class Mass

Resources

The TIM programme draws on resources from across the College as well as special activities developed to showcase the diversity of student work both as individuals and as teams such as:

• TIM Times – a record of the students’ work and activities, written and edited by the students and  published on a weekly basis with the College newsletter, Pastorale (click here to see a sample  issue of TIM Times)
• TIM Work Gallery
• TIM Picture Gallery

Student Comments

What We Enjoyed

“Brain games, using the library, the computers, the fun, discussion, being creative, activities, every bit of it, bringing out our feelings, more freedom, thinking deeper, thinking visually, having fun and analysing things, getting to know more about myself, stretching my mind and getting me thinking”

What Have We Learned

“To use my brain a lot more, to be patient, to work with other people, two brains are better than one, that I am a kinaesthetic learner, how to co-operate, that it is good to be an independent learner, that you can do things even if you think you can’t, lots, about my brain, confidence to speak my mind”

How We’ll Use What We Learned in Other Subjects

“Listening and co-operating with others, think before doing things, stay calm, be focused, use my initiative, explore my mind, working hard and listening, use my logical brain, asking and answering questions, helping others and getting others to help me”