Creating a Faith-Friendly Learning Environment. Event on 4th February for teachers and TA's in Primary, Secondary and FE - from any curriculum subjects and schools outside the Faith Sector. Developing spaces for prayer and reflection in 'secular schools' - etc

This is a Slide Show Power Point which will be ideal for many settings. It was designed first to encourage reflection and discussion in a workshop in a conference on Community Cohesion - but it would make a good Assembly and could also be useful as a resource in Art, RE, Citizenship etc. The theme is peace so it is particularly useful for the GCSE RE unit on war and peace

This Power Point slide show combines images and texts to encourage thought, reflection and discussion about important issues including evolution, family and relationship, peace and conflict, poverty and homelessness, global warming, disability, courage and hope.. It has evolved from the earlier slide-shows but this file is designed for use with GCSE, and older classes. There are images which could distress younger students - It's good for upper school assemblies I hope you enjoy this resource and find it valuable.

The most popular song from the CD All Shall Be Well by Jill Blackadder - my sister who is a Primary teacher in the Shetland Islands. for the CD and sheet music contact 'Jill Slee Blackadder' <Jill.blackadder@btinternet.com>, You can find a 'taster&' of this song and others on another resource on prev. page - http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceUpload.aspx?storycode=6058026&navcode=98 This is a truly inspiring and very soulful song for all ages. It celebrates our world where the beauty is in the diversity. Great as a stimulus for art-work, too.

The first file here tells the story of Jim Jones and his Temple which ended up in Guyana, with over 900 people dead. The second file is an excellent article about why RE is important. Next, The Nature of Love, can be used as a GCSE/post 16 revision aid. I include it here as it relates to what I have written about engaging students in the 4th file. The fourth file is an example of the way that good RE really can make a difference. Happy Christmas everyone.

start of something great - to share everyone's favourite quotes and poems, good for exploring issues and putting up around the RE classroom. Some collections of my own favourites and bits from an RE thread on the subject of quotes. 133 quotes from wattsy85&'s fantastic collection. These are set out so you can print them onto A4 for laminating and display and saved as a pdf so they don&';t move around. Do send me your own favourites to share. I'll add more links later Thanks. DMC

more interesting and insightful articles with some of the comments from the related forums - I have chosen a fair variety of views to encourage debate. The Anarchy News article was recommended by a friend! Those articles which I find most useful I have marked with AA or AAA rating, In some articles I have highlighted sections that if I were preparing material for use in school I would include - and blue highlighting indicates particularly pertinent sections - but of course this is a personal reaction. By copying the material in an Unformatted style they will be easy for you to edit.

articles about the riots to prepare work for exploring the riots and issues / emotions including grief, alienation, fear and anger opportunity to learn about, think, discuss and reflect in a supportive environment - but one which is able to explore and clarify right and wrong - to challenge and inform. Includes articles from a range of sources to show the different 'spin' journalist give a story. It's easy to scapegoat, stereotype and blame, harder to listen to and to learn. All agree change is needed, but effective change must be rooted in reality. See more in linked resource.

InterFaith Week is a great opportunity to look at both diversity within the school community and at the wider society. Religious Education, Citizenship and PSHE are the obvious subjects but whole school events may be possible. Checkout my website www.bluelotus.co and contact me here or on info@bluelotus.co if you would like some more ideas.

I aim to list of all the MP's and members of the House of Lords - with their contact details. I have just found a couple of good lists on internet so I am uploading info about these too. Contact details added for all the A - G surnames so far - more to follow I’ve uploaded a copy of my email and am adding any replies and correspondence from this as a separate resource.

There are references to useful sites and ideas here on the subject of Religion and The Environment. I will add to this - but at present there are also resources that explore Global Warming, Eating meat or being Veggi, Buddhist Peace Gardens and more.

Continuation of blog started in September 2011. As a practising theist, who tries to respond to all the ups and downs of life from a spiritual perspective, I feel that my life experiences may be a useful resource. Some have been kind enough to encourage me with this. A few people tell me that they read it regularly, so for them and any other casual readers I continue. The one on 29th and 30th includes 2 photos of the kitties aged 4 weeks best wishes and love to all DMC

send to any who care about RE and to your MP + others mentioned. This is from a thread on the RE forum Share this and related material about the consequences of the Ebacc in Staff Meetings and Assemblies,

This is a series of 14 slides depicting Jesus as Native American or Australian Aboriginal. It is in process as many images are not the right shape for a ppt slide so I will have to adjust them in Adobe. But it does give a great idea of the way that Christians everywhere think of Jesus as their Brother, as their Friend, His divine aspect is beyond the confines of one time or place, one nation or race.

Great resources which you can adapt for any age. Power Point Slide Show has over 80 slides and covers many topics. Save with different headings then delete slides to give many shorter slide shows - and show with music. Stories are versions of traditional stories about episodes in the lives of deities or the Ramayana and Mahabarata. Over a week’s work in these - and I’ll add to them. Don’t forget to give ratings and comments/feedback to help others find what they need. Contact if you would like a workshop - info@bluelotus.co

Here are some reports and articles which relate to the danger RE is facing. This is relevant to everyone who has a voice in managing a school or planning the curriculum. If RE is undermined then the quality of spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is under threat. Without good RE, our whole society becomes more intolerant, prejudiced, divided and dangerous. RE must keep its position as a core Humanities subject with Geography and History. We all need to work together to defend the position of RE. Contact me (PM) if you have related articles/reports and I will attach them.

From HOD in Religious Education to giving my own Mindfulness-Meditation and Empowerment Workshops for resilience, improved mental health and happiness, in this little book, I am sharing something of the journey which has taken me from teaching RE in schools to offering an On line Seven Steps to Happiness Programme. My approach to Health and Wellbeing is holistic, with special insight into balancing the mind, body and spirit - which comes from an awareness that we humans are spiritual beings. My workshops are tried and tested - this programme works - and The spiritual side of life has always been important to me and I have been practising meditation for over 40 years. In this account I look back at how circumstances moved me from joyful and devoted Head of Religious Education in a large Secondary School, through a challenging time of unemployment as the Ebacc changed the educational landscape, through depression when during a period of deep questioning I received unexpected answers to my prayers - to becoming a Silk-Paint Artist, Pipe and Tabor Player - sharing the positive energy I receive in meditation, to developing increasing expertise in Health and Wellbeing - especially mental health, Resilience and Empowerment. After retiring from teaching, I have developed a unique and comprehensive program ‘The Seven Steps to Happiness.’ My approach to bringing about transformation, focuses on Raising Consciousness. Low consciousness is when we are feeling f Here I am sharing free the first three chapters of a book I am just releasing. The full book is also available from my shop. Before 2020 my Wellbeing and Empowerment Workshops were all face to face. I was about to expand into offering retreats abroad. Corona-virus has turned that on its head, forcing me to take my signature Program ‘The Seven Steps to Happiness’ on-line. Everyone is suffering from stress - but my particular concern is to support and empower teachers in every way I can, so I dedicate this little book to you. By offering the first three chapters here free you will find some practical strategies and exercises for reducing stress as well as an introduction to my full On-line Seven Steps to Happiness Program - which as an 8-week course. I am sharing the entire book as a paid resource and in it you will find my own philosophy and approach to dealing with stress. I worked on Supply for many years and saw more of the crazy side of classrooms than most, so I had to develop a strategy which worked. Brene Brown taught me a good lesson when she shared her research which showed that the most compassionate people have Boundaries of Steel! Watch her You Tube interview with Russel Brand. That’s where she shares this insight. When do you find the time for yourself that you need? What are your own strategies for reducing stress and increasing happiness? How can I best support you through my resources here? When we all share our experience everyone wins. Love and Peace DurgaMata

My Wish or Somebody Loves You would be great to use as a reflection exercise or starter in RE or pshe. I will add other useful songs with video as I come across them. ' please share your own favourites and I will add them too.