From living together to students’ resonances in a rap song

Last March (now, with the COVID-19 situation, it feels like decades ago!) we had the pleasure to carry out fieldwork with children in three primary schools. In this post, we give account of several episodes of the child-centred approach developed in one of them, using arts-based methods. The openness of this perspective allowed us to deeply engage children in the inquiry practices, and involve several high school students from another school.

‘Too much running in the playground!’ Some considerations on observant participation

By Cosmin Popan After each visit at the Elk Creek Primary I sense a broad smile on my face which I carry for the rest of the day. Unlike the secondary school pupils at Woodland Academy, these primary school children have befriended me much quicker. But while becoming friends with some pupils could better facilitate … Read more

Blending in amongst teenage Romanian speakers

by Cosmin Popan Scrolling back to 26 November 2019. ‘Fieldwork, day 1. Secondary school in eastern Manchester. Two Romanian / Roma students, outside the building, listening on their mobile phones to manele music, Prințesa de Aur to be more specific. Totally immersed’. I type this and seamlessly post it on Facebook as I am baffled … Read more