This year in 2008, Mr Greaves is the lucky teacher in the Year 7 class.

The class is made up predominantly of Cocos Malay students and only a handful of West Island students. Mr Greaves is thoroughly enjoying his year with these wonderful students!

Mr Greaves has always taught with the philosophy in mind, that he  is dealing with the ‘ whole person ’ when interacting with the students in his care. This holistic approach identifies and continually develops the students’ academic,  emotional, social, mental and spiritual well being. His aim this year is for the students to become increasingly independent, self-motivated  with a thirst for knowledge and understandings. He combines  many strategies to promote this approach, including Multiple Intelligences, Thinkers Keys and Bloom’s taxonomy….. quite a challenge with our ESL students!

The Virtues Project is an integral part of his daily classroom programme. This coupled with Brain Gym, classical music and scented candles, sets the scene for creating a positive learning environment, where the students know they are safe and valued and that risk taking is meant to be a part of everyday learning!

He continues to love his idyllic situation here on Cocos and teaching under such incredible conditions, with students second to none!