Not a lot has been happening lately, and I always get the guilts that I am not consistent in adding to this blog, as I do actually enjoy doing it.
A bit over a week ago, I got a phone call from someone at the Catholic Education Office, our governing body.
You see, I had applied for a specific scholarship, one that is designed to enable teachers who have held leadership positions to apply to do something that really interests them, but will also benefit their school and broader educational community.
This could mean anything from taking leave to study something, travel and see other practices in action, visit other schools, whatever. There are limits on expenses and time away which have to be considered in the applications, which is totally fine.
I was very excited with this phone call, because rather than being told "bad luck buddy" ( which has happened in the past) I was actually told that I have been successful with my application.
So, early in 2016 I am planning to head over to Helsinki, Finland, and also to London ( and surrounds) to visit schools and institutions that have a focus on Inquiry and Project Based Learning, passions of mine. In my mind they are one and the same, so it will be an amazing experience to visit Finland in particular, world leaders in educational performance.
Since submitting my application I have also discovered some schools in Germany that are doing significant things in education that are very similar to what I will be going to see in Finland and the UK, so I might try and fit a few visits in there as well.
And possibly the best thing of all, I contacted one of our sons who has been working and holidaying in Europe since September last year and told him of my good news, and he thinks he will still be there when I lob over. How good will that be!!!!!!
The next few weeks will be hectic now as I organise my itinerary and confirm my visits with the schools that have been so welcoming in allowing me to visit.
I am a teacher living in Bendigo, Australia. I am passionate about sport, and love to do something energetic every day. Music is another passion, as I always have some playing no matter what I am doing. My interests in teaching include technology, numeracy, phys ed and exploring ways of learning. I approach everything in a positive manner and get frustrated with pessimists! I love writing and reflecting back on the things that happen to me.
Sunday, 23 August 2015
Sunday, 9 August 2015
Some action from school...
As a teacher, I still cringe at the way I taught many years ago.
It was so much of me up the front, kids in front of me answering my questions.
Sure, I know that is the way we were told to teach, but after so many years of experiencing other methods, I remain totally convinced that inquiry learning is the best way to go.
I'm aware that we may have been doing it subtly for quite a while, but until it was painted explicitly for me I wasn't really able to develop greater structure with it.
It does sound strange saying that I needed structure with inquiry, but in my own mind I know what I mean!!
Just the act of questioning with the kids...their own questions and answers to each other can guide and drive a session. It needn't always be directed by the teacher towards pre-determined outcomes.
So, what's the point of this post???
Well, another teacher who I work with is a bit of a gun with inquiry learning, and was helping to plan and implement an inquiry into Minibeasts that our Gr 2's were doing.
I was asked ( make that told!) to join her in dressing up as mad scientists and act out a scenario in front of the Gr 2 classes.
Our 'Mission' was to rid the world of Minibeasts, because we felt that they just got in the way, annoyed us and were generally just pests. The Gr 2 children now have to convince us otherwise.
On the day, Jess and I dressed up as Professors Squirrellsquirt and Snifflepiffer, and created a frothing green potion in front of the children, promising to use it to rid the world of minibeasts!!
The kids were throwing up all sorts of reasons as to why we shouldn't do this, so we gave them a 5 week window of opportunity to present a case for the preservation of them.
In the past week or so, the evil professors have sent a few letters to the classes advising them that we are producing our potion at an alarming rate, but if they can convince us to change our ways we will then use the potion for good rather than evil, as it can easily be changed into minibeast food.
The number of letters we are receiving from the children continues to grow, so over the next two weeks the evil professors will have hopefully changed their ways!!
It was so much of me up the front, kids in front of me answering my questions.
Sure, I know that is the way we were told to teach, but after so many years of experiencing other methods, I remain totally convinced that inquiry learning is the best way to go.
I'm aware that we may have been doing it subtly for quite a while, but until it was painted explicitly for me I wasn't really able to develop greater structure with it.
It does sound strange saying that I needed structure with inquiry, but in my own mind I know what I mean!!
Just the act of questioning with the kids...their own questions and answers to each other can guide and drive a session. It needn't always be directed by the teacher towards pre-determined outcomes.
So, what's the point of this post???
Well, another teacher who I work with is a bit of a gun with inquiry learning, and was helping to plan and implement an inquiry into Minibeasts that our Gr 2's were doing.
I was asked ( make that told!) to join her in dressing up as mad scientists and act out a scenario in front of the Gr 2 classes.
Our 'Mission' was to rid the world of Minibeasts, because we felt that they just got in the way, annoyed us and were generally just pests. The Gr 2 children now have to convince us otherwise.
On the day, Jess and I dressed up as Professors Squirrellsquirt and Snifflepiffer, and created a frothing green potion in front of the children, promising to use it to rid the world of minibeasts!!
The kids were throwing up all sorts of reasons as to why we shouldn't do this, so we gave them a 5 week window of opportunity to present a case for the preservation of them.
In the past week or so, the evil professors have sent a few letters to the classes advising them that we are producing our potion at an alarming rate, but if they can convince us to change our ways we will then use the potion for good rather than evil, as it can easily be changed into minibeast food.
The number of letters we are receiving from the children continues to grow, so over the next two weeks the evil professors will have hopefully changed their ways!!
Professor Snifflepiffer and Professor Squirellsquirt.
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