tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post115691629479268845..comments2024-03-28T00:28:06.035+13:00Comments on leading and learning: What did you learn at school today?Bruce Hammondshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-19621375701737620242009-05-09T20:57:00.000+12:002009-05-09T20:57:00.000+12:00Have you guys seen the products made by The Learni...Have you guys seen the products made by The Learning Project in New Zealand? Check it out...www.thelearningproject.co.nzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-1157019651923901172006-08-31T22:20:00.000+12:002006-08-31T22:20:00.000+12:00Thanks Rob for your perceptive reply.As you say it...Thanks Rob for your perceptive reply.<BR/><BR/>As you say it too easy to become defensive but, if we want the best for our students, everything must be up for questioning.<BR/><BR/>As you aslo say it is all too easy to underestimate the challenge for schools that wish to transform themselves.<BR/><BR/>I aslo agree it is difficult for teachers, used to the privacy of their own rooms, to open their teaching to the eyes of others.Schools that have done this have had to work out carefully what is to be observed and, as well, the process needs to be controlled by the teacher being observed.<BR/><BR/>Observations need take no longer tha 10 minutes with a similar time for debriefing - once again led by the teacher, who will be aware of what went right or wrong.They will also know possible solutions to their problems.<BR/><BR/>Schools that have achieved this have spent time training teachers to do this observation and coaching and have allowed three or four years to change the school culture.<BR/><BR/>Worth a try?<BR/><BR/>The school I am thinking of has made this process their appraisal system. They add ideas to the mix with regular fortnightly staff meetings where ten minutes is given to cross school teams to discuss a reading given prior to the meeting, combined with a shared reading where all teachers break into groups to read and reflect on short article chosen by the leadership team.<BR/><BR/>These are ways they feel important to encourage dialogue in the school to build up a cohesive school culture.Bruce Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-1156991486915605392006-08-31T14:31:00.000+12:002006-08-31T14:31:00.000+12:00Excellent stuff Bruce. You have clearly set out th...Excellent stuff Bruce. You have clearly set out the challenge to our schools of today....and this then becomes the challenge to all of us teachers. We need to resist the temptation to the knee-jerk defense of our current practices and seriously examine the realities including what we are doing in our current teaching.<BR/><BR/>This is easily said but seemingly impossible given that we apparently are given no time in which to leap off the frantically flying treadmill and give this the attention it so clearly deserves.<BR/><BR/>Nor do we find it easy to break down the isolating barriers from one classroom to the next. The reality is that we often do not know what is going on in our colleagues' classrooms nor are we especially welcoming to people wishing to come in and observe from time to time.<BR/><BR/>And yet this collegial, considered reflection upon our teaching styles and strategies...our classroom culture...is what is most needed. <BR/><BR/>A challenge indeed. How do we achieve this level of freedom to reflect and collaborate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com