tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post111103340529438466..comments2024-03-28T00:28:06.035+13:00Comments on leading and learning: A school near you?Bruce Hammondshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-1111491448626952172005-03-22T23:37:00.000+12:002005-03-22T23:37:00.000+12:00I visited Spotswood with you a few years ago - won...I visited Spotswood with you a few years ago - wonderful experience! Great to see you are still sharing the ideas.<BR/><BR/>Keep it up.<BR/><BR/>We need people like you BruceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-1111270484108884732005-03-20T10:14:00.000+12:002005-03-20T10:14:00.000+12:00I could not agree more. It is hard to believe a sc...I could not agree more. It is hard to believe a school values individuality if every teacher looks as if they are following the same plan. Sharing each others intelligences and talents is one thing - having to do what others have planned for you is another. It is the old 'top down bottom up' issue. Beween the two is the answer - and their will always be creative tension.This should be valued otherwise how do new ideas develop.Bruce Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-1111109441457056132005-03-18T14:30:00.000+13:002005-03-18T14:30:00.000+13:00Interesting insights as always!I have some difficu...Interesting insights as always!<BR/><BR/>I have some difficulty with the term team teaching approach, not in the way you describe which I agree with, but in what I think is a common misunderstanding or misuse of the approach in practise. <BR/><BR/>Too often it translates to a requirement for all teachers to teach the same topic, often at the same time, and a prescribed way. Too me team teaching needs rather to be a system of collegial support that encourages a teacher to develop their own style and passion in the teaching process, and importantly requires an interactive response to children’s interests and learning needs. I think creative teachers depend on certain freedoms and support for the view that their ‘voice’ and interests have a positive affect on the way they teach and in the unique opportunities they provide for learners. <BR/><BR/>Similarly the depth of focus and ‘active learning’ required in ‘child-centred’ and ‘holistic approaches’ to learning require these freedoms to be in place.<BR/><BR/>I agree there needs to be a school wide framework of shared principles and goals, as you outline above, but a team approach to be successful also has to allow individual teachers to be true to themselves and thus allow the maximum release of the teacher’s energies and interests to the advantage of the learner.<BR/><BR/>Even practical considerations seem sometimes to be overlooked in the name of the team approach and leads to teachers all competing for the same topic resources at the same time, or worse still leads to a defeat in purpose by large numbers arriving at the same location in the environment at the same time.<BR/><BR/>In the end I think the value of a particular team teaching approach put into practise must be judged by the depth of thought, quality, and the nature of social and learning attitudes evident in the children’s work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com