Practice in Action

Most teachers never get to see beyond their own classrooms. As a profession we don’t get out much! We rarely see others in action, observe their pratice in an informal way and talk about pedagogy from the front. Opportunities for reflection are generally given little time in CPD programmes as other priorities jostle for our attention.

It is with this in mind that we are embarking on school visits for our next teacher training day on Monday. 25 teachers will be making trips to various partner schools across the north west and beyond as we try and give staff the opportunity to get into other classrooms, other schools in different Local Authorities, to learn from each other, to share thoughts, ideas and innovations, to see practice in action. It is something we have been keen to do for some time and we’re excited about the potential to develop stronger links and delighted so many of our partner schools have agreed to the visits. A reciprocal arrangement has been agreed and our partners will be visiting us in the autumn. Our first staff meeting of the half term will provide the opportunity for everyone to share their visits, it is something I’m really looking forward to.

Hawes Siders – a soap in the making!

The new green screen studio at school has given us lots of opportunities to extend learning in more creative and innovative ways. The books at bedtime initiative has been a great way of engaging parents and younger children through a cbeebies type selection of stories read by older pupils, staff and local celebrities. Another great idea we’re about to get started on is ‘Hawes Siders’ our very own soap!

We’re going to start the drama by running a lunchtime club for our script writers. Miss Johnstone has very kindly agreed to work with those interested to get some of their school stories up and running. Another group of pupils will help with the filming and green screening and our budding thespians will take on the roles required by our writers. We’re keen to get going next half term and see how the idea pans out but we envisage being able to film short scenes every month or so. The writers will meet a couple of lunchtimes each week and share their ideas for storylines. We’re hoping this soap will run and run! We’re also thinking about whether to use audioboo, or maybe podcast different trailors and snippets across the school blogs to whet people’s appetite.

It’s promises to be a great project to get stuck into after SATs and something different classes can get involved in with competitions for different storylines, posters to advertise the soap etc… I’ll keep you posted on how it develops. If you’ve any thoughts or ideas, or you’ve done something similar in your own schools, please let me know.

Networking For Excellence

The 5th SSAT National Primary Conference entitled ‘Networking for Excellence’ provided a fantastic vehicle for the Network to live out it’s ‘By Schools For Schools‘ motto. A range of great practitioner led workshops complimented the key note presentations that bookended the day.

Bill Lucas, Nick Stuart and Neil Hopkin got the day off to a great start with Bill sharing research into intelligence that contributed to his recent book with Guy Claxton ‘New Kinds of Smart’. Nick Stuart, Chair of the SSAT shared how he sees the Primary Network growing in influence within the Trust as numbers continue to increase and Neil Hopkin, Chair of the Primary Network led delegates in an unexpected dance that will surely see the light of day on you tube providing someone saw fit to film it.

The wide and varied range of workshops meant there was something for everyone with EY, KS1 and KS2 covered for New Technologies, SEN, Leadership and Curriculum. Feedback suggests the workshops were very well received and much as I would have liked to get to the Forest School (led by @icklekaty) and Games Based Learning (@duck_star) workshops, I was delighted to host David Mitchell (@deputyMitchell), Lee Glynn (@glynnlee) and Jack Sloan (@jacksloan). The heavyweights of blogging shared their impressive successes and the importance of ‘traffic’ to ensure the pupils have an audience for their work. David and Jack have had a huge number of hits on their blogs with some famous contributors making the process exciting for the children. The use of web 2.0 tools was also highlighted and Jack, Lee and David extolled the benefits of a range of easy to use tools that can be embedded into blogs without difficulty. Animoto, wordle, wallwisher, voicethread and audioboo to name but a few were given a good press by those presenting.

The day was closed by Alison Peacock from the Cambridge Primary Review, Guin Batten, Olympic rowing medal winner and Sue Williamson, Strategic Director at SSAT. Their underlying message was one of opportunity, the chance for us to grasp the nettle and make a difference as we move forward in this uncertain future. The Primary Network provides schools with a strong national and international body of knowledge and innovative practice through which they can share ideas, build links and learn from the best. The conference give those attending an opportunity to ‘Network for Excellence’ and witness the ‘By schools For Schools’ approach in operation. In the future such practices can only increase.

TMBpool3

The first thing that impresses you about Devonshire Road Primary is that it’s a brand-new building shaped rather like beehive!   It is a fantastic building with great facilities some of which were evident as we entered their hall and saw the huge screen that wouldn’t have looked out of place in an IMAX cinema! The hall isn’t used for lunches – it is given over to clubs and activities at lunchtimes with dinners being served in the ‘street’, a wide corridor that runs alongside the hall.

This was the third teachmeet in Blackpool and again attendance levels were high, over 130 people there to lurk enthusiastically or to present for two or seven minutes.  It is great to see the unconference format take off in such a positive way across the town and it is also great to see people travelling a fair few miles to join in the fun, to present, support and encourage as the teachmeet approach becomes an established part of the educational culture in Blackpool.

Many staff attending TMBpool3 were first timers so it is understandable that some of the presenters ran over their allotted times.   The professional, polished presentations from the likes of @simonhaughton @deputymitchell @primarypete and @HGjohn and a virtual presentation from @ianaddison showed just what teachmeets are all about.   Sharp, to the point presentations that quickly and succinctly get their message across, leaving you with ideas and innovations that you can readily follow up, try out, share and develop.   Hopefully their experienced approaches will provide many of those attending with the desire to have a go themselves next time.

It’s great to see teachmeet develop the way it has across Blackpool.   It is providing classroom based practitioners with a real platform to share their best practice and innovative approaches with colleagues.   The sharing of good practice is key to developing as a profession and teachmeets provide a grass roots model of professional development – people who walk the talk.   It is not a hierarchical model, it is based on a ‘floorboards up’ approach that sees those who stand in front of children on a day to day basis share what works and what excites them about teaching and learning.   It is also great to see so many headteachers actively supporting this approach to sharing good practice beyond the class room and staff room, to develop a real collaborative approach, building a real, lateral network across the town. This is the great thing about teachmeets; they provide staff with the opportunity to not only be enthused and motivated about innovative and new ideas but sometimes just reassure themselves what they’re doing is the right thing and others are doing it too!

TMBpool3 was another success and I’m sure the event was a positive experience for everyone who attended. I’m also sure that based on tonight’s experiences many of these teachers will be back at Anchorsholme Primary on February 10 for TMBpool4.   As always huge thanks goes to @mister_jim and @TomSale for their fantastic efforts in selflessly putting together a superb event.

Illuminating the Curriculum – Blackpool Winter Gardens, November 1st

 

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On November 1st 2010 we held our first Blackpool SSAT Education Conference.   The event saw 1000+ delegates gather at the Winter Gardens to hear some world class presenters speak with passion about various themes linked to curriculum and creativity.

The day came about by virtue of the previous government agreeing an additional inset day for all primary schools to implement their new curriculum based on the now defunct Rose Review.   In Blackpool we all agreed to keep Nov 1st as a collective INSET day where we could get together and do something meaningful for all our staff.   The commitment of all our schools was important as only through such an approach could we make something this special happen.   As all Blackpool schools are affiliated to the SSAT we were able to sit down with our Head of Regional Network and plan the day with them.   The  Local Authority were also very helpful in negotiating a deal with the Winter Gardens and working together with us on presenters and organising with our local FE college for their Events Management Students to come along and work on the day as part of their course.

A local company Central Media Services (CMS), provided AV support for the day ensuring the event met high conference standards in terms of screening, light and sound. By selling exhibitors space we were able to offset the cost of the day and keep delegates rates at an absolute minimum.   With such guaranteed large numbers in attendance we were able to provide a first class CPD event at an unbelievably low rate.

The conference began with an introduction from Richard Hunter, former head of primary for the SSAT and now once more a headteacher at Robin Hood Primary School in Birmingham.   Richard shared with delegates the real benefits of affiliation; the opportunities for international partnerships, bespoke training for all stakeholders in school, access to world class thinkers and courses, school visits and much more.   Richard introduced Damian Hughes as the first key note of the day.   Damian spoke about how our attitudes and beliefs can impact on our performance.   He presents in a way that you can’t help but engage with, his messages are clear, strong and leave you thinking about what you do and how you do it – a perfect start to a day about challenging and changing our classroom practice.  Damian has written a number of books that ask us to question our thinking, titles such as ‘The Change Catalyst’ and ‘Liquid Thinking’ give you an indication of his passions and how his messages support us in managing change.   Damian created a real buzz around the place and set a fantastic, energetic and enthusiastic tone to the day which was further built on by our next presenter John Davitt.

For those people unfamiliar with John’s work, he is again a world renowned figure in education.   His approach is innovative, original and exiting.   John speaks from the heart about engaging learners and exploring ways to bring the best out of every learning experience.   He has developed a number of ways we can use  technology in a straightforward and simple fashion to support learning.   The approaches John shared with us don’t require a high level of technological savvy to use and many delegates were jotting down ideas and tools that John showed – ideas that can be quickly put into practice back in school.

Following lunch IT coordinators retired with John to a close by local primary school to take part in a workshop where they could explore in more details some of John’s approaches – these can then in turn be shared back in school through staff meetings that will further the day’s messages.

After an extended break to get everyone through lunch (a potential problem that was very efficiently managed by the staff of the Winter Gardens) we came back to the main hall to hear Richard Machin.  Richard is the headteacher of All Saints Primary School in Warwick and he shared with us all the journey he has taken the school on over the last three years.   From a school in difficulty to one of the top 100 performing primaries in the country.   Richard hasn’t done this through a box ticking culture but by providing the children at All Saints with a rich, exciting and active curriculum that puts their needs first and offers them creative ways of doing things.  It was great for delegates to hear from a practising headteacher about how he has worked with the children, satff and parents to move the school forward without sacrificing his beliefs and principles.

The day’s last speaker was unfortunately unable to attend for health reasons and so it fell upon one of his colleagues to deliver a presentation on his behalf.   Dr Peter Twinings is head of Education at the Open University and he was going to speak to delegates about the future of education and how different approaches to training and development could support us in the future.   Stephen Musgrave who works closely with Peter shared with us how Vital can provide bespoke online support and a range of free resources to support ongoing professional development through a tool called Elluminate.   Unfortunately some of the live feeds during Stephen’s presentation were difficult to hear due to technical problems but the messages were well received by people and again, lots of jottings suggested delegates would be further exploring this online support.

The day was brought to a close by Sue Williamson from SSAT.   Sue echoed the thoughts of many of us when she spoke about how much we could achieve through such active collaboration.   To see so many people from local schools together in one place made you realise that the future of education is in our hands if we want it.    There is freedom to teach, freedom to innovate and freedom to do what we know is best for all our children and by working together we can achieve anything.   Days like today show that our strength lies in such a collaborative approach.

The IT project

We recently held an event in school to stimulate the children’s writing. It consisted of some green slime, a heavy dose of role play and a carefully conceived and cunning plan.

The idea came about when one of our teachers met with our local library service to put together a project about a mysterious alien landing on earth. The actors involved were all given loosely scripted parts and a green slimy jelly was strategically smeared around school. In classes, on the playground, down the corridors. When the children arrived in school they were immediately puzzled and excited. An emergency assembly was called to talk about what this might be. I was given my role by staff and I would like to think, I convinced the assembled mass of some extraordinary happening on our school field.  I would like to think many of those watching staff  believed my method approach-but maybe  they just stayed to laugh. The children though were suitably filled with wonder and when our ‘new crossing patrol lady’ ran in full of panic and vivid description of a swooping bird like creature covered in green feathers and slime, many were already thinking they might have seen something similar on the way to school!

Next, the school secretary ran in with some police photographs to confirm our suspicions. They showed cordoned off areas and locations of sightings. All of this served to build the children to a level of near frenzy about what could possibly be happening. Was it an alien? What did it want? What was ‘IT’?

The staff took the children back to class and seized the moment, encouraging the children to get their thoughts and ideas down. At break and lunchtime the children, still engrossed, stalked the playground with clipboards and binoculars looking for clues.

Other schools in the area were also involved which only served to further the mystery. The use of a few simple props, some willing actors and a great gem of an idea gave us a level of engagement we strive for everyday. The children have a memory that will last a long time and that stimulated some of their best writing. It didn’t cost the earth and required only a small amount of people’s time but it’s impact will be lasting.

Making the ordinary extra-ordinary

If you chose a career in teaching, it’s important to remember that it is not a 9-5 job. It’s a vocation, a calling if you like. It’s not a job you can switch off as you walk out the door.

What teaching is though, is a chance to enthuse and motivate learners, to give them a sense of wonder, to make the ordinary, extra-ordinary. To make a difference in a world of difference. Teaching is about shaping tomorrow’s world, the fires we light today will burn long into the future.

If you want an easy life free from stress, worry and long hours teaching may not be for you. But if you like a challenge, being creative and innovative in your work. If you strive to inspire, regardless of praise and gratitude, if you have a passion to better the lives of others and give selflessly of yourself. If you can do all this in the uncertain times ahead, you’re made of the stuff the profession needs.

No doubt we all started our journey in a similar vein. Damian Hughes in his book ‘Liquid Thinking’ urges us to look back at our CVs and job applications regularly and to be that person more of the time. To be our ideal self, the person we described when we described ourselves at our best. That’s our challenge everyday.

How do you tweet?

A recent conversation with an inquisitive friend about twitter prompted the following Q&A script. It’s pretty much our chat but I thought it worth sharing to see if others have had the same!
1. So what is twitter?
It’s micro blogging. You can speak to people all over the world and join conversations with fellow educators, or anyone for that matter. But you can only use 140 characters.
2. Isn’t that a bit tricky?
Not really, once you get into it. If you want to say more you can always start your own blog. You can then post your link in twitter so people can read more.
3. So who do you tweet with?
Well, you can build up a Personal Learning Network quite easily. I started following educators who posted interesting stuff and then checked out who they were following and who was following them. You can quickly build up a PLN of likeminded thinkers.
4. So what do you talk about?
Anything and everything! There’s always a conversation going on about some educational matter that you have an opinion on or experience of. It really builds up your understanding. Not only nationally but globally. Then there’s hangtags.
5. There’s what? What are hashtags?
Well, if you see a hashtag and you click on it you can follow that conversation thread. For example on a Tuesday night it’s #edchat. You can follow and join in that conversation every week by simply clicking the hashtag. Every week there’s a different question posed and you can contribute by using the hashtag before you tweet. It’s very straightforward. Thursday night there’s a #edchatuk too.
6. So, how often do you tweet?
I have to admit I am on twitter most days, 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there. There are certain times I try and go on. Tuesdays and Thursdays obviously. Then there’s Follow Friday.
7. What?
Every Friday you’ll see people recommend people to follow using the #ff hashtag. It means they’re saying interesting stuff, or maybe the been really helpful to someone, shared some helpful advice or written a great blogpost. It’s another great chance to build up your PLN.
8. Right. So if I want to get started?
Just google twitter and you’re away! There are lots of twitter clients like tweetdeck and echofon but you can explore all of them and see which you prefer. You can tweet from your phone as well. Either via text or over the net.
Sound good. So is it a bit like Facebook then?
Err, yeah sort of!!

Getting the balance right

In a meeting with our teaching and learning group last year, we discussed how much time in lessons is spent actively involved in independent learning as opposed to teacher directed.

We decided that at some stages (beginnings of topics etc) and in some lessons, a strong teaching input was needed. At most other times however, it was felt students benefited from being more actively involved in their learning.

To gauge how much time in lessons was generally teacher led/student passive and how much time students were active we decided to chart a lesson. Using a simple time chart (a sheet of paper with a horizontal time line through the middle. Above the line, teacher led, below the line, student active) the children tracked the lesson with a pencil going above and below the horizontal timeline minute by minute as appropriate.

The results showed that much more time than necessary was being spent with the teacher talking, not enough time was being given over to the active learning.

What did all of this tell us? Well firstly it surprised the teacher how much they spoke. It made it clear to them that student engagement didn’t rely on them in a didactic role and that we often overestimate how much we need to say before real, authentic learning can begin.

This experiment would work equally well if a teacher were to film their own lesson and play it back in private using a similar time chart. What it does is help teachers recognise whether or not they have got the balance right between teacher led and student centered learning. It can be a very useful took in shaping classroom practice.

Thinking about thinking

A while ago a headteacher colleague and myself attended a course on thinking skills. We were keen to develop these in our schools and came up with the following plan.

We set aside a joint inset day for both schools to work together the following year. We identified two key staff in each of our schools to attend training prior to our joint inset. Following the course we released the four teachers to work together, to talk through what they had found out and decide on approaches to try in their own classrooms. Along with us they planned the joint inset day for the beginning of the following year based on their own experiences of using thinking skills in the classroom and what they had learnt from their training.

For the training day itself we hired a local venue convenient for staff from both schools. We wanted the day to feel like a professional experience and give everyone an opportunity to engage in quality surroundings, in recognition of how importantly we viewed this training.

As headteachers, my colleague and I introduced the day. We introduced the staff who would be leading the sessions and handed over to them to talk about thinking skills in the classroom, how they had used key strategies, what had worked and what hadn’t etc. Their own experiences of implementation gave them a credibility with their peers and this was very important. If you’re being encouraged to try something new it is best to hear from someone who has already been there.

Throughout the day we tried out a range of practical ideas in groups. We tried De Bono’s thinking hats and thinking keys amongst others, discussing where and how they might be used to support learners. Schools were mixed and staff talked with each other about experiences beyond the day. Something we actively encouraged. It was the beginning of a local PLN!

At the end of the day staff were asked to decide on a strategy they would take away from the sessions and use in their own class. Contacts were exchanged and a follow up twilight was planned for the next term to share experiences.

The staff who led the training were delighted to have been given the opportunity. It was a chance for them to develop professionally beyond their class or school and lead their peers in a key area supported by their headteachers. The local authority also asked us if the teachers could lead sessions in other schools. Something they did with enthusiasm. It was a great CPD opportunity in many ways.

This kind of collaborative venture is not only hugely beneficial, as it enables a few schools to focus on specific areas of interest to them, but also important in today’s climate where funding and LA support is diminishing. Building networks, big or small, local or global is the way for schools to move forward in uncertain times. I know the staff involved in this project would fully support this view.