Two steps to transforming your school: Step 1: Find your true north Step 2: Do everything that will make Step 1 happen Many of us agree that the historical model of school is broken and not serving the future, or even the present. Often the factory analogy of separation is used to describe the educationContinueContinue reading “Leadership Culture 201: Two steps to transforming your school”
Category Archives: Education
Let’s change the way teachers learn, so we can change the way teachers teach #mim14
We’ve just concluded our fifth Making it Mobile workshop, held at Northern Beaches Christian School. Excited and passionate educators arrived from Queensland, Victoria, ACT, UK, NZ and Sydney. At Making it Mobile we present a professional learning experience that gives meaningful and helpful input as well as providing teams with the time and the space to playContinueContinue reading “Let’s change the way teachers learn, so we can change the way teachers teach #mim14”
What’s in the ‘secret sauce’ of an innovative school? The SCIL story
Northern Beaches Christian School (NBCS), on the suburban fringe of Sydney has gained a reputation for innovation. There are many components that make this so, including, engaging learning programs, the physical spaces and places around the school, passionate and engaged students, and motivated and inspiring teachers. For the many hundreds of educational visitors who comeContinueContinue reading “What’s in the ‘secret sauce’ of an innovative school? The SCIL story”
What does it really mean to have a culture of leadership at your school? It’s just like yoghurt.
Culture is the result of the fermentation process that gives yoghurt its unique texture and flavour. We can’t actually identify this elusive element called ‘culture’, it is just there, otherwise it wouldn’t be yoghurt. The added fruit or flavourings may enhance, but they aren’t what make it yoghurt. In the same way, a culture of leadershipContinueContinue reading “What does it really mean to have a culture of leadership at your school? It’s just like yoghurt.”
PISA-badge-of-honour or lifelong-learner-skills: Which do we value more?
There was such a flurry of edu-activity this week, headlines like these shouted from the pages of newspapers, or the modern-day media news equivalent: “China’s poorest students outperform <insert modern developed nation>’s wealthiest in international maths test” For example… UK: TES and The Independent Canada’s: The Globe and Mail As I was driving home oneContinueContinue reading “PISA-badge-of-honour or lifelong-learner-skills: Which do we value more?”
The story of a (probably) ‘naughty’ boy: Seek first to understand
‘Naughty’ It’s not a term I use. The word ‘naughty’ doesn’t solve anything or help anyone. It has become one of those general descriptors, a label. Back when I completed my Masters of Education I specialised in behaviour. I have always found the way that humans act and respond to circumstances as fascinating. At theContinueContinue reading “The story of a (probably) ‘naughty’ boy: Seek first to understand”
A story of a young girl’s dream. How do we help our kids to reach for the stars?
Driving to work the other morning I was streaming a BBC Radio 4 series Loose Ends, I started listening to the program as host, Clive Anderson was introducing his next guest. Her story captivated me. Maggie struggled at school, she was dyslexic, reading and writing was a challenge. She described her experiences at school, “IContinueContinue reading “A story of a young girl’s dream. How do we help our kids to reach for the stars?”
Starting the year at NBCS: Putting the F.U.N in PD to build a positive culture of collaboration and connection.
We all knew it was coming. At the end of 2013, as the school year was finishing, the construction (and demolition) crews were coming into NBCS. Project Barcelona, the much awaited development of transforming the physical space of ‘school’ into a whole new model was underway. The brief that principal Stephen Harris gave toContinueContinue reading “Starting the year at NBCS: Putting the F.U.N in PD to build a positive culture of collaboration and connection.”
Multi-level schools for multi-level living: 7 lessons from great cities around the world (and lots of pics)
Look around at the places where people gather: shopping malls, offices, hotel lobbies, pubs. All these places are seeking to make an environment that make people want to return. At my local mall there are numerous ‘living room’ areas for people to sit, meet and wait. The design of these new communities are multi-level, spaciousContinueContinue reading “Multi-level schools for multi-level living: 7 lessons from great cities around the world (and lots of pics)”
If… “Self-discipline predicted academic performance more robustly than IQ” …then what will you change in your school?
Have you heard these statements? A parent may say “I like Mr X for my son’s teacher, he is a good disciplinarian.” What about this advice to a new teacher: “Don’t smile for the first month, and you will be able to discipline them for the year.” One of our greatest responsibilities as educators isContinueContinue reading “If… “Self-discipline predicted academic performance more robustly than IQ” …then what will you change in your school?”
culture | learning | design 