Imagine if the story of the stork delivering the baby was true. When I was young, kids’ TV shows didn’t dare mention, or even allude to, the real method of conception and delivery. Instead, we saw the image of a stork delivering a baby, perhaps unsuspectingly, to the happy couple. “The baby’s here, now what?”Continue reading "Leadership again: “I’ve opened the space for learning, now what?” #thingsyoushouldneversay"
Leadership Culture 201: Two steps to transforming your school
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 educationContinue reading "Leadership Culture 201: Two steps to transforming your school"
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 playContinue reading "Let’s change the way teachers learn, so we can change the way teachers teach #mim14"
Leadership Culture 101: Model great #followership to build collaboration.
The culture of leadership in the 21st century is relational and collaborative. The pressure is off leaders to feel that they must have all the answers. Instead, when they work within a culture of collaboration, the process of allowing and enabling the unique suite of strengths to flourish is essential. My own team knows so muchContinue reading "Leadership Culture 101: Model great #followership to build collaboration."
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 comeContinue 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 leadershipContinue 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 oneContinue 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 theContinue 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, “IContinue reading "A story of a young girl’s dream. How do we help our kids to reach for the stars?"
I am an ocean swimmer: 6 key things I learnt about myself along the way
I am an ocean swimmer. When I started on this journey about three months ago I faced a couple of mountains - raising $1250 for cancer research and swimming 1km in the North Bondi Classic. The first mountain was quickly climbed, through the generosity of many, together we raised more than $1700. The second mountainContinue reading "I am an ocean swimmer: 6 key things I learnt about myself along the way"
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