Educating the Dragon

I’m not so flash up the front, especially when I have very little to say and what can be said needs to be done carefully. My last day at Peterhead School arrived yesterday and although I spent much of the week ferrying my stuff home it did not feel real until I sat in the staffroom desperately scribbling keywords on my hand trying to think of something to say.

Here is what I wanted to say…

I want to begin by thanking Jenny, who works in the next class and is the polar opposite of me, being ultra-organised. I must have driven her crazy with my last minute questions.

I wanted to thank Martin Genet, Principal, firstly for employing me in the first place and secondly for giving me the IWB which has led to so many developments in my professional life, most of which can be tracked through my blog archive.

I was somewhat disappointed with Amazon.com whose tracking system failed to deliver David Warlick’s book, Redefining Literacy for the 21^st century, a book I was gifting to the school.
I wanted to emphasise that it was not that I couldn’t deliver the curriculum in the ‘Peterhead Way’ it was more to the point that I didn’t want to. I believe that there are elements within the ‘Peterhead Way’ that are right for the 21^st century, for the community in which we serve yet there is an element within that philosophy that is resistant to change. I realise that change needs to incremental within any institution but I felt saddened to think that individuals who wish see the school community grow are not given the flexibility to try things out. As I identified in my recent podcast there is no excuse more burying our heads in the sand and ignoring implications of technology on the education system we are providing for the next generation.

My heart goes out to my principal, a true visionary and leader who is handcuffed to staff who are pillars of the school. I wish in some ways that I could have stayed, the school and the wider Flaxmere community is on the cusp of a wave of change…. I wonder if they will paddle hard and catch the wave or allow it to flow beneath them and allow the tide to drift them further into the ocean.

I am nervous of the future. Not having a job and relying on relief teaching, but I guess that change is good. You have to embrace it. As Steven Carden says: “Without hope driving our aspirations we become captive to whatever is happening in the present.”

Effective literacy practise is my second podcast.

This wonderful book took 10 years in the making.

There isn’t a ‘text book’ for technology is the point I want to make. And  there isn’t a ‘core text’ to build a school-wide approach around.

What is the reason for this? Is it because technology is not worth focusing on and should remain the ’second-class’ subject it is or is it because technology is developing too rapidly for educational practice to keep pace.

 If I had researched and written a book about the integration of technology into the classroom context over the same period and released it for school to adopt and adapt on the self same day we would be reading about how to Drill and and kill our kids in word and maths games, developing those core skills.

Instead todays technology is about using the computer, internet and associated applications as Mindtools and harnessing the power of social networking to further learning. There are debates ranging from the use of gaming as an educational platform to advotes for use of PDA’s in the classroom. Connection to high speed broadband is becoming increasingly accessed wirelessly.

Just because there is not a book out there does not excuse us from infusing technology into our classrooms, not harnessing the power of the internet to broaden students experiences and deepen their understanding of the world and widen their horizons and aspirations.  

Now that I am stepping away from the Flaxmere scene for a while, Peterhead in particular. I would like to lay down the gauntlet for those teachers that remain.

 In the coming years as the Interactive Whiteboard project continues and the ICTPD progresses there is potential for pedagogical rethink about how we are to educate the Flaxmere student’. I challenge you to seek out the book…. and read it. I have gifted a copy to the school, check in the staffroom or order your own copy.

Read it and ponder this:

 What are the key goals identified in the book?

How do you see these being reflected in your school or in your own practise?

 What is the one thing that you have taken away from the book and how will that impact upon your professional understanding, your classroom practice or both?

Leave a comment with your thoughts: 

As the year end approaches my school is seeking out my students views and as I have to summarise their thoughts I thought I could do it here. Previously I began the process some weeks ago and posted here. But now is the time to complete the form.

Discuss the school’s Mission Statement:

Peterhead School will provide our children with the opportunity to develop their talents and abilites fully, within a warm supportive and caring environment.

What does ‘quality learning and behaviour’ mean?

 It means that you can  learn and be brainy. It also means obiedience- doing as you’re told. It’s about doing quality work, following the rules and demonstrating Good behaviour like being sensible.

What is a ‘caring environment’?

 To my students a ‘caring environment is about sharing their ideas in class, keeping the classroom clean. And making your classroom a special place.

How do we make our classroom a special place?

We can clean up, put everything in the right place and have sensible kids, make sure we are all friends,

What ‘opportunities’ should the school provide?

Setting us boundaries and limits. Giving us rules. Let us do jobs and take responsibility.

Giving us new things like maths games reading games and writing books and stuff to play with a morning tea.

What does their ‘full potential’ mean?

Trying your hardest. Being ready ready for high school and college.Reaching my goals Being brainy. Helping other people.

What kind of skills do you think you will need to learn in class to be successful in the future?

Positive attitude, bake stuff like cakes and get paid for it. Computer Skills- like how to get on the internet and use google to find stuff. Skills of how to fix a car.

What are the responsibilites of students to their teachers, the school and fellow students?

Being very nice and kind. Respect each other. Look after them like they’re your mum and dad. Being nice and friendly. Be nice to your teachers and not naughty.

What qualities make a great teacher?

They are nice, and kind. They are caring helpful. They teach you to respect. They use their manners. They are nice to us and let us go out for PE.

How do great teacher help students learn?

 Make us learn for the future by teaching us to write and read. By talking and showing us. Do amazing things to make us brainy like help us when we are stuck.

These are the raw results.. I found them interesting and will be posting later….

Well happy birthday blog…

12 months, I’d like to say its flown by and in one sense it has, but in quite another it seems an age ago since I started this online experiment. In a tradition that Chrissy seems to have begun, now is my change to reflect on the past posts and remanise about the good old days….

My first post.. Let’s face it, nobody read it, well hardly anyone. But what it talks about… Has anything really changed? The Holy Grail remains elusive

Most contraversial –Maybe I should, maybe I shouldn’t've post this but when it happened I was taken aback on serveral fronts. You will have noticed I have not removed my video as a result of this but I did redo another video in-light of what I’ve learnt. Here is an a fun link to consider copyright. Enjoy!

Most far reaching?  – Little did I realise that Derek would throw this post up onto the big screen at Ulearn07. The conversation through comments is an interesting one. And the final comment caused me to post again… the conversation continuing! It hadn’t happened before and it hasn’t happened since but this edublogosphere is powerful in the voice it gives the ‘everyman’ (every-person in this pc world?).

My attempts at podcasting, Jane would just hold her head in shame! But having said that the content of the Ian Jukes visit really hit home for me and is reflected in my classroom practise- so it’s not all bad!

Most ill timed post- When life gets busy perhaps writing a post about it should be the last thing you do- but not me! I’m in the middle of the day in question and I couldn’t help myself.

Charting my classroom practise Maybe I am learning something along the way. Just wish I could put more of these good intensions into practice.

Best use of an IWB- This is where the power of the internet and the IWB feed the and nurish the inquiring mind- Digital technology at work!

Most help provided via comments and this one too - Thanks everyone and I’ll be sharing the results with you early next year- hopefully!

Am I miserable failure- So much for setting goals and meeting them. Over the summer I think I need to review carefully what it is I need to address and move ahead more purposefully. It’s going to be different without a class.

Considering education in Flaxmere- I have to say that the kids in Flaxmere hold a special place in my heart and always will. Here are my post hoping to help teachers of these kids…. but are any of them reading??

But I guess the real question is “Have I learnt anything from this experience?”

Now I think I’ll go away to a darkened room and consider that question.