Breaking News!
I’m excited to share with you all that I’ll be starting a new role as the Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching at John Paul College in Frankston this year! It’s an honor to be given this opportunity and I’m eager to begin working with the staff and students at JPC.
I’d like to take a moment to thank the staff at Loyola College, where I’ve spent much of my professional career. I have many fond memories there and am grateful for their support over the years. While I’m sad to be leaving, I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my career.
Well that year went fast
The pandemic has taught us the importance of being adaptable and flexible in our approach to teaching and we made many advances during the COVID years. However it has been disappointing that some teachers reverted to traditional approaches and styles of teaching once students returned to in-person learning.
In some ways this year was tougher than the previous two. I like many other educators were not ‘match fit’ and I have never seen staff more tired than I did during this year.
Public Speaking for Teachers
Public speaking, it is commonly said, is one of the most pervasive fears (in some surveys, second only to death). It is estimated that 75% of all people suffer from fear of public speaking. In teacher training, speaking skills are rarely taught in any formal sense, which may increase anxiety. Yet public speaking is one of the most important skills for teachers hence a skill which is commonly tested—from classes to formal presentations in staff meetings.
Teaching is the most versatile profession in the world. Change my mind!
Before I convince you that teachers require the widest range of skills of any profession, I want to clarify some things first.
I am not saying it’s the most difficult, dangerous, back breaking, or demanding job in the world (though at times it can feel like all those things). What I am proposing is a teaching day has so much variety, that the talents you need to succeed go well beyond what you would see in a position description.
Showbags, Cookbook and Uber Education. The future of school stakeholder engagement
With 24 hours’ notice, schools found themselves in a predicament. For the first time in a century, they couldn’t connect with their community in conventional ways. Quickly they churned out virtual tours, took parent teacher interviews online and Principals hopped in their car to hand deliver resources.
Book Review: Screen Schooled
During a time when students (and teachers) are online more than ever, Joe Clements and Matt Miles’ book, Screen Schooled, could not be more relevant. They challenge our reliance on digital devices in the classroom and encourage educators to reflect on our practices.
What holiday teacher are you?
As teachers in Australia settle into the third week of their summer holidays, all of them will be treating the break differently. While some will have completely left the classroom behind, others will be reading this article while planning for 2021.
So, what type of ‘Holiday Teacher’ are you?
The students have gone quiet
Is it just me or do schools sound different since the return of students from remote learning? There seems to be a hush about the place. A volume that classroom walls are not a custom to hearing.
I thought maybe it was just my school, however after conversations with fellow Victorian colleague’s, and my wife who is also a teacher, it seems fairly common across schools
So now what happens?
Now I am sure that many schools across the country have had the same conversation after their respective lockdown periods. Every faculty and pastoral meeting would have had it on the agenda. Lists would have been made and Principal Executive teams would have collated the feedback. The question…. what are our Lessons from Lockdown?
1 Second Everyday: A year in the life of a teacher
In 2018, when I was in my previous role as Head of Performing Arts, I took on the goal of filming myself at school for 1 second everyday.
This project served a few purposes. For me personally it was form of journaling and a great tool for reflection at the end of the year. For my school, it was a great way to promote what we do in the performing arts, and as teachers in general.
