Book Review: The Connection Curriculum
Matt Pitman’s ‘The Connection Curriculum’ addresses the pressing issue of connectedness in schools. By prioritising human connections over mere academic achievements, Pitman provides a practical roadmap for educators. His advice on fostering relationships, community belonging, and student voice offers a pathway to creating more connected and supportive school environments. This book is essential reading for any educator committed to building a thriving, compassionate educational community.
I interviewed 100 teachers this year. Here is what I learnt.
In the past year, I’ve conducted over 100 interviews for teaching and educational support roles. During this extensive interview process, I’ve encountered remarkable individuals, experienced moments of frustration, and sometimes wished I could conclude an interview after just a few minutes.
Having surpassed the century mark in interviews, I’ve gained a clear understanding of what works in an education interview. Here are my top 5 words of advice for those entering the realm of school job interviews:
Three Popular Reads: Key Takeaways for Teachers
As an educator, school holidays provide a precious opportunity to step back, recharge, and dive into some of the pleasures you don’t have time for during the term. For me, that’s reading.
The following three books are some of the most read books in the world of leadership and education. Here are my bite-sized summaries of these enlightening reads, each offering valuable insights for educators and leaders alike.
Creative Schools by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica, The 5:00 AM Club by Robin Sharma, and The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Book Review: Passion, Guts, and Leadership
Term 4, 2012, marked a significant turning point in my life. As an 11th-year secondary school teacher, I had the joy of welcoming our daughter into the world with my wife Rachel, who is also an educator. After much consideration, we decided that Rachel would return to work full-time while I would take on the role of the stay-at-home dad.
Now, those who work in secondary schools know that part-time teacher timetables are the hardest things to create, so I was not going to be able to get the 2 straight days I was after. Enter Deborah Patterson.
Book Review: Teacher Wellbeing
In her book “Teacher Wellbeing: A Real Conversation for Teachers and Leaders,” Amy Green offers a comprehensive guide to addressing this problem by providing practical strategies and insights for teachers to better manage their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. She argues that focusing on subjective wellbeing alone, such as engaging in activities that provide instant gratification, is not enough to sustain long-term wellbeing. Instead, teachers need to engage in psychological wellbeing solutions that allow them to build resilience and cope with the stressors of their job.
Book Review: Dare to Lead
Brené Brown’s book, Dare to Lead, is a guide for leaders who want to cultivate a culture of courageous, wholehearted leadership. According to Brown, a leader is anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential. In the education context, she stresses the importance of creating a space in our schools and classrooms where students can take off the crushing weight of their armor and truly be seen.
Book Review: Classroom Vibe
Classroom Vibe: Practical Strategies for Better Classroom Culture by Tim O’Leary is an helpful resource for educators seeking to create a more productive and positive learning environment. Tim argues that classroom culture, which he calls classroom vibe, is a critical factor in student learning, and provides practical strategies for improving it. The book covers a range of topics, including the importance of teacher quality, the challenges of creating change in education, and the core elements of an effective classroom vibe.
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.
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.
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?
