In this e-zine

1. Beginning another new school year.
2. Reflections on the New Zealand Curriculum – main themes.
3. Most important book for 2008
4. If you haven’ done so, read Bruce’ blog ( Rants raves and biased opinions)
5. Inquiring into your teaching ( page 35 NZC)
6. Quotes

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1 Beginning of a new year – ‘great expectations’

We appreciate that the beginning of the year is a hectic time for school and teachers.  There is no ‘shallow end’ in teaching and even experienced teachers have to face up to the yearly challenge of establishing a positive learning culture in their rooms. Often time to think is ‘eaten’ up with administrative requirements so, for some practical ideas to begin the year with, download the newsletters below and pass on to teachers

Newsletters: www.leading-learning.co.nz/newsletters/begin-teaching.html
       www.leading-learning.co.nz/newsletters//2003-no12html

Great Expectations by Jane Bluestone is an excellent and reassuring read: www.janebluestein.com./articles.great.exps.htlm

Criteria for a creative classroomhttp://leading-learning.blogspot.com/2007/08/criteria-for-quality-classroom.html

Bruce beliefs about a creative classroom – what are yours  (or your school)?http://leading-learning.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-revised-vision-and-beliefs.htm

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2 Reflections on the New Zealand Curriculum – good news at last!

As much as we were critical of the previous New Zealand Curriculum, with its endless curriculum objectives and impossible assessment requirements, we are now very supportive of the ‘revised’ NZC.

The vision of ‘Confident, Connected, Actively Involved and Lifelong Learners’ is a worthy one. And no one could have any argument with the Principles or Values. In many ways it all seems a bit ‘back to the future’ for those with longer memories!  The Key Competencies – capabilities for lifelong learning are to underpin all learning. Schools would be well advised to see them as ‘touchstones’ to self-reference all learning against. They are ‘both a means and an end’.

Although not stated, the thinking competency is based on a constructivist philosophy. One of the key phrases in the NZC is that students should be seen as ‘problem solvers (who) actively seek, use, and create knowledge’ (p 12). Students ‘prior ideas’ and questions are to be valued

Just imagine a curriculum based on students solving real problems in all learning areas. A look through the eight learning areas would indicate that all learning ought to be based on an inquiry approach, although this is not explicitly stated.

Integrated learning is emphasized to encourage students to see connections and to express their ideas through a variety of art and media forms.

Engaging content (‘rich topics’) is also to be seen as a ‘means to an end’ (p 16). Each Learning Area provides students with a framework to explore and express what they experience. This lines up well with the multiple intelligences ideas of Howard Gardner.

The valuable Pedagogy section (p 34/5) emphasizes the ‘artistry’ of the teacher and is also heavily based on constructivist teaching ( if not mentioned). It also places value on teacher student relationships.

The NZF gives schools the scope to ‘design’, not ‘cover’, curriculums that ‘are responsive to the particular needs, interests and talents’ of the students. This reflects, but does not mention, the concept of ‘personalized teaching’ to replace the previous ‘standardized approach.

Even assessment reads like common sense; ‘best understood as an ongoing process that arises out of the interactions between teaching and learning’. Teacher professionalism and their subjective views are now to be valued and teachers are encouraged to take  a ‘co-constructive’ or ‘cognitive coach’ approach.

(3) Most important book for 2007: ‘The Best Schools’

A friend of mine returned from his Woolf Fisher Study Award having being told the most important book to read was ‘The Best Schools’ by Thomas Armstrong. It is all about respecting the differing developmental needs of students at each stage of schooling and the problem of pushing a misdirected academic education down the school system. Developmental needsare mentioned briefly in the NZC (p 41) as ‘learning pathways’ .If you want to read a summary go to: http://www.leading-learning.co.nz/newsletters/2007-no29.html

Or read Bruce’s shorter blog.http://leading-learning.blogspot.com/2007/12/our-schools-are-dysfunctional.html

(4) Bruce’s Blogs – Rants, Raves, and Biased Opinions!

Many schools make a selective use of Bruce’s blog for professional reading. There is a RSS feed if  your school want to link the blogs to their  website.  

If you haven’t had a look, take the time now.  http://leading-learning.blogspot.com/          This year Bruce is to publish a selection of the best blogs as a book through Publish Me. http://www.publishme.co.nz/shop/-p-19.html

1. Action Plan to inquire into your teaching.

The NZC challenges schools and teachers to’ inquire into their own teaching’ to study the impact of their teaching on their student’s growth. This is an important inclusion. Bruce has a range of practical action plan workbooks that a number of schools make use to motivate teachers to inquire into their teaching.  Check them out at: http://www.publishme.co.nz/shop/-p-19.html  They include ‘best practice’ research and the insights of creative teachers. Titles are:  Presentation of Student work; Room Environments; Interactive Teaching (Constructivist Teaching); Integrated Learning; The Creative Process; and Teaching Thinking. Includes both idea and examples.

Take a look. http://www.publishme.co.nz/shop/-p-19.html

1. A few quotes. For more quotes http://www.leading-learning.co.nz/famous-quotes.html

‘These are my principles and if you don’t like then I can change them.’  Groucho Marx
‘Conversations would be vastly improved by the constant use of three simple words: I do not know’.
                                                                                                Andre Maurais French Novelist
‘Doing nothing is hard to do- you never know when you are finished’.      Leslie Nielson US Actor

‘When technology changes your horizon changes’                                 Andy Epps NZ Photographer
‘However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.’  Winston Churchill‘
‘What remains when what has been learnt has been forgotten.’         Education is B F Skinner‘        
 ‘We need students with the future in their bones not teachers with a nostalgic belief in yesterday’         
‘The best is yet to be’                                                                                            Robert Browning

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Final thoughts

We are hoping to send out our e-zines more regularly than in 2007.

We thank all our friends for their continued support and appreciate any feedback you might like to send us .Send feedback to Bruce: bhmmonds@clear.net.nz

We think 2008, with the introduction of the NZF, will be the beginning of a new creative era in education. As Thomas Jefferson said, ‘A little revolution now and then is a good thing’. The balance of power is shifting back to schools. The question, is do schools have the courage to taker up the challenge?

Ka kite ano
Kia kaha

Bruce and Wayne.
www.leading-learning.co.nz