This newsletter, edited by Wayne Morris and Bruce Hammonds, goes out to approx. 2500 members, mainly in NZ but increasingly world-wide. To subscribe, or remove your address, go to our website www.leading-learning.co.nz/newsletter.html - it is a simple process.

We appreciate feedback and promise to reply to all that take the time. Contact Bruce at bhammonds@leading-learning.co.nz

This e-zine has been written by Bruce Hammonds

WHATS IN THIS E-ZINE

1. What Wayne and Bruce have been up to
2. Editorial Comment - the past meets the future!
3. Feedback since last e-zine
4. We now know enough that no student need fail!
5. A vision and beliefs system to customise.

1. What Wayne and Bruce have been up to?

Wayne has been busy working in the corporate world and seems always to be flying somewhere in NZ. Next year he has plans to work more from home and focus on developing resources. In his spare time he is, with his wife Sarah, planning a new house on a site high above a river. It will be fantastic!

'All life is an experiment'
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Bruce has been working in depth in a number of schools and for him the highlight was giving a keynote talk and a workshop at the highly successful BEST Seminar held in Rotorua. Almost 400 teachers attended to share their ideas. Other than that Bruce has re-roofed his house and tidied up his wilderness garden deep in the Taranaki bush.

2. Editorial Comment -the past meets the future!

'Education needs to be reinvented'
Charles Handy

There is no doubt in our minds that there are two competing educational agendas claiming teacher's attention. One has it's genesis in the so called 'modern' efficiency movement of the 20th Century and the other is concerned with reinterpreting John Dewey's progressive humanistic ideas in post- modern context.

'It is nothing short of a miracle that modern methods of instruction have not entirely extinguished the Holy Spirit of curiosity'
Albert Einstein.

Ministries of Education world-wide, under the influence of the now discredited ideology of Market Forces (the efficiency and competition ideas of the 90s), have imposed complicated standardised curricula. For over a decade teachers have struggled to comply, implement and assess these unwieldy documents. In NZ, the Ministry has revised its expectations but this has been essentially 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!' The Ministry is now wisely encouraging both inter school collaboration and producing helpful resources. While these moves are commendable schools will need to be alert to the dangers of a growing 'bureaucratic creep'. Schools will need to consider thoughtfully the latest ideas to improve schools, the 'Smart Charters' and particularly the measurable 'targets'.

'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result'
Albert Einstein

There is a very real possibility of mediocrity becoming the norm, unless principals show real leadership. Some schools still seem to be locked into trying to guess what the Ministry wants, causing what one writer calls 'corrosion of the character'. And ERO (the NZ school review organisation) creates a 'virus' called 'anticipatory dread' - resulting in an outbreak of clear folders! Both these conforming situations hardly create ideal conditions for creative teachers to ensure students acquire the appropriate 'visas' for their 'passports to the future.'

'The Empires of the future will be Empires of the mind'
Winston Churchill

Our site www.leading-learning.co.nz is dedicated to ensuring creative teachers play a major role in creating schools as 'learning organisations' based on shared vision, values and teaching beliefs. Our vision is to develop schools that realise the dreams, passions and talents of all students. Developing everyone's talents has to be the basis for creating NZ as the innovative and creative country that the Prime Mister often talks about. We believe we now know enough about learning that no student need fail - but only if we change our minds (and our schools) first!

'Where there is no vision the people perish.'
Proverbs 20:18

3. We love feedback- it seems the in word these days!

Here is some feedback about our site since the last e-zine.

'Your stuff really is solid. Thanks for sharing.'
Sally/ USA

'Your e-mail, I find inspirational'
Delwyn / NP

'Your e-zine hit the nail on the head! As educational leaders we need to be on the front foot or yet again some person will decide for us.'
Graig H

'Thank you Wayne/Bruce for the latest 'lighten up' and quotes. They truly make life lighter!
Heather / Hawkes Bay

'You have a damn good website. Inspirational.'
Roger / Cant.

'I like your iconoclastic style'
Jacqueline /USA

'Fantastic! Reading your e-zine is an encouragement that I am in step with some people!'
Pennie /Thames

'It is amazing how attached some systems are to archaic, destructive ideas, and how the creative and innovative ideas people are getting beat up.'
Jane B / USA

'I read everything you send and love it!'
Jacq / Wgt

'I stumbled on to your site by accident…what a fantastic site!'
Ian / Queensland Aust

'Thank God for a touch of sanity.'
Kay / Whakatane

'Find your Quality Learning section very worthwhile and thought provoking.'
Suzy / Cambridge

'Thank you for your absorbing newsletter and website articles.'
Annette /Rotorua

'Love the stuff in your newsletter'.
Brendan /Sth Aust

'Thanks for your wisdom and great ideas.'
Margaret / Reporoa

'Great to catch up with you through your newsletter.'
Cedric /Auck

'Your website is a rich resource of ideas, strategies and templates for developing a vision led school'
Margot / Sth Aust

'Great to be taking part in a renascence of a sort, with the grass roots finally leading the charge.'
Cleve/ Whangarei.

'I need sites like yours to provide stimulus for reflection. Thanks heaps.'
Cheryl /Cant

'A great site from NZ - wonderful ideas for transforming schools.'
Judy/ USA www.teachersmind.com

'Your site is one of the most exciting and noteworthy.'
Shaista / Pakistan

'What you do impresses me .You are doing a superb job.'
Mervyn / UK

'Fantastic! Exactly what I am thinking and working towards.'
Gail /Thames

As always your work inspires me and makes me think.'
Nola /Auck

Thanks to all the above and those we didn't have space to include. We love feedback! Wayne and Bruce.

'The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astonishing accuracy.'
Florence Scovel Smith

4. 'We now know enough that no student need fail - if we change our minds first.'

'How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world.'
Ann Frank

We all need to be critical of what distant elites, and particularly politicians, feel is good for us! We need to ask what do we want for our country, our communities, our schools and our students? We need to begin to start a dialogue, a learning conversation, school by school, about these important issues.

The standardised model of learning that is the current vogue is not the answer. Creative schools and teachers hold the real key to lasting educational change not top down imposed change.

'We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.'
Anais Nin

So let's forget the current 'Curriculum Stocktake'! Most schools have moved well beyond its narrow ideological confines. Only the Minister, and his Associate Ms Hobbs, seem to think that teachers feel that great changes are not required! This is not what we hear! We need new idea that resonates with teacher's reality.
 
'We cannot discover new lands until we have the courage to lose sight of the shore'.
Muriel Chen

We are really impressed with the trials of 'New Basics 2010' being undertaken by the Ministry of Education in Queensland.

'Most states are revising their curricula. Such an approach to me is panel beaters delight; it's akin to sticking a 1980s Holden engine in a 1990s Falcon Body, with a mid 70s chassis.'
Alan Luke Assistant Director General. /Queensland

The Queensland 'New Basics 2010' approach:

1 Defines the Future Literacies students need to thrive in the 21stC -more than the traditional 3Rs.
2 For these 'New Basics' to be achieved by students being involved with 6/7 'Rich Topics' per year. NZ teachers would recognise these as integrated themes.
Assessment tasks are imbedded in the topics
3 Greater emphasis then to be placed on assisting teachers widens their repertoire of teaching strategies. The 'art and craft' of teaching.

From Australia, as well, are the ideas of Dr Peter Ellyard

In his book he outlines the need for a new culture or vision of education for the 21st C. Ellyard's ideas are also premised on developing a modern pedagogy for learning. Ellyard believes education needs to be totally transformed so as to ensure all students develop the skills, knowledge and capabilities to thrive in an ambiguous future. He believes the education system, as it is currently structured, is always 'out of date' and in 'catch up' mode. He believes nations need to define their 'preferred future' and then create the conditions to realise their vision. Mass education, the dream of the 19th C has become a mass nightmare for many students. Ellyard's learning culture includes the following elements:

1. 'Life long learning'- just not possible in our current 'educational factories'. Learning needs to be enjoyable
2. 'Learner driven learning'- driven by learner curiosity. ICT now allows this to be realised.
3. 'Just-In-Time Learning'-not 'just in case'!
4. 'Customised Learning'- valuing learning styles
5. 'Transformational Learning' - continually evolving
6. 'Contextual Learning'- real and relevant
7. 'Collaborative learning'- teamwork
8. 'Learning to learn' - teaching 'how to learn'

'We must live to learn so we can learn to live.' Ellyard

From UNESCO - 'Learning the Treasure within'.

All school ought to acquire the 'highlights' (free) of the finding of the UNESCO 'Commission for Education for the 21stCentury' www.unesco.org.nz A fresh approach is suggested for all stages of learning to develop democratic communities and to uncover the 'treasure within each student'. Schools, the report states, need to be rethought - particularly at the secondary level, if they are to be true 'learning communities'.
The UNESCO report goes on to outlines the three pillars necessary if we are to develop a world community able to 'Learn to live together'.

1. 'Learning to know' - combining a broad education with in depth studies.
2. 'Learning to do'- for students to develop their abilities so as to handle unforeseen situations and to be able to work in teams.
3. 'Learning to be'- the importance of personal judgement and responsibility - values.

To achieve such an agenda requires the involvement of every local community and requires a long-term commitment - well beyond most politician's horizons! Once again a community dialogue is called for to break through the current inertia of traditional schooling

'We must find a way or make a way.'
Hannibal

Our web site is full of ideas to transform schools and to develop the talents of all learners. We haven't had space in this e-zine to mention the transformational work of Howard Gardner (Multiple Intelligences) and Art Costa etc. Visit
www.leading-learning.co.nz/quality-learning.html (our site)
www.habits-of-mind.com (Art Costa)
www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/index.html (for a range of educational strategies including Multiple Intelligences.)

'It is not how smart you are but how you are smart'
H Gardner

Methods that matter - from the USA.

One book we want to mention comes to us from the USA. It provides a wonderful contrast from the heavy emphasis on standardised curricula, conformity and testing that we have come to associate with 'mainstream' American Education.

'School can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration'
Higgins and Dolya

'Methods That Matter', by Harvey Daniels and Marilyn Bizar, is published by Stenhouse publications. We suggest you go to the publisher's site and run off the free notes about the book.
www.stenhouse.com

The authors outline (and give practical examples) of 'best practices'. Nothing is claimed to be new. As the authors say, John Dewey would have recognised their six basic 'best practices'! Creative teachers will equally recognise them all.

1. 'Integrative Units' - thematic studies which still value traditional disciplines.
2. 'Small Group Activities' - working on projects.
3. 'Representing to Learn' -the ideas of Multiple Intelligences.
4. 'Classroom Workshops' -to allow 'focused teaching' and feedback. The art of coaching/scaffolding.
5. 'Authentic Experiences' -real life experiences.
6. 'Reflective Experiences' - to provide feedback to ensure continual improvement. Self-assessment. Goal setting.

'You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.'
Beverley Sills

5. A Vision, Values and Beliefs to customise for your school

'Children are travellers in an unknown land and we are their guides'
Robert Fisher.

On our site www.leading-learning.co.nz we have listed our own five powerful learning and teaching beliefs that many school have customised to suit themselves. They are not claimed to be original and are our version of 'best practices'. The five beliefs are:

1. 'Foundation Skills' to be in place. The 3Rs.
2. Students to be seen as 'Strategic Learners'
3. The provision of 'Memorable Learning Experiences'
4. Expecting only students Personal Best - the teacher as a 'coach.- diagnosing, modelling, scaffolding, etc.
5. The development of Classrooms as Safe, Predictable, Informative and Celebratory Environments.

Successful schools we visit have defined a small number of key beliefs, to provide both unity and direction, that all staff can articulate. Do have such beliefs in your school?

Schools may wish to download and adapt a school Vision based on these points. www.leading-learning.co.nz/download-files/te-ara-vision-and-beliefs-number2.doc

We recommend also the excellent guide to Learner Centred Psychological Principles Framework for School Reform (USA)
www.cdl.org/resources Go to the reading room. There are also excellent reading by Michael Fullan on leadership to
find as well! - 'The Change Leader' www.cdl.org/resources/reading_room/print/change_ldr.html
and 'Moral Purpose Writ Large' www.cdl.org/resources/reading_room/print/moral_purpose.html

Another great site to explore www.knowledgeloom.org

Education is that which remains after one has forgotten everything he learnt in school.'
Albert Einstein.

Please share this e-zine with staff and friends. Join them up!
www.leading-learning.co.nz/newsletter.html

'You cannot teach people anything. You can only help them discover it within themselves.'
Galileo

If you feel like giving us feedback about this e-zine or our site do so. bhammonds@leading-learning.co.nz

'Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.'
Mark Twain.

We wish you all a happy Xmas break.

Kia Kaha - have courage - be strong.

Wayne and Bruce