Hi Colleagues,
I hope this week’s edition finds you well.
QUOTE
“The pandemic has equipped us with greater knowledge about student engagement and disengagement. Let’s show wisdom by avoiding a return to the worst of a disengaging past and embracing an educational future full of magic, meaning, and mastery.”
The Future of Learning Lies in Engagement ; Andy Hargreaves, ASCD Educational Leadership; Vol 79 No. 4 Dec 21-Jan 2022
FUNNY OF THE WEEK
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Link
GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT
Related to the Tweet of the Week, here is a taste of what I wrote about this week:
“The current situation is that it is accepted as part of your job that you will be abused, not because you’ve done anything wrong, but because you are fair game.”
Click on the link below to read the full article (* language warning!).
Link
I’ve also included links to a couple of my previous articles that are very relevant to this time of year in schools.
ATTENTION EARLY YEARS TEACHERS
The next episode of the Education Enclave podcast is now live and is proving to be a real hit with a big jump in downloads.
In the episode I’m joined by Jess Howe who is the Foundation Team Leader at Woori Yallock Primary School.
Jess is an amazing educator, who I’ve had the privilege of observing from the start of her career, right up until now.
If you’re an Early Years teacher this is a must listen.
We discuss the Foundation classroom, high expectations, coaching, phonics, writing, spelling and communities of practice.
I’m already thinking about a round 2 with Jess. If you have any questions for Jess, or myself, send them through, and we will organise another catch up.
I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did!
You have the option of listening via the podcast or watching the YouTube video.
Podcast - Link
YouTube - Link
THE 3/4 PUTTING WRITING ON A PEDESTAL COMMUNITY
In the last few editions, I shared how a number of my schools have been putting writing on a pedestal. In particular, I highlighted the great work that Woori Yallock PS have been doing at going public with their writing and giving their students an authentic purpose and audience.
I was privy to a video of the Woori Yallock students reading the feedback they received. They were so excited, and it shows how powerful this process is.
The Google Sites that the 3/4 team at Woori put together has led to a community of educators and schools working together to give each other feedback.
Mount Waverley, Clarinda, Gembrook, Cobram and Livingstone Primary Schools (sorry if I’ve missed your school) all provided feedback to the writing, and now the community is looking at expanding this further.
The Year 3/4 students at Livingstone have published some picture books and I would love it if you could find some time to provide them with feedback.
Below are links to two of the classes:
While you’re at it, ask your students if this is something they would like to do with their published writing. It would be amazing to grow this community of students further and provide real purpose for their writing (as well as celebrating).
FLOODS
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve spent time in areas that have been impacted by the floods including Barham, Moama, Kyabram, and Shepparton.
Fingers crossed we get a break from the current weather cycle and things can return to something approaching normal.
GEOGRAPHY
If you’re like me and enjoy all things geography you will love Geo Quiz.
It’s a geographical accuracy challenge where you have to name the countries of the world. I challenge you to see if you can get more than 50 out of the 193 countries. The map lights up and you have to put a name to the country highlighted.
LAUREN’S FIGHT FOR A FEARLESS FUTURE
In recent editions I highlighted a cause that is close to home for me. A gofundme page was setup for Lauren Sneddon to help in her fight against multiple sclerosis.
The Gala that was held earlier this month raised close to $47,000, and the gofundme page is close to $74,000.
The goal was to raise $100,000, so Loz can now head over to Mexico to get the treatment she requires to hopefully stop the disease in its tracks.
Thank you to any of my readers who donated to this cause and therefore making the treatment possible.
BAROOGA PRIMARY SCHOOL
A vacancy for the principal position has recently become available at Barooga PS.
The NSW DoE has put up an Expression of Interest for 12 months. If you’re interested, you don’t have to have completed your NSW Public School Leadership Credential in order to apply.
If this position is something you might consider, let me know and I can send you further details.
INBOX
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading and see you next week, Danny. P.S Feel free to provide me with any feedback regarding the newsletter, or anything for that matter via email.
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