I’m facilitating a session on “supporting teachers” – it’s very eye-opening to hear of the burnout that other teachers suffer and how they’d like to avoid it. The telling thing is that no-one wants a reduction in teaching load – they are energized by teaching. Ken Robinson makes more and more sense every day.

I am sitting in the LEEP un-comference session and am blown away by the amount of responsibility that primary school students can be given and that they cope with and yet what do we do for them when they get to us???? Where are our leadership programs?? We are SUCH a respected school (even more than I ever thought after being here) and we should be developing leaders of the future. I KNOW sport is a huge part of Joeys but are we developing our sport at the expense of other skills?? I think the only answer is yes (at the moment).

How often have we as educators done our very best work when we break a few rules?? Maybe we need long winded unattainable assessment schedules just so we can all – teacher and student alike – experience the creative joy of ignoring them and doing what we are all good at. Comrades…….to the barricades……….”Do you hear the people sing, singing a …………….”

What separates a good teacher from a great teacher? Passion, love of learning, compassion, willingness…. sounds a lot like Marcellin’s teachings in the 21st Century….

You shouldn’t send teachers on conferences – we start having mad and controversial ideas. One great thing about this conference has been discovering just how highly regarded we are as an educational establishment – there are people out there who see us as the shining city on the hill…..I spoke to one teacher last night who’s worst day in education was the day she didn’t get a job at Joeys. Yet they seem to believe that we must be, we have to be, leaders and innovators in 21st century education. Are we? Would we honestly say we are? I know I’m not……….yet!

“You cannot teach another person directly you can only facilitate their learning” Do we always do this? Or do we try to stick ONLY to our programs and tick each box as we go? Our boys already know how to use so many technologies why are we not USING what they know and enjoy to help them learn? Maybe trust is an issue…. something to think about.

A structure becomes most rigid when under threat……..just saying!

Oh – and Marist education just got held up as a shining example of how to do it well 🙂

Great quote from Chris Betcher “Have I taught for twenty five years or for one year twenty five times”

And away we go – about to listen to a keynote speech from Chris Betcher – the ICT integrator at PLC. I get the impression that he’d be amazing in the classroom and what has impressed me about him so far this conference is his absolute statement that ICT is a teaching tool, not a teaching end. There are a few people here who are gadget crazy – but are lost for words when you talk to them about how to integrate gadgets in the classroom. I’m looking forward to another day of having my eyes further opened and I shall be shouting very loudly from monday morning onwards……..so no change there then!

Morning all…. we have come to day 2 and the final day of the conference. Chris Betcher is just about to start is key note speech. It is sure to be completely different from Steven Bradbury who I found to be utterly inspiring and think that Joeys boys would really relate to. This conference has been a huge eye-opener for me and I am SO excited that I have been here to see what our colleagues around Australia are doing in their classrooms. I think Joeys (although behind now) is set to LEAP into the future of teaching. We shouldnt be scared to fail only scared of what not trying may lead to.