Being better than the status quo

Since my NAPP journey started I have had a lot of time to reflect upon where my 'moral compass' is pointing in regards to my teaching & leading.  Before it began, I hadn't even considered my Moral Purpose and what that meant for decisions I made in my teaching career.  I hadn't really delved into what it means to make a difference in a student's life.

So the first thing I had to seriously reflect upon was what are my 'deal breakers'.  What are the values and beliefs that I hold true too, and that should underpin everything I do in and through my life, Wow, big question for a not very well-read brain!

Not that readings are the be all and end all.  But they did start me thinking about my teaching and leadership in a new light.  There are so many well-respected and well-researched authors out there, who have done a lot of the thinking for me.  I just needed to tap into them, and form my own Educational Philosophy.  The readings that have given me a lot of insight and cause for reflection are posted below, and I am building a great bank of readings/research that are really thought-provoking.  They make me challenge my views and opinions - and isn't that how true learning can occur?

• Learning Leadership - Robertson
• Swimming out of our depth - Bull & Gilbert
• Coaching & Mentoring through Partnership - Robertson
• The Assessment Capable Teacher - Booth, Hill, Dixon

I always struggled to write the part in my CV that described what I am all about in terms of my teaching beliefs.  I always thought I could 'feel' it, more than I could 'describe' it.  Through this process, however, I think I can start to articulate it better. I am starting to have those challenging conversations with colleagues and my aim over this year is to really articulate how I intend to be better than the day before and more importantly, why.

So over the last couple of months I have been starting to have these discussions with a 'think tank' at my school, made up of a group of around 7-8 secondary teachers, who teach across many Learning Areas.  Basically, I asked them the question 'Have you ever wondered 'what might be'?

My presentations and all research used have been added to an Evernote folder, aptly named by a colleague Curriculum Reimagined, which I find to be an easy-to-access notebook, that the entire group can add to, and collaborate on.

As a school, we have developed a safe, caring environment in which students understand the school values and actively promote them.  What a great platform from which to build an amazing curriculum, that engages ALL learners and is relevant & authentic.  Yes, we have some brilliant teaching happening, and yes we have practices that need a lot of work.  But, its not about throwing the baby out with the bath water - its about being better than the status quo - and we should all want to do be that!