International School of Helsingborg, Sweden

 

Helsingborg, Sweden

In August 2011 I travelled to Sweden to work with the teachers at the International School of Helsingborg. For two days prior to the start of school the staff from all three levels of the school, primary, middle and high school, came together to get to know each other in different ways and to learn tools for collaboration which they plan to use during the 2011-2012 school year.

 I had had the opportunity to work with the  director of the School Mr Michael Moore in Fall 2009, at an ECIS conference. On his arrival in Sweden, Michael made the decision, that the staff at his new school would benefit from an engaging collaborative experience, which could set the stage for the new school year.

Michael and I planned the two days collaboratively by skype and they proved to be busy but fun and useful for the faculty.

Along with a facilitator led visioning exercise which will take place at the school in early October the faculty will be well prepared to work together productively, both efficiently and effectively,  during the 2011-2012 school year.

As teachers reflected in writing at the end of the session they felt energized and ready for a new year.  They had learnt a lot during the session  but they had also had fun!

AASSA Conference Campinas Brazil

 I have just returned from a busy trip to Brazil and Argentina. I had the opportunity to work for 4 days at the AASSA Conference held in Campinas, Brazil.  The highlight of this was the opportunity to work for 2 days with the wonderful group of people above!

This group of teachers, principals, IB Coordinators and literacy specialists covering grades pre K -12 worked hard but also had fun! They all actively grappled with the new materials presented and made sense of it by practicing with each other and imagining how it could work in their school settings.

Some quotes from their reflections include:-
"I was worried this would be a scripted program i was so relieved to find out it is not and that it is tailored to our needs."
 "We had thought provoking and powerful discussions today."
"These materials will help me become a more effective leader"
"I now know ways to keep adult discourse authentic, productive and professional." " Today was serious thought provoking and challenging for me." "This was a fantastic energizing 2 days."

I hope I will have the opportunity to be in touch with these participants as they begin to implement the ideas we explored in their work. I also hope to see many of them once more in March 2012 in Quito, Equador at next years conference.

St Pauls The British School Sao Paulo Brazil

St Pauls the British School in Sao Paulo Brazil has a long history.This is their 85th school year. As they move forward they are working to incorporate an effective collaborative culture amongst both the teachers and students.

Almost 2 years ago I met Anne and Siobhain the pre primary and elementary school principals at an ECIS conference in Hamburg Germany. Since then they have been regularly convening Learning Community Groups at their school. 

During the next 2 days I will be working with a group of 10 teachers to develop their facilitation and coaching skills. It is a goal to expand their capacity for developing Professional Learning Community groups.


Our first day has just ended and it was busy, thought provoking but also fun!  

Day Two dawned with a group of 40 teachers who participated in a morning introduction to Professional Learning Community work. This will, we hope, set the stage for increased involvement in the voluntary PLC groups which have been meeting for the past 18 months.  In the pm our group of 10 teacher leaders reconvened, debriefed the morning and continued our work. We completed 2 successful consultancies and used a Collaborative Assessment Conference to look closely at a students art work.

I believe the teacher group now feels increased confidence to take on the role of facilitators and expand the groups meeting at the school. I know they now all deserve a relaxing Sunday before they return to school on Monday!


Now Bruce and I take off  for 2 days to the Iguassu Falls before attending the AASSA conference in Campinas.

Vermont to Tanzania!

February 1st -5 overnight in Vermont +95 in Dar es Salaam! 

We caught the last plane from JFK before it closed due to an impending storm and arrived in Dar a long 30 hours later to a wonderful welcome by Susan our host, a chance to rest and relax in her lovely home and a whole day off before beginning work.

Susan arranged a driver and a chance to see the markets, sights and sounds of the city. We also had the chance to meet up with fellow Peachamite Dave and his wife Annie who is currently in Dar and share a beer by the ocean.

So rested and relaxed I arrived at the  International School of Tanganyika to work with a group of 28 teachers. Plus Rose the principal of  Savannah Plains School who had flown in to join us. The days flew by as we worked hard but also had fun even on Sunday!


By the end we all felt we had accomplished a lot of learning and had new practical ideas to try. It was hard but energizing work and the group was a pleasure to work with.

Half of the group are now taking a 3 credit "Implementation and Reflection" course with me online via Wiggio a great tool introduced to me by Mikey the IST  tech coordinator. It is good to be able to have a glimpse of the work they are putting into action even tho I am now home and half the world away.

A short trip to Zanzibar to relax and enjoy the amazing Stone Town and wonderful beaches capped off our trip.


A meeting with Susan Peacock the IST Elementary School Principal and a teacher Sally Lang at  the AISA conference in October made this trip possible.I feel so fortunate to have met them both and to have been able to travel to their school and share what I have learned developing professional learning communities.