Kristianstill

I have now been at Hamble College for nearly 12 months and its my performance review this week. How do these meetings mould our progress as middle leaders. What can I glean from this experience to make me a better middle leader? Foremost in my thinking is the accountability that is acheived and agreed. Second, what questions do I need to ask to aid my professional development?

Time is an elusive resource. Is this due to poor time management, or is the ‘job scope’ too broad? I need to clearly identify what teaching hours are typical at this level. What management allowances are applied and whether this permits sufficient time to fulfil the job description. Currently I am leading Key Stage 4, the IT manager and strategic deployment of IT resources, the website, the VLE and whole school netbook scheme. I am also line managing the Key Stage 3 ICT leader and staff. At present, I consider this to be a little over-bearing.

How Do I Raise my Concerns?

I am finding it difficult to complete all college policies in time, such as performance reviews and departmental plans. The aim is to get the Departmental plans completed over Christmas. How do I communicate those concerns professionally?

Areas for professional focus:

Financial management and budgeting are constant endeavours for this current role. I believe that this may prove to be an area in which incorrect decisions could be costly. For future development, it may prudent to seek professional training here.

I need to continue to address and get myself involved in wholeschool strategies; netbooks / VLE and to challenge and implement strategies that will impact across College, yet also ensure that curriculum results improve year on year, starting with this years cohort. Also being involved, or at least involved in the discussions regarding the new building have been insightful.

I need to ensure that I spend time away from work to recharge.

To set the scene, lower band Yr 9 Maths group (13-14 yr olds). Two teaching assistants and an exercise book task. Bring on the heavy weights…. cooperative competition.

‘Student Team Learning strategies have compiled an enviable record of research which documents positive contributions to academic achievement. In 40 studies of Student Team Learning methods, 33 studies found students in Student Team Learning classes gained more in achievement than did students in traditional classes studying the same objectives.’ (Slavin, 1988).

Two teams, students complete the maths exercise, its marked and task is followed up with a round of cooperative quiz questions. Add the two scores together and swiftly back to the next set of maths questions. I used my mobile phone to offer audio count down and signal to students when to answer questions. As the quiz developed, so the teaching assistants were each drawn into supporting each team, at the request of the students I may add. The staff proved excellent facilitators and really guided the learning experience.

Now I must admit I enjoyed the lesson. There were some very tough cookies in that class, but their response was generally very positive, I believe they enjoyed their lesson. I am not going to lie, it has been a tough re-introduction to secondary education and heres the hook…. when a teaching assistant notes that they “really enjoyed the lesson and I usual dislike cover lessons” is it far to reflect that I am beginning to make a small impact of the learning of perhaps a few students, just one lesson at a time?

Cooperative Competition / Learning, also know as Student Team Learning, involves structuring classes around small groups that work together in such a way that each group member’s success is dependent on the group’s success. As a result, on average, students engage more, learn more and are more likely to address the more complex and creative tasks. (44 Benefits of Collaborative Learning)

‘We can not change the cards we are dealt, just the way we play the hand.’

Taken from Randy Pausch’s presentation ‘Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.’

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at his University Sept. 18, 2007. In his moving talk, Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. Its worth a watch. Randy continues to write, inspire and strive for his dreams.

‘Experience is what you get, when you don’t get what you want.’

This is not a typical post. I am not writing about work but why I work in education. Half term was great til Tuesday…. wednesday through Saturday I was struggling with a cold, today was the first day I felt a little better and its back to the grind stone tomorrow. Still, too much to do…

Refocus -

I received an email from Dean today reminding me about his blog. I changed the name of the wiki, more of that later. I introduced Dean to blogging, well, updating a wiki page some 7/8 months ago (its all I knew back then) and eveytime I read one of his posts it makes me proud. Not just the ‘proud’ cos hes one of my students, but proper proud becuase I know wirting and sharing his experiences has made a real difference to his growing maturity, to him showing appreciatation to his family here in England and his adopted family and friends in the States, but also I am proud of the choices he is making and that he even wants to share them with, well with everyone.So now its about time he sets up either a blog or a tumblr, whichever is most appropriate.

Just in case you want to read his work, first prepare yourself its an emotional rollercoaster, and click….

To Dean, how I wish I had my memories written down like you have. One day, when today seems like a life time ago, you will be able to flick through the posts and re-live them first hand, how jealous am I! Why work in education? Read Dean’s blog, read and listen closely and you hear the answer.

So a summary of the week is required, but how do you assess progress and in which areas? I have had a large white board put up in my office, on it I record the key jobs for the week and monitor my daily duties in three areas. Teaching, Administration and Network. I am not sure if these are the most appropriate titles but its a start.

Teaching

Classes more stable, still issue of discipline arising. Relationships are building with the students. More are accessing the ICT support. Both on the stated days but also adhoc. Year 7 and 8 – we need to develop one or two strategies to support students that find it difficult to use technology, however this appears more to do with their literacy skills than their technology skills? Video tutorials? Definitely a job for JING. Central grading document still required. Alex Savage’s resources a significant help.

Years 9, 10 and 11 require small structured time frames in completing OCR Assessment Outcomes. Frequent submissions and regular feedback. Feedback sheet / AFL learning still required. As such, the majority of students are not informed about their course, its structure or their own attainments – grade track being constructed. Recommend an introduction to the course in Year 9 – an introductory unit that is in fact AO1 from Unit 1.

Also offer a Level 1 course. Hence reducing the differentiation in the groups. Feedback would suggest up to 15-20% of the class.

Admin

• Classroom security improved, but still not secure, waiting on additional keys.
• Mirrors have improved conduct. Next task heating.
• Staff meeting set for Jan 31st – agenda items moderation, verification and house style.
• Used Outlook to invite team.
• Investigate Level 1 course – can this be ready for meeting?
• Met with Web desginer – Old site shut down.
• Email audit – low response.
• Electronic postcards investigate.
• Screen saver operational.

Network

Year 7 need a structures ‘User Area ’ on entry. Student agreements are being written.

Classrooms require a visual display highlighting how this agreement also impacts on classroom conduct. ICT Charter?

TV recording investigated. IT Manager preparing bid for Head.

Final Point

A member of the PE staff gave a stellar performance during the Year 11 assembly. Having confessed to be partial to dog food, he requested a student help him in opening a fresh tin of dog food. For all to see, he devoured a few chunky morsels much to the students audible distress.

‘First impressions count,’ he told them sternly. Pausing for effect, he went on to explain. ‘Last night I painful removed the label from this can replacing it with the one you see now. It is in fact, steak and kidney stew but Remember…. first impressions count. You are about to embark on a series of interviews, for college, work or apprenticeships and how you present yourself counts.

I was proud of this masterful performance.