There are some super sessions for primary school teachers.  Nigel Lane, a primary school teacher in Co. Kildare is giving a workshop on Blogging Basics, a must for any teacher interested in blogging with their class.  Anne McMorrough is going to be giving a great session on different tools she uses in her classroom, including iPod apps and other web apps.  Edchat, which is a Twitter chat every Monday is a good session for anyone interested in using Twitter.   Another couple of interesting talks for technophobes would be Getting Started with ICT in the Classroom and ICT for Technophobes.  Both talks will give the very basics from teachers who have discovered ICT tools for learning that are easy to use.

There’s loads of other sessions on Google Apps, Twitter, Cloud Computing and more!  The Friday evening is a Teachmeet where teachers give 2-7 minute talks on topics that they’re interested in.  It’s fast, informal and fun, (and there’s a bar too!) You should check out http://www.cesi.ie for more details and register.  It’s the best value CPD you’ll ever get!

The final part of my letter to Ruairi Quinn…

Has there been any mention of learning here? Of children? Of humans? Basic human rights to respect and consideration.

This is a country we should not be following or looking to. In Ireland, we have a basis of trust, consideration and respect for teachers in Ireland. Perhaps, some of the media do not show this but parents  know it isn’t an easy job. Children learn from an holistic and child centred curriculum. They enjoy their time in primary school. They learn how to learn and they want to learn for the rest of their lives. That’s what schooling should be about.

I spoke briefly with a English teacher at the conference who had left her profession a few years ago and set up her own consultancy firm with the aim of helping and supporting teachers. I asked her about what stresses teachers were under and what she would advise to the Irish Education Minister to avoid going down the road the UK had gone.

She said that the Irish government should outline their long term vision for education. What does education want for our future citizens?

She then advised the Irish government to stick to this long term plan, not to be swayed by knee jerk reactions to issues.

They should  avoid making reactionary policies and initiatives. They should outline their long term vision and then base the policies on them.

I agree with her. I watched a talk you gave to the Dail a few months ago. There happened to be a group of children visiting that day and you addressed them. I felt moved by your speech. This to me should be your vision. You spoke of real learning, critical thinking and collaboration as learning focus. You spoke of moving away from the awful points led focus on learning things off by heart and spewing them onto a page. You vowed to end this.

Your recent circular on literacy and numeracy could have the potential of beginning an awful descent into the hell the teachers and pupils in the UK are going through at present. You have asked that schools submit the standardised results to the DES. Why? You have mentioned disciplinary procedures and the role of the principal. But, why?

How do these circulars link with your long term vision for education?

What are your hopes for education for our country?

My hope is that it remains on a  child centred education one not assessment obsessed one.

One in which principals can focus on a professional development and appraisal system for teachers that prides humans, trust and support and not mistrust, revenge and anger.

An education system that doe not look to following other countries hideous education systems.

An Ireland that can do something different, that can open up the debate on where we want to go as a nation. We could become the country other countries want to replicate throughout the world.

Finally, we need listen to the teachers. We want to a great job. We want the best for our students. We know that there is no money in this country but these hopes don’t cost money. They use imagination, human respect and discussion.

Are you willing to open up the discussion?

Thank you taking the time to read this letter. I look forward to your talk at the IPPN. Inspire us.

www.nutelladay.com I’ve made some resources, activities and pictures for your staff or students!

Here we go, enjoy the choc fest!nutella day

Continuing from my letter from the last day, here is part 2…

Instead, in the UK, schools are restricted by regulations, standards, targets and appraisals which are designed to give a uniform approach to learning, no matter the background of the school or child.

Their Education Secretary is Michael Gove, as I am sure you aware. On the Thursday, he announced some news about the changes he will be making. It is not quite clear why he is making these changes but what he wanted to do is very clear.

He is shortening the time that a teacher can be fired. Previously, it could take a year to eject an under performing teacher. Now, it will take 9 weeks. He will base this appraisal system on the results of the children in the SATS. He is basing this appraisal on the things he should be. Like teacher quality, professional development and reflection.

No, instead, he wants the head teacher to appraise teachers based on test results and targets set by a uniform and bland set of standards. If the teacher is unable to get the required results, they will be handed a certificate of capability and they will be let go.

This certificate of capability will be linked with the teacher’s teaching council registration and has to be handed to every future employer. This effectively means that once a teacher is let go from a school, their teaching career is over. This is a complete waste of resources and training teachers up for years. It is a complete focus on the industrial, factory management style. It also leaves the door wide open for abuse, for example, a principal who might not like the teacher or her style of teaching.

He also wants parents to be allowed into the classroom to assess teacher’s performance. This is a clear undermining of the teaching profession and one that comes under the definition of bullying at work. Imagine if a brain surgeon was being assessed under criteria by the patients brother. Imagine then if the surgeon was cautioned under this person’s assessment. Imagine if this formed part of the appraisal system. It does sound bizarre but this is exactly what Gove is looking for.

He also wants to extend the teaching day. He suggests 7:30-5:30. He suggests opening schools on a Saturday. He suggests schools being open all year around. When questioned on this, he answered that if teachers loved their job, then they should be delighted with this opportunity he was offering them. He hasn’t even considered if children would be able for this or the financial implications.

He ranted further about sorting teachers out, getting those “stressed” teachers back into work or firing them. He seemed like a very angry man intent on revenge.

Tune in in 4 days for the final part of my open letter to Ruairi Quinn. Remember, feel free to comment below.

I got an email today from the Teaching Council and I almost deleted it straightaway! I was glad I didn’t. Last year at the Irish Primary Principals Conference, Harold Hislop played panto bad guy with the principals. He told us that we would probate newly qualified teachers. We told him we wouldn’t. He told us we would…it just went on and on.

A year has past and all was quiet. Then, the Teaching Council slip this new draft document about teacher induction into our emails. Just in time for the Irish Primary Principals Network Conference 2012 next week! Coincidence? I think not.

CEPP

Here’s the brief.

“The Career Entry Professional Programme (CEPP) is a new programme which has been designed by the Teaching Council as being appropriate for a newly qualified teacher wishing to be fully registered. It is proposed that the CEPP will replace the current arrangements for the induction of newly qualified teachers and their probation for registration purposes.

“A consultation document has now been published setting out the key elements of the proposed CEPP, the proposed timeframe for completion of the programme, the key phases in the programme and the roles of the various stakeholders including newly qualified teacher, mentor, school principal, the Inspectorate, the National Induction Programme for Teachers and the Teaching Council. ”

Worth reading

So, another acronym for us.CEPP, it sounds very harsh, doesn’t it? I’ve briefly scanned through the document. It deserves further, careful reading. It is a huge document outlining the phased approach to handing over the “dipping”( or the awarding of recognition of teacher status to a newly qualified teacher or NQT) of NQTs from the inspector to the principal and a mentor. The roles are clearly outlined from exactly what the mentor will be expected to do to how the principal will sanction the new teacher. By 2016, the inspectorate will be responsible for 10% random checks of NQTs and in situations where there is a dispute between NQT and principal. Oh, dear. That is odd as there were never any disputes when an inspector probated a NQT, the inspector said yay or nay. But, usually, yay.

New ways of thinking

There are good points in this new way of thinking and leading. A principal will be able to fulfil their core function of being the leader of learning and the school. It’s a slow, phased approach with huge emphasis on training for principal, NQT and mentor. The CAPP program is not just about 1.5 days of their year, which is what the old system of the inspectorate focussed on. Instead, they build up a portfolio, receive qualifications, begin a mentoring relationship and receive feedback from their own leader within their own school context. This all behind right back in teacher training college where the portfolio is begun. This also starts to show exactly what the Teaching Council is for and where our fee goes to.

Massive mind shift

The downsides are there too-this is huge mind set shift for all parties. The mentor is required to do a massive amount of work. Principals may not be ready for this. I don’t know how teaching principals will be able to do this effectively without extra days being given, though this hasn’t been mentioned.

I recommend you take a read and let it sink in. We’ve got 5 years after all. That’s good change management! You can send your feedback to them after reading it here.

http://teaching-council.circulator.com/OpenUrl.aspx?LinkID=253802&NewsletterID=29536&SubscriberID=186878&AudienceID=8534&Version=29&SendID=74388&AddEvent=True

Wonder what news Ruarai Quinn will have for us next week?

Don’t get me wrong – I love Apple products as much as the next fanboy. While I ditched my iPhone for a HTC Desire, I love my iPad and my new Mac Book Air is the most beautiful laptop I have ever used.

As far as I can see, the new iBooks textbooks are going to provide students with a much more interactive textbook in that there will be animations, videos, slideshows and links to web sites.  This is all good stuff.  At least it’s better than text and diagrams.

The problem I have is that there isn’t real interactivity.  By this I mean, the social side of interactivity. Wouldn’t it be great if students could share their own notes with their classmates and teachers?  What if a student could add their own content such as videos or web links to a book?  What about a forum so students could chat about particular parts of a book in real time?  In Apple’s words, that would be “insanely awesome.”

Apple have had the clever idea to allow anyone with a Mac to make their own eBooks, which I intend to try out.  While these will only be available in their full glory on Apple products, a more boring PDF can be exported to lesser machines.

If I were more sceptical, I would argue that this product is a sinister marketing tool to put pressure on users to buy iPads rather than cheaper Android and other tablet devices.  It wouldn’t have been too difficult to have made the textbooks more open so that any tablet could use them.  Rumour also has it that Apple have some sort of exclusivity thing going on so that companies can’t put their iBooks on other devices.

This new initiative hasn’t really revolutionised the textbook.  Right now, all it is, is a fancy book.  Even the Apple Web site can only think of two advantages – your book won’t get dog-eared and you’ll have a lighter school bag – which doesn’t really justify the term “reinvention” when most eBooks already do that.  However, iBooks textbooks are probably going to do well and many of us are going to start publishing stuff on it then get addicted.  I’d say a lot of schools will already have decided to spend a gross amount of money on iPads instead on other more useful devices too.  The Apple machine continues to take over our lives and not necessarily for the better this time.  If this is the “future of education”, as many of today’s headlines are reporting, education isn’t moving too far.