Barry Smith - Learning about Learning

Monday and Tuesday were spent out at the Council’s Discipline and Grievance training, a requirement of SQH.  I have to admit the prospect didn’t fill me with a great deal of enthusiasm but I was pleasantly surprised.  Margo Cunningham delivered the content extremely well and I  was surprised by how well teachers seem to fare in comparison to other workers with their terms and conditions of service relating to their support and representation in discilpinary matters. 

The pay back to having two days out on training was fielding 43 emails and several pupil issues back at ‘base camp PL’.  I did have two conflicting but significant teaching ‘moments’ today.  Firstly, I had to really question my own methods and skills in relation to presenting an indivdualised SE programme which the youngster found ‘boring’. We had a great discussion about what wouldn’t be boring and came up with a plan of attack for our future work, but had to really take a hard look at how I had intended to present the material and realise that I could make things more relevant.  A great learning experience. 

My second teaching ‘moment’ was even better in that I got (what I took as) a backhanded compliment from two of my S3 S.E. class students.  On hearing that we were going to have a discussion in relation to the information I had given them on our topic of ‘disability’ I got two wonderful comments bounced back at me.  Number one was “Aw naw that means we’re going to have to think” - I was delighted when I heard that, I must be doing something right!  And secondly, “Aye, and there will be no right or wrong answers”, again this filled me with joy because obviously in life there are often no right or wrong answers, so I’m taking that as progress! 

I finished off the day with a really interesting PTs meeting in Haddington, based on the leadership development of principal teachers.  Not only was the discussion worth taking part in; the prospect of an explicit focus on developing the specific skills of leadership in principal teachers is both long overdue and hugely welcome; but I also managed to make contact and arrange a meeting with Lesley Gilles, PT Inclusion at Dunbar Grammar and co-ordinator of the hugely successful alternative curriculum prgramme down there.  To top things off I have found a suitable ‘host’ in East Lothian Council for my SQH comparitive study.  Don Ledingham has very kindly agreed to ‘host’ my comparitive study focussing on fostering and promoting creativity and innovation within an organisation.  All in all a good day or three.