In my 10 years of teaching, I have been called upon to do many last minute assemblies. You always need a few stories up your sleeve, and this one has been a trusty companion, weaving it's way into many different assemblies on many different themes.
It is adapted from an essay by Loren Eiseley (1969), but is often found without attribution and in various different forms. He is one such version:
“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. There were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, "It makes a difference for this one." I abandoned my writing and spent the morning throwing starfish.”
I think it is also a useful reflection for weary teachers, wondering why they are doing the things they do.
I'm not sure what inspired Tom Bennett to write his blog post his education inspirations last weekend (see <here>), but a friend (not a teacher) send me a message last night asking for edu-blog recommendations. My short answer was "the people I had beers and curry with on Saturday", but realised that actually writing a list on my own blog was probably more useful.
In no particular order, and I am sure I will update with blogs that I have forgotten, here we go:
Scenes from the Battleground - THE education blog? Quoted by ministers, certainly one of the oldest edu-blogs, and always a well-researched read - Andrew Old
The Behaviour Guru & TES - Not just behaviour... Tom has gained a reputation for his work with ResearchEd, reviewing "Educating..." TV shows and general entertaining writing about the profession - Tom Bennett
The Wing to Heaven - Is there anyone better that Daisy to talk to about assessment? I don't think so, Cricket? West Ham? Same. Make sure you also read her book, 7 Myths - Daisy Christodoulou
The Learning Spy - David is happy to admit in the past he has been wrong, and is happy to share (after extensive reading) what is wrong in education. He saves me a lot of reading. Since starting to teach part time, his output has been significant - David Didau
Blogs About School - John's blog has been a repeated source of information and inspiration. One of my real favourites - John Dexter
LeadingLearner - Stephen's is exec director of a Catholic MAT in Blackpool. He frequently maps out his vision and steps to getting there in his insightful blog. An amazing demonstration of leadership, useful to all schools - Stephen Tierney
Zest For Learning - A mixture of teaching and leadership. Tom's blog has given me a number of ideas to try out in the past and continues to reflect upon his journey of headship - Tom Sherrington
Outside In - A Catholic teacher and Blue Labour supporter. Insightful reflections on many aspects of education - Michael Merrick
Evidence Into Practice - Nick's blog has been really helpful in understanding key elements of the psychology useful in teaching. He has a great ability to make the complex very accessible - Nick Rose
To The Real - A really insightful blog which cites Plato as an inspiration: that beautiful mix of philosophy and Maths. Kris always has something interesting to say - Kris Boulton
Esse Quam Videri - A blog which covers so many different topics. Having met Heather at one of the early blogger curries, I have only recently started reading this. No idea why it took me so long!? - Heather Fearn
Othmar's Trombone - This blog is now even better that we know James actually exists, A must follow on Twitter too - James Theobold
Laura McInerney - How Laura still has time to write for this while writing for Schools Week, I have no idea. So much good stuff on here - Laura McInerney
Chronotope - A source of good evidence and reflection linked to Carl's work as Wellington's Director of Research. Follow on Twitter for trolling of Dida and Bennett - Carl Hendrick
Pragmatic Education - Joe is excellent on knowledge and it's importance. What else do you need to know? - Joe Kirby
Mr Lock's Weblog - Writing a little less now he is a head, I always enjoy Stuart's in depth posts - Stuart Lock
Daily Genius - Another head (where do they find the time?) who takes the time to explain his vision and what he is trying to achieve. It's great to share the journey! - Kev Bartle
ChocoTzar - A headteacher who often blogs about pastoral issues with great humility. I love this blog. - ChocoTzar
Recommendations
I also had some recommendations via Twitter that I now need to discover and to my read list:
This deserves it's own special section. I have the privilege of running the The RE and Philosophy Education Chamber. These are some of the blogs I return to again and again:
Miss D Cox - Dawn is one of the most forward thinking and reflective teachers I know. Her blog should have a very wide readership. Not just RE, - Dawn Cox
So often at a TeachMeet event, there is a little moment that sticks with you. Mine last night, at the second TeachMeet that I've organised (<link>), came from Mr Beezy (@TheReal_MrBeezy). He stressed the importance of asking 'Why?'. It is an important reminder to all of us to step back and ask the question 'why' when we look at our teaching... "Why is student X not behaving?", "Why is student Y not making progress?", "Why is student Z falling asleep in my lesson?". Too often we focus on the behaviour and not what is behind it.
I guess part of this is due to my new role as Pastoral Development Coordinator (PDC) for Year 10. Obviously teaching always involves pastoral care, but from September I will be at the frontline for 125 fourteen year old girls embarking on their GCSEs ensuring all their many needs are met. I'll need to be asking 'why' a great deal.
It reminded me of a TED talk that I hadn't watched in ages by the late Rita Pierson, "Every Kid Needs A Champion". She begins with a quote from a teacher she used work with:
A colleague said to me one time, "They don't pay me to like the kids. They pay me to teach a lesson.The kids should learn it. I should teach it. They should learn it. Case closed."
Well, I ([Pierson] said to her, "You know, kids don't learn from people they don't like."
This does pose problems. Many of us have seen colleagues try too hard to be liked. Ultimately, we are here to teach and to educate. Sometimes that means we have to do things that mean our students will not like us. They may even hate us!
However, as we listen on to Rita Pierson it becomes clear that this is not the end of the story, and actually her view is not an over simplistic one. They will understand when we say no, put them in detention and show them tough love. They will understand because in the lead up to this point, we have developed a relationship with them so that they know that everything we do is to help them achieve. They may be angry with us in the short term, but when they calm down and 'get over it' our relationship will remain strong.
Will you like all your children? Of course not... You won't like them all, and the tough ones show up for a reason. It's the connection. It's the relationships. And while you won't like them all, the key is, they can never, ever know it. So teachers become great actors and great actresses, and we come to work when we don't feel like it, and we're listening to policy that doesn't make sense, and we teach anyway. We teach anyway, because that's what we do.
Teaching and learning should bring joy. How powerful would our world be if we had kids who were not afraid to take risks, who were not afraid to think, and who had a champion? Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.
For me, asking 'why' can help us be a champion to our students. How can we believe in them, support them, understand them if we don't ask why?
Read the full transcript <here>
Watch the full video <here> - and I highly recommend you do!
It's important to clarify that I never have called any of my students 'baby'. Secondly, I am very sure Suicide (the original writers, a 70's electronic protopunk band), nor Bruce Springsteen, had school students in mind when they wrote and performed this. Despite all this, I kind of feel that this can be all about our lives as teachers, right?
The core message of this song is three-fold:
Dream (aim high and never give up)
Open Up (and give us a chance; trust us; let us in)
Smile (because you fulfilled your potential and got the right result!)
The first of these two present some deep and complex problems in schools:
How do we encourage students to aim high and never give up? How do we encourage students to open up and allow us to help?
Let's look at each: How do we encourage students to aim high and never give up?
2.49 million of people are out of work (BBC - Aug 2013), including a huge number of recent university graduates. Speaking to current sixth formers, they are excited and looking forward to university, but don't want to talk about 'what happens next'. Such an economic situation can breed a situation where there is seemingly no point in aiming high... yet alternatively should it not be providing a drive to be the very very best?
However, are my Y9s really thinking about the economic state of the UK jobs market? Probably no.
I've heard people talk about the fact we live in a world where there are few consequences. Look at banks... Bailed out despite their financial mismanagement. Out of work? Enjoy benefits! Again, I don't agree. Speak to an ordinary person struggling on state handouts, not the Daily Mail version. Are there consequences to my students if they don't get the grades? Yes, they have less choice of A Levels; they may also be asked to leave. Some want to leave anyway?
Now I am incredibly fortunate to work in a good school where for much of the time behaviour is not a big issue. Most students do want to do well. However too many (and one is too many!) dream of being a WAG or just finding a rich husband. They do not always have the high aspirations I try to inspire. This is not always easy being a relatively young (29) year old male teacher in an all girls environment - what do I know?
I try my best; I try to instil belief in my students, always. I also to build resilience. I'm trying to get my students to adopt the notion of FAIL (First Attempt In Learning), trying to help them learn to pick themselves up, get better and not be phased by the process. I want them to recognise their weaknesses and combat them rather than shy away from them; it ain't easy!
I think we need to keep reminding students to dream, and dream big. We must fill their lives with hope and ambition because unfortunately the world won't always necessarily do that. It's also not just about dreaming, it's making those dreams become a reality through hardwork and perseverance.
Dream Baby Dream
How do we encourage students to open up and allow us to help?
Teaching all girls requires a huge investment in time. Relationships can be slow to build; loyalty is given to those who students have known the longest.
In my previous job, and I know it is a massive generalisation, I found many boys would open up quite quickly. This was especially the case as soon as you had watched the footy the previous night and knew last Saturdays' scores. Again, not all, and there were always the tough nuts to crack.
I am encouraging FAIL as I mentioned before, an openness where we all recognise our failings. I admit my weaknesses too; I tell students what I struggle with. I offer my time, without constraint... it always shocks them when I say I am in school from 7am until 6pm everyday - appointments always available.
It's important when you say this, you do it. Hattie is right when he says feedback is the most important driving force in raising progress, a 1:1 with a student gives drastic results in the following essay at A-Level.
But too often, I offer this service, and students do not take it up. Why? Does it make the mistakes impossible to hide from? Does it expose their failings in an unmanageable way? If I force it, does it remain a useful experience? Is the only end result of that meeting one of... phew?
Is there a better way? A quicker, easier way? Perhaps not. These are young people finding their feet in the world and working out who to trust and who not too. The main aim can be to prove you are that person to turn to. Are you reliable? Do you keep promises? Do you drop that marking to solve a crisis? If so, then maybe, just maybe, your students will open up.
Come on and open up your heart
Finally, "I just wanna see you smile"... Yes I do. And it makes me think all the pressures, stresses, impossible deadlines, piles of marking, 14 hour days, relentless reminders and chasing, frustrations, tears, headaches and social events cancelled completely worth it. Most of the time.
