Resume Etiquette, Resume’ Etiquette

When was the last time you had a look at your resume? It’s been a fair�few years for me. The exercise of reflecting on your skill set can really ‘spotlight’ what you didn’t realise, you do�very effectively (and don’t do?)

Applying for roles is humbling, insightful and time-consuming. Humbling; because you question the degree of your knowledge/skills, Insightful; because there is something truly enlightening about writing down your ideas about pedagogy, teaching, management and leadership. Time consuming, because, even in an internet-centric society , very application deserves your steady, concentrated response.

Whilst I have enjoyed most of this reflective process, I do have a minor complaint about ‘modern employer etiquette’.�I do not�understand why it is not�common policy for�employers to send a letter/email�saying�”Thanks but…” In my own recent experience, less than half!

In one instance I filled all 17 pages of the official application form (YES – 17 pages!), attached my cover letter, resume and responded with a five page “Selection Criteria” …�After that, don’t we DESERVE a response? My wife says, “You shouldn’t be so harsh, it’s so long they are probably still reading it”.

Education Blog

OK, OK – I should have seen it coming but I didn’t.

The WA Teachers’ Lounge Site (www.wateacherslounge.wordpress.com) is doing very well! If you are following this (Whitehead Wonderings)�site for our educational updates, please subscribe to the WA Teachers’ Lounge website (above) OR “LIKE” our Facebook Site at: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/WA-Teachers-Lounge/154210691257798

See you soon!� No point having two sites that ‘do’ the same thing. I have added a FEED to the right hand side so you watch from there if you like.

Paul W

Homework for Dad on Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day! I came across this brief article from ‘Men’s Health’ that had been posted to me on one of my on-line auto-subscriptions of all things educational! The article is short and punchy and deals with the best way to support your children in the homework arena.

I am always impressed with the parents who are able to deliver consistent routines, times and locations as a means of stable on-going study habit and I suspect these habits are developed very early. I’m certainly not a perfect parent in this arena so was interested in this general list of suggestions. Would love to hear your successful additions?

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/mens-health/article/-/7298506/win-the-homework-wars/

E-Portfolios – OR Why I Wish I Was A Student Again!

I have a great interest in this area and have been examining a wide range of online facilities that students are able to utilise. Mahara.org certainly seems to have the best scope for our needs (from the ones I have looked at – Moodle ready). I like the idea of a student being able to carry their accomplishments, results and�samples�with them across�their learning years / lives. It ‘feels’ more like going to school to ‘write your life book’.

We talk of the notion of ‘life-long learning’ and this is a true opportunity to capture it all’. I can see many benefits;

• Strong sense of ‘audience’/ ‘readership’ through online publication (secured distribution)
• Record of ‘progress’
• Organisational maintenance of portfolio
• Students look for opportunities to capture their achievement
• Ongoing access to assessment items that can influence new learning
• Functional – students should be able to use their e-portfolio as a project that ‘moves with them’ both from year to year, but also, school to school.
• Mum’s LOVE it!

A particularly useful resource for teachers who may want to investigate this further has been produced�at��http://wiki.rscwmsystems.org.uk/index.php/Eportfolios�if you have no intention of visiting the site – no worries – here’s a video!

23 Things

Totally love this post by Chris Bletcher – 23 Things.

As teachers we like things ‘packaged’ and�delivered in bite sizes – it is encouraging to think that others have faced the dilemma�of upskilling staff in IT and new technologies and I think this package is a winner. Our Digital Natives await our readiness.

Love your work, Chris! http://chrisbetcher.com/2008/05/a-letter-to-teachers-about-learning/

The Art of Debate

Today was the school Debate Final. I like the way students are able to bring ‘surprising’ points into their argument. I had previewed all of the student’s talks but a few choice moments still managed to slip in as they artistically delivered their passionate tirades. We had fun with our topics.

The debate�’qualifying heat’ topic was “Tim Tams�Rock“. The kids raised some impressive arguments. One student emailed Arnotts�4-5 times to find out what percentage of the product was sourced from West African, non-fair trade cocoa beans. IMPRESSIVE! We must have an investigative journalist on our hands because the company eventually conceded that they currently sourced 5% of their cocoa from West African, non-fair trade sources but were working to address this issue.

Our final�debate revolved around the topic, “Laughter is the Best Medicine“, one team promoted�vegetables, exercise and more intimate activities over ‘laughter’ as the more beneficial�to one’s health. The other�had sourced a recent ABC Radio National program that talked about�men using ‘humour’ and the ability to make their female counter-parts ‘laugh’ as a great ‘source of appeal to the opposite sex’ but cautioned that it was a poor compensation for the original ‘primitive man hunter’ who was able to impress through their bravery and ability to deliver meat for dinner.

The lesson for me over the past�couple of days (Mock Trial yesterday and Debate�performances) has been to keep�EXPECTING more from my students.

Many of our curriculum standards have been reduced to a new low�but they can’t be the benchmark for OUR expectations. I recently read of a scientific experiment where two Science classes conducted an identical experiment with lab mice.�One class of students were given a MOUSE MAZE and a MOUSE each. The teachers told the class that the mice were slightly�mentally deficient or more crudely ‘Lab Stupid Rats’ – they were instructed to�’try to get the mice to move through the maze as quickly as they can even though they are stupid.’

Image via Wikipedia

The second class�were given lab mice and were told that these mice were “super intelligent and could out perform�any other mouse” in terms of their ability to work through the maze. Their job was to try to measure their fastest speed. The mice were fed the same food, given the same contact time with students, worked with the identical maze (size and pattern). The outcome: The “super intelligent mice” performed 350% faster than the “lab stupid” mice in subsequent testing. Of course there were no ‘stupid’ or ‘smart’ mice – they were all the same. The only factor that changed was the student’s EXPECTATION of their performance. How much MORE SO for our students?

Mock Trial – To Kill A Mockingbird

Today my Year 11 English class�presented a mock trial of Tom Robinson from “To Kill A Mockingbird” (Harper Lee).�It was not�designed to be a ‘dramatic’ production but rather an investigation of the text we had been studying.�I had only allowed a double period for preparation, one rehearsal and then�they worked toward a “LIVE” presentation to a couple of other classes. Their showcase demonstrated depth and a solid ownership of their characters, especially given the short amount of time they had to preppare.�

It took about 45 minutes to complete with�court proceedings. bailiff, Judge Taylor, Prosecution (and assistant), Defence (our beloved Atticus and assistant) and testimony from�Link Deas, Heck Tate, Robert Ewell, Mayella Ewell and Thomas Robinson (the accused).�On reflection, students always rise to a sense of PERFORMANCE and AUDIENCE and having the visiting classes and additional staff attend was a great bonus.�

We decided to have two juries for this case; a 1930′s Jury (who of course found Robinson guilty) and a 2010 Jury of Year 8 students who found him not guilty. I think the real value of these activities is the discussion afterwards. Students tended to demonise the attitudes of 1930′s/1960′s Americans but a discussion of indigenous attitudes or ‘boat people’ certainly raises some interesting comparisons – just a little scratch below the surface so to speak.

�I haven’t experimented with a Mock Trial before but would definitely do so again. Would strongly consider something similar for a camp activity – the students were� committed to their roles and have displayed a strong sense of ownership of the text in their discussions.� If anyone wants�the Mock Trial Pack I generated – please just ask, I am happy to know it may be a duplicated activity.

Healthy Body Image

This video has now had over 11,000,000 hits. Compulsory viewing for all girls and BOYS!

I don’t know if any of you have read any of KAZ�COOKE’s work – but she writes some awesome, funny, relevant texts on this issue. �You can find Kaz’s awesome site at http://www.completelygorgeous.com.au/home.html.�I am looking forward to her new book “Women’s Stuff” which is due for release by Penguin Books later this year.

Dangerous Trojan Warning

I have caught a dangerous new bug! Blogging! For those of you who have been watching my FACEBOOK page – I am so sorry!

WORDPRESS�and FACEBOOK GROUPS have provided me with�an outlet for two projects I have longed to see thrive in Perth.��

It’s always risky to put ideas ‘out there’ in case others don’t share your enthusiasm or interest (and let’s be frank – some people may�just not like ME). But, I’ve decided to follow my convictions and (with a limited knowledge of the technical side or ‘best structure’ for an online approach) -�”give it a good shot’.

Although the blogging TROJAN has fully taken hold, I have determined that these two projects will be the limit of my online focus. The NSTR�has already been widely circulated so�I promise not to mention it�again… for now

The second project is the ‘WA Teacher’s Lounge’.��In my own educational experience, I was�primarily mentored, inspired, encouraged and influenced by the staff within the community in which I worked. Obviously, this is a perfectly ‘normal’ arrangement. But… I have also noticed the�’Ah-Ha’ factor of having�attended a Professional Development Day and having�’rubbed shoulders’ with our educational elders are some of the most inspirational moments a teacher can have – even if the PD itself was of little value.

It is these moments over coffee and a�bland biscuit that we�can discuss ideas, approaches, beliefs, strategies that�encourage us to consider ‘other’ alternative systems�or resources�that we have not�previously been exposed to.�

Visiting other schools to ‘observe best practise’ or questioning like-subject professionals�is often�only the domain of the school’s �core leadership team which can lead to teachers�having access to a�limited range of system and procedural resources. This lack of connection is not only the ‘fault’ of schools.�Professional Teacher Journal and Subscription�readerships�are noticeably down; we can only hope that�educators (both new and old)�take their vocation seriously enough to be accessing online�developmental information.�The sad truth is that many (the majority?) do not.

I muse with a colleague�often that, “Clearly my agenda is showing”.�Believe me, I am under no�illusion�that the ‘WA Teacher’s Lounge’ will�offer any kind of landmark in reshaping our mentorship of Perth educators, clearly it�a small drop in the ‘participation’ bucket. But, it’s the many small contributions that�start a trickle.�I hope that it will generate a few relationships, contacts and meaningful conversation but my greater hope�is that it may�contribute to�the greater pool of educational mentorship.

The WA Teacher�s Lounge – Teacher group to connect and talk about current educational trends, topics, concerns, groups, tactics, strategies, management, political decisions and technologies. Grab a seat and share your ideas! Tell us about other links, projects and�events that involve connecting WA educators.

GROUP SITE: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=152204244792561�

WEBSITE: http://wateacherslounge.wordpress.com

Open Letter

�

Image by Caro Wallis via Flickr

An Open Letter response to the West Australian article entitled: �Teachers banned from giving kids sweet treats�.

I confess. As a high school educator – I�m the �Candyman�. I believe that an �occasional� treat holds value when it is � �occasional� and unexpected. Increasingly, my teaching world is defined by what �I CAN�T DO� i.e I can�t pat a student on the back to congratulate their effort, I can�t keep them back after class to say �I liked your attitude today�, I can�t refer to them in any kind of �semi-affectionate� manner, I can�t drive them in my car to an excursion, I can�t screen PG movies, I can�t have class �end-of-term-parties� and now � I can�t reward them with a lolly!

Perhaps some teachers are using �Minties� and �Fantails� as a form of slow assassination; however, the evidence is pretty slim. It seems some sectors are hell-bent on radical change for change�s sake and they won�t let up until we ban desserts at the Year 12 Ball and biscuits from our School Camp shopping lists. With teachers facing a wave of pressure from an ever-shifting-curriculum and scrutiny from media over some educator�s inability to spell �recommend� � it would be nice to think that our profession might be thrown a �jaffa� from a grateful government!

Northern Suburbs Teacher Resources (Facebook Group)

When I took an appointment as Head of an English Department some years ago, I faced a situation where there were very few resources, a minimum budget, and felt I had�nowhere to turn. I phoned several schools to ask if they had any old sets of novels they did not utilise anymore so that we would have books to start the year with (unfortunately the school’s booklists had gone out to parents with nothing on them for the following year�from the�English Department!).

I have always been thankful to the Head of Department of St Mark’s who filled my car with book sets that they no longer needed. They held us over for a couple of years as we built our department’s resources.

Soon after, I started a small resource group (Yahoo Groups)�in the hope of sharing book sets on an inter-school basis, it certainly served its purpose at the time.

In considering my own response to IT being a vehicle for something a little bigger in my community, I thought I would attempt to broaden my initial project.

Northern Suburbs Teacher Resource Facebook Group�is a response to the sad closure of the Midland Resource Centre which many teachers (especially Primary) paid hommage to as a vital resource bank for all sorts of odds and ends.

The idea of the ‘group’ is to link teachers to resources. Perhaps you know someone in the printing industry who has some circle-cardboard shapes, jars of buttons, carpet squares? If they are happy to give them away for free. Post it here. Someone will want them and be happy to collect.

Obviously, this is currently a Perth-based ‘notice board’ for resources in the Northern-ish Suburbs (those who live or work in the North). Teacher’s in the Southern Suburbs might want to start their own page? Let me know so we can link our pages! I have sent invites to most teachers I know but if you are interested…

�CLICK ON: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=151788124838509

K-4 Parents – Please Consider

I have a stack of 14 different PC Educational Games on my desk right now that we have purchased this year�for Chayse�and Kaiden’s�”at home” learning. We haven’t been impressed with ANY of them, including some of the expensive top name brands. The fourteen titles (not including the many in the kid’s cupboard) have simply not been anything more than a passing fancy – offering a small range of ‘literacy/numeracy games’ most of which are freely available via the internet.�

My earlier post has made reference to a subscription service that we were referred to by a family friend (Thanks G); ABC Reading Eggs. After a two-week trial run I have�been impressed by the level of engagement, reporting to parents (vocabulary lists, blend lists, letter recognition results, etc) and the phonics based approach to�child learning. We are still actively involved in an integrated approach with our kids, daily reading, story making, flash cards, rewards, etc… but the computer is able to deliver an independence to learning, motivation and sustained engagement�that we have not been able to duplicate easily! Both kids ASK to go “on the eggs”.

Australia is clearly ‘streaks ahead’ in�K-5�educational software development and my limited research has uncovered a myriad of�similar literacy learning sites. Most are available for individual subscription or a bulk school order – with most in the ‘under $1,000 per year’ for the whole school to have access and access at home. In my humble opinion, numeracy�is very well covered by the freely available MATHLETICS program.

I�have noticed a significant change in both of my children’s reading engagement�over the past 2-3 weeks. Please consider trailing one of the following�services if you have young children – all offer a�free trial. Perhaps you may also consider approaching your school if you feel the programs are working for you – or a letter to the owners of Hungry Jacks/KFC�(if McDonalds�can offer Mathletics for free perhaps….)?

I should add that I have nothing to gain from this promotion and there is no ‘kick back’ to me or my family. In addition to the subscribed services, I�have listed a couple of�FANTASTIC FREE resources I have found�but they do not ‘save student progress’ or offer a reporting statement to parents. I will be using these sites to add some variety outside of�our existing home based computer offerings. Hope there is something of use here. Also, if you have been using a site that works for you – let me know!

• ABC Reading Eggs -�� �http://readingeggs.com.au
• Broadlearn -������������� � �http://www.broadlearn.com.au
• Intrepica -��������������������http://www.intrepica.com.au
• Learning Federation – http://www.thelearningfederation.edu.au (Not for parents but EVERY school should know about this one!)
• Mathletics (Free)�-���� �http://www.mathletics.com.au� Also offer literacy for $
• Starfall (Free) -���������� �http://www.starfall.com
• Big Universe (US)��������http://www.biguniverse.com/main/learnmore� 5 day trial/US based

Alice’s Wonderland

The preparations for our school’s ICT rollout has been an exciting and wonderful journey. Let me qualify this by saying that I have very little to do with any of the functional/physical aspects of this initiative but I�am unreservedly�’on board’ as a willing participant who is ready for the climb ahead (as long as I’m hitched onto someone who knows the mountain a lot better, www.paulbaumgarten.net).

I had always considered myself fairly IT savy for a 42 year old;� 42 year olds define “IT Savy” as… “using a computer daily, sending emails, using Microsoft Products and having a slight resentment that Gates had the brains to do what we didn’t”. I can�genuinely say; however that�I’ve been cramming and stretching my brain to get up to speed�over the past few months.�

Part of me feels a little like Alice in a new Wonderland of possibilities; the tools, sites, resources, interactivity, virtual educational relationships that can be used by educators to ENGAGE students – Pandora’s Box is truely our classroom.

Equally,�the ‘realist/logistical’ side of my nature is scrambling to consider the scaffolding needed�for a clean and robust�delivery�and more fundamentally, will�teachers be confident,�equipped, resourced�and ….. willing…. to utilise a�less-familiar yet exceedingly powerful vehicle for learning?�

At this point of reflection, I see two opposing truths:

a)�the IT education train�has long left the station�and� b) �Teachers can sometimes be the worst of students.

I’ve ordered more band-aids.

Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Where’s Wally?

This shot now has 274 hits on my Flickr account, my most popular (by views) photo to date. I am in Grade 1 in 1974; just six years old!

Can you guess which one is me? Leave a comment to make your suggestion! Interesting unrelated note – the teacher in this shot died within a few weeks of this photo and was replaced by another. Very sad!

“It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To’

Well. Now the party is over, I can say I had a great time. Six shows across a month (3 at Ellenbrook Theatre and 3 at Midland Junction).

A funny, yet meaningful play by Elizabeth Coleman.

For me it was a return from a long separation from any kind of ‘real show’. Although we had resurrected some pieces for school and church performances, they certainly weren’t plays of length. An ‘extra’ role in Cloudstreet was a real treat but I don’t know if there are other things I will participate in, there always seems so much�else to be doing.

I had entertained auditioning for ‘Big Daddy’ in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof� but my timing was way out.�I have decided that I will definitely go to the show so I can lament that decision later.

I was most grateful for a few hours with some new friends at Centre Stage.

Autograph Anyone?

“Cloudstreet”

This is by far my FAVOURITE novel… EVER!

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading it – please do. It captures something very unique about all elements of our great land.

When I heard that Screen Australia were filming the mini-series I offered to do (just about) anything to have the smallest of moments in the six part series.��Here is my facebook post in attempting to ‘score’ a moment…

��If anyone knows anyone who knows some one who is involved with the CLOUDSTREET production – let me know… I will happily be an ‘extra’ at a bar stool in the background, or help set Oriel’s tent up in the backyard, or work next to Rose at the exchange or be on a picnic at the river as Fish ‘becomes one again’ …. PLEEEEEAASE�

Well, believe it or not… it worked. I was paid for six hours work and as part of my ‘extra’ payment I received $6.57 holiday pay!� Go the Actor’s Union

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