Symposium Towards A Learning Society

Symposium: Towards a Learning Society

On August 22nd together with 23rd of this year, I had the award of tending a learning symposium organised past times VVOB together with the Ministry of Education together with Training (MOET). The aim of the symposium was to convey educators from all over Vietnam together to portion best practices. The topics ranged from development, community together with solid unit of measurement to exceptional needs. All the presentations are available here. Each presenter had to submit a newspaper and, when these are available, I volition portion them also. 

The symposium was divided into 4 themes:

1. Students
2. Teachers
3. Managers
4. Parents & Communities

I presented inwards Session 2 on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). I accept been researching into this theme for a twain of years at i time together with wrote my thesis on it. There volition live on a weblog ship coming on the findings of that research. My presentation was intended to encourage educators to prepare PLCs inwards their schools. They are an expanse for teachers to come upward together to portion their knowledge. When implemented correctly, PLCs touching schoolhouse civilization inwards a positive way. 

I would highly encourage anybody out in that place who is doing a Master's score to write your papers inwards such a agency equally you lot tin submit them for like events. It is a groovy chance and, again, a agency to kill 2 birds amongst i stone. 

High Schoolhouse Youth Retreat

High School Youth Retreat

Last weekend, my married adult woman Kirsten as well as I took twenty-two high schoolhouse students on weekend retreat. We went to the beautiful countryside of Hoa Binh, almost 2 hours southwest of Hanoi. We left Hanoi on Fri even out afterwards schoolhouse as well as travelled past times jitney to Hoa Binh. Our friend, Michael Ong from Tea Talk, came along as well as taught the grouping on Fri night. Michael spoke almost community as well as the withdraw to operate together. He also had us play a fun game where nosotros were required to operate together to solve a problem.

Sat was a lot of fun alongside about to a greater extent than pedagogy inwards the morning time earlier games of frisbee, a walk through the nearby creek, a buffet as well as a bonfire. The students as well as thus led a worship session for 2 hours that night. It was excellent; nether the stars, away from the city, connecting alongside the LORD, surrounded past times his creation. 

The highlight of working alongside this grouping for me has been seeing the students larn to Pb Bible studies as well as prepare into leaders. I am ever thus proud when I encounter them Pb studies as well as pace out inwards organized religious belief inwards social club to assistance others. This trip was real much an inreach number where nosotros grew stronger every bit a group. The side past times side pace volition hold upward about other outreach number where nosotros tin lav become out as well as serve our community. 

Reading Levels

Reading A-Z

My schoolhouse has been using Reading A-Z for a break of years. It is a useful means of tracking students' reading together with comprehension equally they progress through the dissimilar classes. The lower bird books laid about at H5N1 together with are suitable for students inwards the get-go grade. Each bird becomes increasingly to a greater extent than hard all the means upward to Z, which would endure around 5th grade, depending on your schoolhouse system. Reading A-Z provides this correlation nautical chart for parents, teachers together with students inwards social club to continue rail of the individual's progress. It is of import to banker's complaint that this organisation is designed for students whose get-go linguistic communication is English. The nautical chart also contains the Lexile index attain for each book. This is a scale educators usage to make upward one's heed the appropriate reading historic menstruum of a majority for a child. It is specially useful when buying books equally gifts!

Running Records

Running records serve 2 master copy purposes:

• They are used to fit students to books that are written at their instructional reading level.
• They are used to make upward one's heed whether or non students are develop to run out their electrical flow levels together with movement to the side past times side ones.

Reading Groups

Perhaps the close useful teaching tool I accept gained from the Reading A-Z programme has been reading groups. During these times, I volition separate my degree upward into groups of 4 to 5 students. I volition together with then assign the same majority to each pupil inwards the group. The books are equally close to the child's reading bird equally possible. I together with then accept the students read a page of the majority each until the majority is finished. After they accept read the book, I volition accept a retell action or a give-and-take on the story. 

I promise this is useful to somebody out there!

Parent Communication

At a recent coming together of the Hanoi Technology Group, ane of my colleagues brought upward the topic of raise communication. My belief is that teachers are non the primary educators students cause got inwards their lives. Teachers pass a large component of fourth dimension amongst students, but the bulk of fourth dimension together with pedagogy should last spent amongst family. As the primary caregivers, parents are the master copy teachers inwards the lives of our students. I would similar to usage this infinite to propose ways to empower parents to instruct their children, our students.

At my school, ane of the ways nosotros empower parents is yesteryear providing equally much data together with grooming to them equally possible. Some of the ways nosotros communicate amongst parents include:

• Sending shape timetables domicile at the firstly of each week.
• Using communication books together with e-mail for teachers together with parents to write messages to each other. It is of import to notice the agency of communication that best suits the private parent. Some parents are to a greater extent than technologically comfortable together with prefer emails to their telephone acre others volition prefer to a greater extent than traditional agency of communication.
• Holding bear witness data evenings when exams are approaching. These evenings plough over parents detailed data on the bear witness procedure too equally strategies to back upward their children equally they written report at home. 
• Holding java mornings where parents may come upward inwards to come across amongst schoolhouse leaders. These are commonly structured closed to a curriculum theme. 
• Having a parent/teacher data eve each term. This is a shape of communication I personally similar to employ together with I am currently planning ane to explicate our reading computer programme inwards the early on weeks of Term 3. 
• Holding parent/teacher conferences to driblet dead on parents upward to engagement amongst educatee progress.

The inwards a higher identify listing takes a lot of fourth dimension together with seek on the purpose of the teacher. However, keeping parents informed on what is happening together with giving them strategies on how to instruct their kid is good worth the effort. In my opinion, pedagogy is non a nine-to-five job. I plough over my e-mail together with telephone number to my students together with their parents together with then they tin brand it impact amongst me should they cause got whatsoever issues. This has ever helped me to construct trusting relationships amongst my students together with their parents. 

Vietnam Technology Scientific Discipline Conference 2014

"Wow!" is all I tin reach the axe say! It is Dominicus eve in addition to I am buzzing from all the learning. This twelvemonth the UN International School of Hanoi in addition to Saigon South International School of Ho Chi Minh City teamed upwardly in ane lawsuit to a greater extent than to deliver ane of the best professional person evolution opportunities of the year. There were to a greater extent than than 50 workshops, a brace of hundred participants in addition to a non bad telephone commutation greenback speaker. Here is the conference website.

I delivered my workshop on professional person learning communities during the offset session on Saturday. My resources may locomote constitute here.

Gary Johnson came upwardly from SSIS for the conference in addition to I got to attend his workshop on Google Scripts. If yous are familiar amongst the TV show, The Wire, they advert to McNulty equally "Real Police". Well Gary Johnson is "Real Teacher". He taught us about really useful Google Scripts in addition to his materials may locomote accessed using the higher upwardly link.

Patrick Green was the telephone commutation greenback speaker in addition to he opened the conference amongst his presentation, 'The Relevant Teacher'. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sample of what he was speaking virtually may locomote viewed here. He thence led 2 workshops. The offset was on YouTube and the minute on Google Maps. Again, what tin reach the axe I tell except that they were incredible. If your schoolhouse is non using Google Apps For Education (GAFE), which is free, yous are doing your students a disservice inwards this 24-hour interval in addition to age.

The terminal session I attended was past times Pete Kennedy. He gave an first-class presentation entitled 'Driven to Digital Distraction'. Pete showed us the dangers of multitasking in addition to his materials volition locomote available hither soon.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 huge cheers to everyone involved inwards the conference in addition to forgive me if the note of this post service is a fleck unlike to my usual. As I said, I am buzzing off the learning correct now!

Search Associates Undertaking Fairs

I attended the Search Associates (SA) Spring Fair inwards Bangkok this yesteryear week. What a learning experience! It was 1 of the most stressful weekends of my life. It is almost a calendar week agone too I am all the same non over it. I promise this weblog post volition assist you lot if you lot are considering using Search Associates or International School Services to abide by a didactics or direction undertaking overseas. The Spring Fair is much smaller than the before Bangkok Fair inwards January. We were non eligible to attend the Jan Fair equally my married adult woman was considered a non-teaching husband too I did non convey PYP experience. Schools tend to expect for candidates who are: (1) Teaching Couples (2) Single (3) Teacher amongst dependents. Going equally reveal three too without PYP sense I was non inwards the best position.

According to SA 50% of candidates jobs come upwards from undertaking fairs spell the other fifty come upwards from connections made amongst schools through their site. It is very of import to acquire to the fair equally early on equally possible too to hold upwards inwards constant communication amongst your associate prior to too during the fair. I was specially blessed having John Ritter equally my associate equally he actually knows his materials too tells it straight. If you lot would similar to contact John his e-mail is jritter@searchassociates.com, I would highly recommend him equally he has been principal for a reveal of big schools too is a pleasance to operate with. Again, he actually knows his stuff.

I arrived to the fair at virtually 4:00pm on Fri afternoon, pregnant I missed all the schoolhouse presentations. When I came in, I saw the associates amongst their backs to me equally inwards the photograph above. I straight off introduced myself to John too asked him to acquire me inwards the game. Up to this betoken nosotros had only been inwards contact (a lot) yesteryear email. He told me to banking concern check my mailbox. Each schoolhouse too each instructor has a mailbox where they tin communicate amongst 1 another.

On Fri nighttime they convey the "sign ups". All the schools are at a tabular array inwards a big ballroom. You hence decease to a greater extent than or less the room too inquire if you lot tin convey an interview. If you lot convey a sideslip inwards your mailbox from a schoolhouse you lot acquire to decease to the front end of the draw to inquire for an interview. You role a schedule canvas to timetable inwards equally many interviews equally you lot tin handle. I had virtually vi scheduled for Saturday.

After the sign ups, I went dorsum to my hotel to bed. Sat was total on amongst the interviews. Most of them took identify inwards hotel rooms, some at the bar. It was rattling interesting to come across which schools were good organised too which were not. Common questions I was asked were: What would your classroom expect like? How would you lot innovation too deliver a unit of measurement of inquiry? How produce you lot role applied scientific discipline inwards your class? Why did you lot decease a teacher? Why produce you lot desire to alive inwards ..... too other such questions.

I asked the same questions virtually the packet school's were offering equally getting benefits for my identify unit of measurement was a priority for me. I had already identified all the school's I was interviewing amongst equally beingness schools who learn the PYP. I afterward learned that whether the schoolhouse is "for profit" or "not for profit" is a rattling of import point. Another of import enquiry would hold upwards how stable is the board that runs the school. That nighttime in that place was a social termination where candidates too recruiters met. This is a identify where jobs are sometimes offered. It is rattling of import to retrieve that amongst SA a verbal offering is considered binding. If you lot intermission a contract you lot may hold upwards blacklisted from their site too fairs.

The next twenty-four lx minutes menstruum nosotros waited to take away heed from the schools. As you lot tin imagine, offers were given, commonly through your mailbox. Little notes were dropped inwards if you lot did non acquire the job. This was tough equally candidates were allow downward too you lot could come across it on their faces. I was delighted to come upwards away amongst a groovy undertaking too am looking frontward to our motion to mainland People's Republic of China adjacent year. Overall the sense was great, equally I said I learned loads, but man child was it stressful. I promise this helps mortal before going to your commencement fair. 

Hanoi Pet Rescue

Our Student Council (SC) of late organised a fund raiser for Hanoi Pet Rescue (HPR). HPR are an organisation based inwards the urban heart that accept tending of abused animals. Their finish is to detect loving homes for these animals as well as they accept this real seriously. 

The Student Council donating 10,000,000 VND to Hanoi Pet Rescue

This incredible learning sense began inwards i of your yr four classes. The students were working on their unit of measurement of query when the instructor began to explicate close how bears are used inwards Asian countries for their torso parts. Bile is drained from them as well as used for medicine. Some of the students began to vociferation as well as decided they must produce something. 

The yr four class contacted the SC through their class illustration as well as planning for "Animal Day" got underway. Students organised games, baked cookies, budgeted to acquire prizes, sought donations from teachers as well as coordinated the whole event. One of the yr four students identified HPR from a brochure she saw inwards a cafe. This was much to my displeasure equally I had already identified a charity I hoped nosotros could donate to. I had to seize amongst teeth my lip equally the SC explained to me they wanted to back upward "animals non people".

 More than 10 1000000 Vietnam dong was raised which is close 5 hundred USD. It was a swell learning sense for us all as well as reminded us nosotros tin terminate all brand a difference!

Teaching Coding Inwards The Master Copy School

I would similar to part a groovy resources I came across. The kickoff is a uncomplicated programme for education students how to write code. There is also a serial of lessons on unlike coding languages.

The idea of coding to me was daunting. In my heed it was what programmers learned inwards academy in addition to required the noesis of linguistic communication in addition to symbols that were higher upwards my head. I noticed through Twitter in addition to Google+ communities that many international schools were education coding to their students inwards afterwards schoolhouse clubs. I also constitute out through a complimentary MOOC provided yesteryear FutureLearn that a coding programme called Scratch was to endure implemented adjacent twelvemonth inwards the novel National Curriculum inwards England. I wanted this for my students too!  

Scratch is a programme developed yesteryear the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to learn children (or teachers similar me) how to code. It is a rattling tardily to follow programme which uses blocks to tell characters what to do. Students tin post away construct estimator games in addition to brand animations using the program.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sample block of code inwards Scratch

I was rattling fortunate to withdraw heed of the Hanoi Coding Club. These guys are a grouping of volunteers who volition come upwards into schools in addition to learn your students how to code. Their destination is to come across programming existence taught to students inwards a fun in addition to tardily to sympathise way. I requested a volunteer through this link. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 serial of lesson plans are available here. Now these are golden! You volition come across in that place are 4 units. The kickoff ii are scratch in addition to and thence the shape tin post away progress to HTML in addition to Python. This is a amount twelvemonth of coding lessons! I promise y'all volition honor them useful. Keep on learning on, similar a aeroplane that flew!

Welcome To The Automobile - Organisational Conflict

This postal service is meant to capture unopen to recent learning I receive got been doing into leading as well as managing schools. The thoughts below are derived from my lastly assignment for my Master's inwards Educational Leadership. I receive got been learning virtually the functionalist or positivist image to organisational administration. This refers to the quondam agency of organisational construction as well as contains theories such every bit the radical structuralist, living organism, novel systems theory as well as chaos theory. The reverse to this approach is the interpretative image which volition too live looked at inwards this post.

Some of the assumptions inside the functionalist perspective are:

Epistemology - Knowledge is known, objective, quantifiable as well as linear.

Ontology - The social as well as organizational basis is an objective phenomenon. It exists every bit a material, concrete entity external to the individual. Reality is constitute inwards the concrete behaviour as well as relationships betwixt the ingredient parts of the organization.

Human nature - At the extreme objectivist terminate of this dimension, the nature of humans is seen as; nosotros are stimulated as well as respond. Drawing on the theory of Maslow, humans receive got needs as well as volition react or live motivated according to how these needs are met, or not. The piece of work of McGregor built on Maslow’s theory of needs past times suggesting humans react either past times the carrot as well as stick or Theory X approach, which suggests subordinates are passive as well as lazy, prefer to live led as well as resist change, or his Theory Y, which believes, on the other hand, that atmospheric condition tin live created which enable workers to hit their goals past times directing their efforts to organisational rewards. This volition give them satisfaction inwards their work.

Society - Society every bit beingness made upwardly of parts which perform a detail business office inwards the functioning of the whole. Within organisational society, at that spot is a construction of authorization as well as status positions as well as roles, the construction beingness characterized past times an orderly prepare of social arrangements. Within the functionalist paradigm, the monastic tell as well as stability of monastic tell rest on the parts of, as well as social system working together to hit mutual objectives.

Many organisations seem to live run inwards this form of manner. Have you lot e'er seen an organisational nautical chart similar the 1 below? At the top, at that spot is a leader. Under her are lower score managers as well as trouble managers and, at the bottom, the soldiers, or education staff. The diagram below is genuinely the construction of the Pakistani Army!

The other terminate of the spectrum is the interpretative paradigm. The interpretive paradigm, sometimes referred to every bit phenomenology, is founded on the supposition that physical reality as well as social reality are dissever as well as distinct from 1 another. Most interpretive theorists accept, with honour to physical reality, that the physical basis exists exclusive of the existence of the individual; that it is made upwardly of objects as well as matter; as well as that these are plain of written report to physical laws. As regards social reality, interpretive theorists concord that the social basis exists every bit a business office of private consciousness. Individuals perceive social situations as well as and thence give them their existence as well as their meaning. Furthermore, actors are impelled to deed inwards the social basis and, inwards doing so, contribute to the construction of social reality.

Some of the assumptions inside the functionalist perspective are:

Epistemology from the interpretative perspective sees the nature of cognition every bit beingness something people comport inwards their minds. It is subjective as well as qualitative. Knowledge is something nosotros are given or something nosotros acquire through socialisation. From the postmodern perspective, which is unopen to other option to functionalism, cognition is considered to live power. In fact, according to Lyotard, cognition as well as might are ii sides of the same question: who decides what cognition is, as well as who knows what needs to live decided? Technology plays a large component inwards the shaping as well as distribution of knowledge and, if distributed fairly alongside nations, has the potential to empower developing nations. Knowledge from the interpretative perspective involves unopen to deep thinking, every bit does the nature of reality.

Ontology, from the interpretive perspective, considers physical reality as well as social reality every bit beingness dissever as well as distinct from 1 another. Physical reality exists exclusive of the existence of the individual. It is made upwardly of objects as well as thing as well as these are plain of written report to physical laws. Interpretive theorists concord that the social basis exists every bit a business office of private consciousness. Individuals perceive social situations as well as and thence give them their existence as well as their meaning. Individuals are impelled to deed inwards the social basis and, inwards doing so, contribute to the construction of social reality.  Organisations are considered to live the social construction of reality inwards the interpretative paradigm. Organising is a procedure of communicating as well as it is communicating that creates social structures which locomote reality.

From the interpretative perspective, humans wishing pregnant to their work. In preindustrial society, piece of work was performed inwards the same community setting where people lived. Consequently, people knew 1 unopen to other as well as saw the connector betwixt their piece of work as well as how it benefited the remainder of the community. The industrial era separated piece of work from the community as well as created the bureaucracy to house, organise, as well as command work. Chalofski as well as Krishna suggest that people observe purpose when they sense liberty to live just who they are inwards a fluid as well as changing manner. People strive to hit goals to satisfy their emotions as well as desires. Recently the economical downturn, which began inwards 2007/2008, has been causing tremendous turmoil inwards employment. Despite this, novel immature professionals are soundless expressing a preference to piece of work for socially responsible, ethically driven organizations that let the “whole self” to live brought to work.

The earliest origins of the interpretive image occur inwards the writings of the German linguistic communication philosopher Husserl. Husserl stated that, instead of monastic tell with its norms as well as values having objective existence, similar unopen to physical object, as well as beingness somehow imposed on individuals, monastic tell is genuinely a production of the subjective mental processes of its members. It is the mental processes of individuals that shape the social world. Every private is born into an objective social construction inside which he encounters the important others who are inwards accuse of his socialisation. The private non exclusively takes on the roles as well as attitudes of others, but, inwards the same process, takes on their world. Primary socialisation is obtained from one’s family, acre secondary socialization, or the acquisition of role-specific knowledge, is obtained inwards a schoolhouse or other organisation. Organisational civilization may live passed on to an employee through secondary socialisation. 

To conclude, I would similar to say that the interpretative image is the agency to go, however, I believe aspects of the functionalist image are necessary but must live addressed correctly. The interpretative image supports professional person learning communities, appreciative enquiry as well as shared leadership. I receive got constitute that teachers coming to piece of work inwards Asia from other countries oft observe themselves working inwards the functionalist image or to utilization the metaphor of "the machine". They oft grapple with the adjustment. My advice to principals is to brand things rattling clear to teachers during the interview procedure as well as aid them brand the right conclusion earlier entering the machine.

How To Ameliorate Schoolhouse Culture

I convey been involved inwards international pedagogy at in i lawsuit for the yesteryear 10 years. I convey been conducting inquiry into organisational civilization using the phenomenological or interpretative method. Organisational civilization is oftentimes defined equally "the agency things are done around here". It tin shipping away live on a real positive human face of a schoolhouse or a toxic one.

In a previous post, I compared the functionalist together with interpretative approaches to organisational construction or leadership. Culture is for integration inside the functionalist paradigm. Culture is something an scheme has. In a sense, the scheme is withal beingness viewed equally an organism, civilization beingness only some other of its attributes, something to live on regulated together with adapted inwards guild to ensure the organisation’s survival. In the interpretative paradigm, the scheme is seen equally a culture. The scheme is viewed equally a manifestation of human consciousness. The scheme becomes a subjective entity, an embodiment of subjective experience.

I convey been reading extensively on this topic together with would similar to part a jewel I establish inwards the piece of occupation of Beare, Caldwell together with Millikan. They suggest a listing of eighteen aspects of a schoolhouse together with believe that, yesteryear working to meliorate each of these, the overall civilization of the schoolhouse volition live on positively impacted.

The listing is:

1. Aims together with Objectives
2. Curriculum
3. Language
4. Metaphors
5. Organisational Stories
6. Organisational Heroes
7. Organisational Structures
8. Facilities together with Equipment
9. Artifacts together with Memorabilia
10. Crests together with Mottoes
11. Uniforms
12. Rituals
13. Ceremonies
14. Teaching together with Learning
15. Operational Procedures
16. Rules, Regulations, Rewards together with Sanctions
17. Psychological together with Social Supports
18. Parental together with Community Interaction Patterns

I establish this listing real helpful! In my reading on organisational culture, I read lots of definitions together with stories but establish real petty practical advice on how to genuinely meliorate culture. By working on fifty-fifty only i of the above, you lot volition live on impacting your schoolhouse inwards a positive way. There is much to a greater extent than exceptional inwards the majority if you lot would similar to farther explore these aspects of organisational culture.

Beare, H., Caldwell, B. J., & Millikan, R. H. (1989). Creating an fantabulous schoolhouse : some novel administration techniques. London, UK: Routledge.

Behaviour Management

I was asked late what I believe on the dependent plain of demeanour management. I role a combination of the humanist in addition to behaviourist approaches. In instructor grooming schoolhouse nosotros were encouraged to role the humanist approach but I do non run into how it is possible non to role the behaviourist approach at times.

The humanist approach emphasizes relationships amongst students in addition to their families. I construct this yesteryear having a parent instructor nighttime every term. I also organize a fun solar daytime at the foremost of the twelvemonth for students in addition to their families in addition to therefore nosotros tin choke to know each other. Also because I had been at mt previous schoolhouse for ix years I knew some parents already in addition to taught older siblings in addition to therefore this makes it easier edifice relationships. Learning the local linguistic communication is also extremely of import from a cultural tidings perspective every bit existence able to communicate amongst families is ane of the keys to demeanour management. 

The behaviourist approach originates from the Pavlov’s domestic dog experiment. If the pupil does something practiced nosotros plough over them a certificate at assembly. If they misbehave nosotros scold them or punish them, detention etc.

In my cast I accept identified the students who are poorly behaved. I ever accept these inward positions that are straight facing the board. I effort to accept them inward unopen proximity to where I instruct but of course of written report accept to dissever them too. When a man child who is far from me is misbehaving during a lesson I volition merely walk about him. This enables me to choke along educational activity without having to halt educational activity to address the problem.

I constantly praise my cast yesteryear telling them how practiced they are. Things like, “You are the best class!” “How do you lot know in addition to therefore much?” Your writing has improved in addition to therefore much, the exam volition endure tardily for you.” Lots of positive reinforcement.

Regular communication amongst parents of troubled students is also key. I similar to ship out a grouping electronic mail each calendar week amongst my lesson timetable. If a pupil excels inward in addition to expanse or misbehaves an electronic mail to parents to allow them know tin endure real effective. 

I promise it volition endure of some help!

The 9Th Peter F. Drucker Administration Forum

On the 18^th of September, my schoolhouse sent me to the 9th Peter F. Drucker Management Forum inward Xi’an, China. I applied to acquire to this forum every bit I had read roughly of Drucker’s run during my graduate studies. I was especially influenced past times his writing on the noesis worker. Drucker foresaw the electrical current historic flow where the might to scope noesis is 1 of the most of import skills nosotros demand to have.

The opening remarks at the forum were past times Joan D. Winstein, Drucker's daughter. She explained that the role of the conference was to await into the essence of management, to await at managerial problems in addition to to portion ways the problems convey been solved.

Intersection of Management every bit a Liberal Art - Photo past times Brian Lalor

The offset speaker was Michael Isakson, who is the Service Master COO. His approach is to honour his staff at all levels. Mr. Isakson believes that the agency employees are treated is 1 of the keys to successful business. To honour God inward all things is the ultimate destination of Mr. Isakson’s business. This was quite refreshing to hear. The destination of every draw concern is to grow profitably. This comes from the pursuit of excellence, which comes from helping people prepare in addition to this inward plough from honoring God inward all nosotros do.

The side past times side speaker was Luna Kook Hyuh, who was the CEO for Yuhan-Kimberly. He shared close a hard fourth dimension inward their draw concern when Procter in addition to Gamble entered the Korean market. At that time, Yuhan-Kimberley’s marketplace dropped dramatically in addition to hymeneals leaders came quest for severance pay. Mr. Luna focused his draw concern on the local population in addition to tailored products to arrange the Korean market, which proved to hold out an extremely successful strategy. 

Mr. Luna stressed the importance of giving dorsum to the community. In his business, giving dorsum meant planting large areas of trees. This environmental focus was an example of seeing a work every bit an opportunity.

Photo past times Brian Lalor 

Joseph A. Maciariello was the terminal speaker I heard. He wrote the book, “Drucker’s Lost Art of Management”. He quoted Drucker proverb that, “leadership cannot hold out taught but it tin hold out learned”. I thoroughly believe this statement. He said the human who created the backpack for 1 of the Apollo missions came upwards from the store floor. He studied at night. Mr. Maciariello discussed the importance of harmony in addition to musical rhythm throughout your life.

Management every bit a liberal fine art was what Peter Drucker believed. Values in addition to ethics must hold out intertwined alongside business. Mr. Maciariello believed sacrificing an private talent to hold out necessary for a squad to flourish. The best people working every bit a squad is the cardinal to success. The correct chemical scientific discipline tin exclusively hold out developed past times correct leadership decisions.

To amount upwards the conference, I would say caring for the surroundings in addition to the importance of those serving us were cardinal themes. Are nosotros treating others alongside dignity in addition to value? This was the query the speakers were quest us. 

The Xi'an Pupil Leadership Forum

This fall, I had the laurels of taking business office inwards the Xi’an Student Leadership Forum. The forum was organised past times the English linguistic communication Language Institute of China. For this forum, a dyad hundred students were interviewed together with 80 finalists selected to bring together the forum. These students were leaders or people who exhibit leadership potential inwards their universities.

After an incredible luncheon at the Westin Xi’an, nosotros heard from 3 concern leaders.  The starting fourth dimension to beak was Simon Lee. Mr. Lee said that when concern is done good it tin mail away alter the world. He is involved inwards 2 businesses at the moment. Fifty pct of the profits from 1 of his businesses goes to charity spell one-hundred pct of the profits from his 2nd concern goes towards ending human trafficking.

Mr. Lee spoke at length virtually the importance of branding. He said branding is non a logo, fellowship advert or concern advert but it is a story. Some factors to endure taken into consideration when selecting a construct are:

1. Who are we?
2. What are we?
3. How does the client experience virtually us?
4. What is the human relationship betwixt us together with the brand?

Mr. Lee besides believes that matrimony is the foundation of every company. He said our world life together with individual life are really much connected. There are 3 parts of our lives: the starting fourth dimension alone nosotros know, the 2nd alone our solid unit of measurement know together with the 3rd our co-workers know. According to Mr. Lee, keen leaders take away maintain homogeneous graphic symbol both privately together with publicly. “Personal branding is crucial to leadership.”

We should do self-leadership past times quest others what they intend virtually us. Be an authentic leader past times sharing your struggles; endure a consistent leader past times doing what you lot say. Don’t locomote on beingness a keen leader later; locomote on it now. Personal branding should come upwards first, therefore fellowship branding, therefore the logo together with all the rest.

The side past times side speaker was Mike Jorgensen. Mike leads the squad at I Am Second. This is a website that creates brusque videos together with books that document transformations inwards peoples’ lives. Mike graduated from Duke where he studied constabulary together with practiced for twelve years next graduation.

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He shared 3 principals for creating together with leading a keen team:

1.  Get the correct people on the motorcoach together with acquire them inwards the correct seats.
2. Be clear virtually the administration the squad is going. Get everybody going inwards the same direction.
3. Serve the squad every bit they implement the vision.

To amount upwards Mr. Jorgensen’s message, I would nation he was proverb that beingness a leader is all virtually making those who you lot atomic number 82 succeed together with locomote to a greater extent than successful than yourself. He used the story of how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet together with told them to serve others. This besides resonates alongside the locomote of Peter Senge inwards his book, The Fifth Discipline. Senge believes everyone on the squad should strive for personal mastery together with that, when this is achieved, the organisation every bit a whole becomes better.

The concluding speaker at the forum was Joe Foster. Mr. Foster leads Foster Financial Group, a finance administration organisation. He believes that losing his undertaking was 1 of the best things that e'er happened to him together with that he learned some of the most valuable lessons from it.

Mr. Foster shared vi keys to leadership alongside us:

1. Invest time, energy, together with coin on relationships.
2. Ask keen questions to focus on serving others.
3.  Find the expert inwards others together with admit it.
4.  Be customer-centred, non only product-centred.
5.  Be a people mortal together with attract others.
6. Hire tiresome but burn downwardly fast.

The forum was an incredible learning experience for me together with reminded me what beingness a truthful leader is all about! 

Search Associated Hong Kong Fair

Each January, inwards Hong Kong Search Associates organise i of their chore fairs. The vast bulk of the international schools manage come upward from mainland China, followed yesteryear a disclose of schools from Hong Kong. This was my instant fair but this fourth dimension I was going every bit a recruiter.

The indicate of this post service is to grade teachers together with schoolhouse leaders insights into the recruiter experience. Preparation for the fair is real important. My schoolhouse sent a squad of four, 2 recruiting for primary together with 2 for secondary. Within each couplet were a instructor together with administrator, i alongside classroom noesis together with i alongside management knowledge. This worked real good for us.

Our Team at the Fair

The calendar week earlier the fair nosotros met to determine upon our roles at the fair together with the form of teachers nosotros were after. We decided nosotros wanted qualified teachers who came alongside real practiced references. We decided on 2 interviews, i on Sabbatum alongside 2 interviewers together with and then a instant on Dominicus alongside the sum team. We lost unopen to candidates due to this every bit other schools were making offers at i time on Saturday, however, all the teachers nosotros hired had their references thoroughly checked, Masters degrees together with sense alongside the PYP.

I would similar to stress to teachers the importance of their references. If y'all convey a profile on Search Associates it is slow for the recruiter to scan downwards through your references together with every bit they are inwards checklist format, depression scores stick out. One of the questions that nosotros peculiarly honed inwards on was, “What influence does this someone convey on schoolhouse morale together with “climate”?” This is on a scale from i to 10 together with when triangulated alongside the other references says a lot.

So teachers:

1. Make certain y'all inquire an administrator who is real happy alongside your function to write your reference
2. Stay positive through hard situations.
3. If y'all are looking for function inwards China this is a peachy fair. The organisers are extremely helpful, Barry Drake - bdrake@searchassociates.com together with Ray Sparks - rsparks@searchassociates.com. Contact them if y'all you would similar data on attending. 

My Showtime Yr Didactics The Pyp

In the basis of international didactics it seems the International Baccalaureate has risen to the come about inwards damage of reputation. Getting into the "top schools" tin live on a nightmare if you lot exercise non get got sense inwards i of the IBs iii programs. I am writing this to a greater extent than for myself to human face dorsum upon together with every bit a reflection (of my get-go twelvemonth teaching inwards the IB) than for the public, but mortal wanting to intermission into the organization may discovery it useful. I get got key words inwards italics, which could live on dropped inwards at an interview!

First of all, the to a greater extent than good established IB schools that I applied for were non fifty-fifty considering applicants unless they had PYP experience. PYP stands for The Primary Years Program, it goes from Early Childhood (3 years) to Year 6. For a schoolhouse to live on authorised yesteryear the IB to deliver the PYP, all teachers who learn the programme must get got Category 1 preparation inwards a course of instruction called, "Making the PYP Happen inwards the Classroom". If you lot get got done this preparation together with know simply about of the IB lingo, you lot volition live on at an payoff inwards an interview. The course of instruction costs nearly 760 Singapore dollars together with may live on found here.

IB PYP Wheel from www.ibo.org

I get got to say, the PYP is incredible. They get got taken the best bits of didactics together with packaged it inwards a actually proficient bundle to sell to schools. Constructivism, Understanding yesteryear Design, Concept based Education and Inquiry are simply about of the basic edifice blocks of the program. You learn 6 transdisciplinary themes a year. This is real dissimilar from traditional systems where the subjects are separate. In the PYP, the specialist teachers excogitation their lessons amongst the homeroom teachers thence the students sense continuity throughout the program. Most of the Mathematics together with Literacy is taught inwards a unit of measurement together with all of the Social Studies together with Science is inwards there. The residual of the Math together with Literacy is taught every bit stand-alone.

There are v principal parts to the PYP: knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and action.

Knowledge - This is the 6 transdisciplinary themes together with the subjects that are taught. Examples of the themes are, "Who nosotros are", which has a Social Studies focus, or "How nosotros limited ourselves", which has an Arts focus. PE is called PSPE (Personal, Social together with Physical Education) together with could live on transdisciplinary, planned together with taught amongst the homeroom teacher, or stand-alone where the PE instructor would exercise a unit of measurement alone.

Concepts - The concepts are oftentimes referred to every bit lenses inwards the IB programs. We human face at the query or lessons through them. Some of them include: change, perspective or reflection. This aspect of the programme is epic! I am notwithstanding a flake confused betwixt these concepts together with the concepts inwards the key ideas. After reading the run of Lynn Erikson, I learned that a key thought or enduring agreement is made upwards of ii concepts inwards a relationship. It may live on a generalisation or a principle. I volition non acquire into this yet, until I fully empathize it myself.

Skills - There are v transdisciplinary skills which I believe are going to live on called approaches to learning (ATLs) inwards the upcoming PYP update. They are: social skills, research skills, self-management skills, thinking skills together with communication skills. These are thence broken downwardly farther together with should live on carefully planned into the curriculum. You may discovery all of this information inwards the book, Making the PYP Happen. Just Google it together with you lot volition discovery it easily.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 version of the Inquiry Cycle from my classroom floor

Attitudes - There are 12 attitudes such every bit empathy, independence together with inventiveness that nosotros attempt to develop inwards the students. Another related together with hugely of import business office of all the IB programs is international mindedness. This is summed upwards inwards the IB mission controversy together with inwards the ten learner profile attributes. Some of these are: caring, thinker together with risk-taker.

Action - Finally, what is yesteryear far the best business office of the programme inwards my opinion, students are expected to accept activity afterwards they get got learned. This tin live on anything from turning off lights to campaigning for students to halt wasting food. Some awesome examples may live on found on a spider web log called, "Sharing the PYP".

Employee of the Year - Primary School

So to amount upwards my get-go year, I believe I get got simply scratched the surface of the possibilities amongst the PYP. My background inwards UbD together with query from teaching the Queensland curriculum has actually stood to me, but I get got a lot to learn. If you lot desire to larn to a greater extent than nearly the PYP quickly, follow Twitter.  This has been an incredible twelvemonth of learning for me!