Jun 9How Co-Creating Learning Spaces Develops a Connection to Place“This is for you, we knew you were coming” In the late 1930s, Frances Presler was tasked with opening the Crow Island School in Illinois, in the US. Which, some 80 years later, is still considered a lighthouse for timeless and humane architecture for children. But at the time, Frances was struggling with how to create a new school…Codesign5 min readCodesign5 min read
Mar 14Take It OutsideExploring Place-Based Learning and Risk — What does outdoor education mean to you? What images do you conjure in your mind when you hear this term? Is it hiking through rugged wilderness? A gripping tree-top adventure climb? Or perhaps rafting a raging river? For too long, I anchored myself inside the relative safety of the classroom…Primary Schools6 min readPrimary Schools6 min read
Jul 11, 2021What Spirit Shall It Have?Exploring the heart and soul of school communities — Recently, I attended a principal’s tour of a new local school because the time has come to enrol our kindergartener in “big school”. As you might expect, the brand-new buildings were impressive, the furniture immaculate, and the attention to detail shown was first class. The luxury of this new school…Primary Schools7 min readPrimary Schools7 min read
Feb 28, 2021Better ProblemsWhat kind of problems do we want? — A radically student-centered classroom doesn’t have fewer problems than a more traditional approach, it just has better problems. Better problems revolve around community building, social justice, and purpose finding. They are rooted in developing trust and agency and choice instead of mindless compliance and distrust. …Multi Age Learning4 min readMulti Age Learning4 min read
Jul 20, 2020School as an Extension of HomeExploring Acceptance, Access, Abundance and Attention — When students returned to our classroom from a COVID-19 enforced change to how and where we do school, I asked what they enjoyed most about doing school from home. The answers, not surprisingly for middle schoolers, mostly centred around sleeping in! …Progressive Education8 min readProgressive Education8 min read
Feb 19, 2020Valuing Feedback Over FormulaReflecting on a year of writing with a creative, highly capable group of year 4 children — This is a guest blog post from one of the best educators I know. I’ve been pestering Victoria Edwards for several years to let me publish some of her reflections, I’m thrilled to do so here— Abe. Writing is an ongoing process and children need the time and space to…Writing5 min readWriting5 min read
Jan 27, 2020Dear New KidA letter to the class of 2020 from the class of 2019 — Dear New Kid, Prepare to enter a world where you get to take serious responsibility for your learning. You will need to forget everything you think you know about school. In this class, YOU drive your learning, not the teacher. Perhaps the most important thing you need to understand is…Primary Schools2 min readPrimary Schools2 min read
Jan 23, 2020In Search of Sustainable Teacher WorkloadFour simple tips for primary teachers chasing the work/life balance unicorn — When time becomes scarce, teachers are usually asked to pick their guilt trip: ignoring work, family, or their health and wellbeing. The ‘teaching as a vocation’ narrative suggests the best teachers are willing to sacrifice their personal time and health because ‘great teachers take extra time to do it right’…Primary Schools6 min readPrimary Schools6 min read
Nov 1, 2019Making a DifferenceWe ARE capable of taking charge of our learning — This is a guest post from a year 6 student in my class. His contribution to Project Reimaginate was quite incredible, and his drive and work ethic are unmatched in my time as a primary school teacher. I’m happy to be able to share his story here. I’m a kid…Education4 min readEducation4 min read
Published in Human Restoration Project·Oct 12, 2019Career Ready KindergartenWhy we should “Let The Children Play” — “The future prepared for is a long way off; plenty of time will intervene before it becomes a present. Why be in a hurry about getting ready for it?” — John Dewey, Democracy and Education (1916) There is a growing misconception that giving a child the best start in life…Education6 min readEducation6 min read
