Positive Education

Knox grammar  held the first Australian positive education conference on 5th and 6th April, 2013. Positive mindset and psychology are great interests of mine and I was most excited to be able to experience this conference. I attended with colleague Di from AusSIP (see note at end of post). The aspect I like most about Positive education is its proactive approach.  It allows for opportunity to flourish. Positive education includes the entire school community.  We often hear of improving "21st century" learning, pedagogy, andragogy and support mechanisms for students, however how often do we hear about the importance of staff wellbeing?  Positive education is meant for all.  It is far reaching.

To discover more about Positive education read here.  To catch up on all the conference tweets, follow the link to the #auspoed storify.

Media: Sydney Morning Herald. At Knox Grammar the air is positively charged.

During this conference I could have quite happily be transported back in time as a student- to experience education at Knox. How I wish every student across all postcodes, could access the amazing opportunities these young men do!

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.

Keynotes and workshop presenters included: 

-Professor Herb Marsh, Centre for Positive Psychology and Education, University of Western Sydney.
-Dr Dianne Vella-Brodrick,  University of Melbourne.

-Dr Lindsay Oades, Sydney Business School University of Wollongong.

-Associate Professor Lea Waters, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, Melbourne University.
-Professor Vijaya Manicavasaga, Black Dog Institute.

-International keynote Dr Christian Van Niewerburgh, Director, Coaching Psychology Unit, University of East London 

-Dr Mathew White, Director of Well-Being and Positive Education, St Peter’s College, Adelaide.

-Dan Haesler Education Consultant - 'Positive Psychology – A Teacher’s Perspective'

-Dr William DeJean -‘Identity and wellbeing'

-Dr Suzy Green, The Positivity Institute 

-Dr Steve Zolezzi, Knox Grammar School

Essentially +ve education allows:

• Movement forward and is solution focused
• Reframing of setbacks
• young people to regulate positive emotions
• achievement of meaningful goals
• for supportive relationships
• young people to thrive.

For those educators and parents that would like access to resources, check out Bite back  - Mental fitness, Blogs, Quotes of the week, Think tanks, Snap Chat and so on. Their "bookshelf" is particularly handy. Other resource links can be found under "Still curious" further on in the post.  Bite Back's quote of the week this week, happens to be one of my favourites:

Quote of the Week

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."

- C.S. Lewis

If you missed this conference and you are interested in discovering more about how Positive education can enhance your students and staffs time at school (and beyond) try and attend the Positive schools 2013 Mental health and wellbeing conference in Melbourne 6th and 7th June, 2013.

Still curious? More here:

• Positive education: creating flourishing students. staff and schools by @drsuzygreen
• PI: positivity institute
• Beyond blue resources: SenseAbility
• Virtues project
• Positive psychology fact sheet PDF by Blackdog institute.
• STD: Self determination theory
• The power within
• Reachout
• Reach.org.au/events/camp-maasai

BIGGEST TAKE AWAYS:

• The evidence for increasing well-being and achievement through practicing gratitude is overwhelming.
• Gratitude is? A worldview towards noticing and appreciating positives in life and acknowledging these positives. You find what you are looking for!
• As leaders, colleagues, students we should SHOW our gratitude more.
• Gratitude is a choice. You get to choose it. What do I focus my attention on? Thought of the day. Choose positive!
• The importance of being proactive not reactive.
• Positive education underpins a meaningful and productive "life at school". 
• #teacherwellbeing is integral!  How to keep the beachball in air while juggling teaching load and personal life? Think Oxygen mask in a plane- advice is to provide yourself with oxygen first and then assist others. There is a valid reason for that. Is this happening to the extent it should in Australian schools?
• Seek out this book "Wounded by school" by Kirsten Olson.
• Building capacity and high expectations can impact positively on learning outcomes equally low expectations....
• Keep on keeping on. To all those educators and parents that believe relationships matter!
• Positive education can be seen as "fluff" but is both essential and desired. What do most parents wish for? An academic A+ student or a happy child?  
• Plan, plan, plan. Train. Accept the cynic- keeps you on your toes. Embrace the change.
• Positivity is infectious! Positive psychology is very flexible. Start with small and be successful. Listen to kids. Listen to each other.
• Need to take time. Enjoy the journey. It's not meant to be fast or tick the box. Positive education is ever evolving. Make the investment. Find champions.
• Positive education is alive and beating in many schools: encouraging!

Tom Harkin

#studentvoice sharing projects with educators

Looking at life with a sense of humour!

 Positive education is all about THRIVING not just SURVIVING. Let's make it happen! 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE:  For the past several years, I have worked 3 days part time at an independent secondary school in Castle Hill, Australia. In addition to teaching, I now also work 2 days a week as a Partnership broker with AusSIP (Australian schools and Industry Partnerships).  You can read more about partnership brokers here and here.  I am thoroughly enjoying this new role and aim to also blog about my PB journey. AusSIP is a non-profit business that establishes, builds and enhances partnerships between schools, businesses, parents and the wider community. 

Want to know more?

• Youth transitions
• Follow us on twitter: @everyparent
• LIKE our Facebook page: Aussip: partnership brokers

The Happiest refugee.

“There’s only two times in life, there’s now and there’s too late.” 

Lee Do (Anh Do’s father)

I was pleasantly surprised to see Anh Do’s memoir on my Mr14s Year 9 booklist for 2013.  As one can decipher from the title, it is a book of gratitude and seeking refuge to reside in another land. Many times Australia is referred to as the lucky country and I am extremely grateful that my family and I are indeed lucky enough to have been born into this safe, prosperous and relatively young country.  I am first generation Australian as both my parents immigrated from Malta and Germany over 50 years ago. I have heard fasinating stories of their own struggles and triumphs. 

Perhaps a vast majority of the youth of today,  may not fully appreciate how difficult it was for past generations; the uncertainty, violence, terror, lack of food, clothing and medicine, the scarcity of resources and so on.  And therefore, I was pleased that the Year 9 boys were to gain a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of the Anh Do’s life in Vietnam, his passage to Australia in 1980 and journey here thus far.

Anh is a well known Australian comedian. He has appeared in TV comedy shows such as Thank God you’re here (similar to Whose line is it anyway) and has written and starred in feature films.  I knew the book, although serious in nature, would have many scattered light hearted moments.  This would appeal to Year 9 boys. 

Apart from the obvious life lessons the book presents, Anh emphasis the extreme importance of valued role models in his life. His family being the most valued. An endearing moment in the book is when Anh surprised his high school drama teacher on a TV show aptly named “THANKS”   Anh recalls: 

“There was a celebrity part of the show and the producers asked me if I wanted to thank anyone. I immediately thought of Mrs Borny. There I was, back at my old school, St Aloysius', hiding outside a classroom where Mrs Borny was inside talking to a class of boys. "You ready, Anh?" the producer asked me. "Give me a minute," I said as I tried to compose myself. Then in I walked with the camera crew, and I saw her again after 15 years. She looked amazing; same beautiful smile, same glint in her eye that emanated a wonderful generosity and promised that this little grey-haired lady was going to believe in you and give you every chance of learning and growing. She was surprised and shocked and couldn't believe that I'd even remembered her. I told her that it was her who convinced me I could write, that it was her who told me I was a good storyteller. I also told her that I was but one of probably thousands of kids whom she'd impacted with her kindness and that she was my Robin Williams character from Dead Poets Society. Tears welled up in her eyes.”  

Wonderful gratitude right there. Anh remembers the belief Mrs Borny had in him when others didn’t see. He remembers HOW she made him feel. I love hearing stories of the impact teachers can have and also when they are made aware of this impact.

I guess the real hero of the book is Anh Do’s Mum.  She is a consistent force that held her family together.  Through her simle, upbeat and positive mantra of “No worries” she forged on to find innovative ways to provide for her family; financially and emotionally. Through all this she kept her smile AND sense of humour.

Anh’s father took the toil of his extended families struggles the worst. He is a brave man who reinforced a creative means to many ends, often married with a self sufficient streak.  One of the main lessons that is emphaised in this memoir is working hard yields results.  Being proactive here is a matter of life and death.  “You always have to make decisions in your life, Anh. And don’t kid yourself; when you don’t decide, that’s a decision.” (Page 171) 

My presentation at Abbotsleigh #teachmeet #tmsydney #tmxmas

Education as a gift.

This was my 7 minute presentation at Abbotsleigh Teachmeet #tmxmas in November 2011. The theme was a celebration of learning as a teachmeet Christmas. Therefore, I thought it would be nice to ask Santa to "skype" in- using imovie to capture his thoughts- this video format didn't work too well with Powerpoint presenting at a PC school. The presentation went well and everyone loved Santa and their gifts!  I wasn't able to upload to the #tmwikispace or slideshare as the file was so large - 250mb with pics and photos. I did convert the file to WMV to allow it to play on my PC laptop in the hope of a screencaputure, however it was still too big. Many hours and trialling different ways to bring this presentation together, I ended up with an "old fashioned" way to record using the video on my iphone just taping off the computer!  Funny I know..but at least that is a job done!  So, finally Malyn and Megan I can submit my presentation-phew!

Ps-> sound quality from Santa Skyping in a little poor so may need to listen carefully :) I am so glad it is completed!  MANY lessons learnt!



Keeping the conversation going,
Jeannette James