Weekend Workshop

Margaret MacLean

mmaclean@teachercollaboration.org

www.teachercollaboration.org

www.schoolreforminitative.org

An educator with over 40 years experience, in seven countries, Margaret MacLean currently provides professional development support to teachers and school leaders internationally. Margaret has taught at all grade levels from Pre K to grade 6 and served for over 15 years as a school administrator. In 1996 Margaret was named Vermont Principal of the Year.

Margaret is a member of the School Reform Initiative. Begun in the mid 1990’s at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University USA the program is focused on developing collaborative school cultures, encouraging reflective practice, and rethinking leadership—all in support of increased student achievement. The Critical Friendship model is the basis of the work.

Margaret’s work takes her to school throughout the world to provide initial training seminars and follow up school coaching. Margaret has previously presented at NESA EARCOS, AISA AASSA and ECIS conferences. Margaret has also worked directly with a number of international schools to develop school wide systems for effective professional collaboration; these include Shanghai American School, the American School in Japan, Seoul Foreign School, American International School of Mozambique, American School of Warsaw, FMV Ayazaga Isik Lisesi, Istanbul, the International School of Tanganyika, the International School of Dakar, St Pauls British School in Sao Paulo, St Nicholas School Sao Paulo, Stockholm International School, Frankfurt International School and the International School of Helsingbor in Sweden.

Overview

This professional development experience will support your ability to extend teacher collaboration in your school, support the development of a collaborative school culture through Professional Learning Communities (PLC) , encourage reflective practice, and help rethink middle level teacher leadership — all in support of increased student achievement. The work we will do emphasizes making teaching practice public, assessing teaching in relation to student learning, and routinely adapting teaching to meet the changing needs of today's students. The Critical Friendship model, which was begun in the mid 1990’s at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, is the foundation of the work. The research base for the work is detailed at the following link:
http://www.schoolreforminitiative.org/research/

Who should Attend?

This session is designed for Teachers, Assistants, Teacher Leaders, Grade Level Team Leaders, Department Heads, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Coordinators and Administrators. Basically any educator, who participates in or has responsibility for organizing meetings, will find this session useful.

What will Participants Walk Away With ?

1. Knowledge about and practice using several strategies for engaging in discussions based on ideas contained in different kinds of "texts"
2. An understanding of how to give and receive productive feedback on professional practice
3. Experience with the use of a variety of effective questioning techniques
4. Practice with the use of several protocols for increasing learning by examining student and adult work collaboratively—an understanding of when to use which protocol and why
5. A clear sense of the role of a facilitator in creating and sustaining an effective collaborative teacher work group. Practice with a variety of facilitation skills
6. A clear, practical plan for participating in or leading a professional group

Learning Outcomes

In this session you will experience a powerful model of effective adult learning and learn how to design a similar experience in your own context. You will work to develop an effective professional community while learning the concepts, habits, tools, and facilitation skills that lead to more reflective collaborative practice. During the session we will answer the following guiding questions:

How can collaborating with colleagues improve educator practice and student learning?
What can I learn about my own practice by looking collaboratively at student and colleagues’ work?
How do I foster adult conversation and dialogue that directly impacts student learning?
Which facilitation skills and practices help develop effective teacher work groups?
What strategies will encourage full participation and engagement?
Why use protocols? How do I match a protocol to a task or need? What tools and structures can help a group use time effectively to accomplish a task?
What kind of feedback encourages and supports reflection and professional growth?
How can I as a teacher leader support professional growth and improvement at my school?

REGISTRATION
OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 6, 2016

1. Workshop Fee: inclusive of morning snacks, lunches and coffee break for 2 days. Payment upon arrival.
-EARCOS member schools : $50
-Non members: $150.
2. Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation and getting to Subic Bay.
3. Brent International School Subic will only provide transportation to/from the workshop venue and the hotels for the weekend.