National Professional Standards For Teachers and Leaders – Module 3

Yesterday, Tuesday 29^th November 2011, we started Module 3 of the “National Professional Standards for Teachers and Leaders”. The two trainers focused on exploring and annotating evidence for best practice and developing a plan to introduce the National Professional Standards for Teachers and Leaders in schools.

The warming up activity presented a new strategy “Human Bingo” which elicited some of the knowledge and information related to the NPSTSL discussed in the previous sessions. That game provided a good chance for trainees to speak out and share their beliefs.

It was my turn to read out my personal statement to my colleagues (the audience) who showed great interest. Margret, the trainer, praised my personal statement saying that it is precise and concise.

In that session we discussed the format of the standards which is shown below.

• Standard title – a short, action-oriented statement that describes the key area of professional practice for teachers and leaders.
• Standard descriptor – the aspect of professional practice covered by the standard.
• Statements – key components of professional practice covered by the standard. Statements are focused on performance and can be demonstrated.
• Indicators – examples of actions a teacher or leader would normally take to perform the aspect of professional practice detailed in the relevant statement.
• Required skills, knowledge, understandings and dispositions – broad areas of learning and development that teachers and school leaders might consider to strengthen their practice.
• Evidence Guide – identifies the performance expected at each stage of career development, including a list of the types of evidence that teachers and school leaders may present to show that they have achieved the required level of performance.

The Lotus Chart was used to help each group to work on one of the standards, identify its statements and indicators and to mention examples of evidence that address the standard and are being used by colleagues (trainees) in their schools.

Then groups were given enough time to work on the pieces of evidence they brought and started annotating them against the standards. I think most of the trainees benefited much and by now they should have completed their personal statement and annotated a number of pieces of evidence for their professional portfolios.

I really thank the two trainers and appreciate their great efforts.

If you are interested, you can download the presentation and the handouts of the workshop by clicking the following link:

http://sites.google.com/site/npstsl/home/week-3—planning-for-action

My Personal Statement – My Philosophy of Education

For your professional portfolio, you need to write your personal statement which sums up your philosophy of education. Guided by a tool that was provided by the trainers in the NPSTSL Program for writing the personal statement,  I have just finished writing my personal statement as a leader which I put here for you to guide you when writing your statement. I hope you find it useful.

My Philosophy of Education

My philosophy of education springs from my long experience of teaching, training and leading people. I believe in team work so I prefer my staff to work collaboratively. To get the best out of them, I always praise their work, motivate them and build bridges of trust among faculties.

As a leader, it is my responsibility to provide a safe teaching/ learning environment for students. I believe in differentiated instruction and student-centered classrooms. I think teachers should have good rapport with students.  We need to provide students with different resources and class activities. We should also activate learner autonomy.

My school is not just about getting qualifications and passing National Tests. In my school we look forward to graduating students who stand out by their unique scientific and social skills in a learning environment characterized by dedication to the national and social sense. This educational environment should be equipped with modern technology and open to others, preserving the teachings of Islam and respecting Qatari customs and traditions.

As a school leader, I make sure that parents have a say in the school vision, mission and policies. I encourage them to cooperate with the school in establishing procedures by which the community becomes involved in developing school programs.

I keep up-to-date with professional learning by attending training courses, reading about and applying new trends of teaching and leadership. I reflect upon and record my thoughts about teaching, training and leadership on my blog which is available for everyone on the Internet.

Leaders and Teachers 4-Day Workshop Module 2

Last Tuesday 22^nd November, 2001, we started working on Module 2 that deals in great depth with the National Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders. The trainers explicitly explained Standard 1 (for teachers and leaders). The practical side focused on getting teachers and school leaders to annotate and describe how each of the pieces of evidence they have prepared meets the points of the evidence guide for standard 1. As usual, the trainers used pedagogical strategies that can be useful for teachers in the future such as: Brainstorming, Group Work, and Celebrity Heads. In fact, applying these strategies helped to see the standards in action.

It was also good getting some teachers and school leaders to read out their personal statements to the audience and to comment on them.

In Week 2, we discussed the following:

1. The teaching standards
2. The format of the standards (Title, descriptor, statements, indicators, and evidence guide).
3. Implementing the NPSTSL
4. Examples of personal statements
5. Annotating a piece of evidence on Standard 1

The workshop was really effective. It is my turn next time to read out my Personal Statement.

Use the link below to download the presentation and handouts of the workshop.

http://sites.google.com/site/npstsl/home/week-2—introduction-to-the-teaching-standards

Leaders and Teachers 4-Day Workshop – Module 1

The Supreme Education Council (SEC) in Qatar is responsible for providing professional development to school leaders and teachers. In this respect the “Leaders and Teachers 4-Day Workshop” started on Tuesday 15^th November, 2011 at “Regency Halls”. In this training course, two great efficient trainers, Margaret Bishop– NPS Consultant and Ian Smyth – NPS Consultant are doing their best to focus on the main topic of the course which is the National Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders as well as the process of preparing professional portfolios.

The best thing about the course is the way the workshops are conducted and the practical side that involves all participants in fruitful discussions. The two trainers are keen on using different strategies that teachers can make good use of in their own teaching in the classroom, for instance, Brainstorming, the KWHLD strategy, the Y-Chart, Hot Potato, Treasure Hunt and Lotus Chart.

In Week 1, we discussed the following:

1. Requirements for the NPSTSL(National Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders) Programme
2. My Reflective Journal
3. Describing best (school, teacher, teaching, classroom and educational leadership) practice
4. Linking ‘best practice’  to the NPSTSL
5. WHY National Professional Standards?
6. Implementing NPSTSL
7. Writing your personal statement

I think the workshop was really effective. I think I am lucky enough to attend this course.

Use the link below to download the presentation and handouts of the workshop.

http://sites.google.com/site/npstsl/home/week-1—introduction-to-the-leadership-standards