Local Teachers Conduct Exciting ResearchAlongside educators from schools and centres across the area we are working to develop research projects aimed at improving outcomes for students and at the same time asking educators to think about innovative ideas to develop their teaching practice. They are exploring and sharing different ways to, for example, · connect and communicate with new workmates; · explore the language of literacy practice; · develop a gaming-based curriculum plan; · use comedy songs to hook students into reading comprehension; · and many more strategies. A coach works alongside each educator to develop their ideas into an action plan, to try them out and then share their journey and their outcomes at a celebration and professional sharing event in October 2019. There is also an online component to the project with participants using an online development and collaboration tool. These practitioner inquiry projects are aimed at supporting local schools and centres improvement priorities and we hope to report on more outcomes and ideas in our newsletters this year. Meet our coaches for this project Angela Thompson, Professor Alma Fleet and Kristen Ward in this newsletter. Local Research Pointing the Way ForwardPost School Pathways Research Project This year we are undertaking local research in two areas to inform how we can help to improve outcomes for students in our region. We are currently conducting a research project that aims to investigate how to build capacity locally to increase employment opportunities for local young people. How do we, in partnership with community and business, ensure successful pathways for local young people from school to career? What skills and capabilities are required by local employers? How do we ensure local students are life and work ready? How do we prepare students to become future innovators and influencers in our community and the world? What do you believe our local schools could do to prepare them for this future? The Community Consultation process has already begun with Colin Slattery (of Semann & Slattery) visiting late in Term 2 and returning early Term 3. Colin is seeking consultation with the local employers, training and recruitment groups, parents, students and educators between Monday 22nd and Friday 26th July. To make an appointment or receive a survey by email contact hayley@semannslattery.com Early Years Mapping Research Project The Early Years Mapping Project aims to investigate how to build capacity locally to reduce vulnerability in the Early Years. Some of the questions we are asking include: · What are the key elements to providing the highest quality in early years education and care locally? · What are the gaps in local early years provision? · What's working well for families and children? · What ideas can the community offer to improve local services to meet their needs? Our researcher Christa -Sue Walker is preparing a survey, gathering local data and researching international best practice in the area and Colin Slattery will be consulting with parents, carers, educators and interested community members from Monday 22nd till end of Friday 26th July by appointment. To receive a survey email, make an appointment for an in-person or phone consultation email hayley@semannslattery.com Partnering With ParentsThe Mining Minds approach to working with parents is founded on what we know about adult learning; that adults are internally motivated and self-directed and that they bring life experience and knowledge to learning experiences. We want our training to be relevant and show our respect for parents as their child’s most important educator. After a successful pilot group in 2018 we are running two parent-centred, facilitated discussion groups called Emotionally Intelligent Parenting. These groups aim to be flexible and respond to parents’ ideas and questions with the facilitator working with parents to find out what works and then to reflect on what happens when we try things out with our children in a safe group setting with other parents. We will continue with the weekly Emotional Intelligence Book club where we read books chosen specially for the way they challenge how we and our children think and feel with themes as such as kindness, sharing, self-control and perspective taking. The Circle of Security Parenting is an 8-week parent reflection program designed to help parents and carers cultivate their skills of observation, reflection and attunement, so that they can identify the needs beneath their child's behaviours and communications. Founded on over 50 years of attachment research (the science of how we love) COSP gives parents understanding of their child's emotional world and how to support them in managing their emotions. We will also be working on a Neighbourhood Family Day in partnership with the Family Forum in Sunday 22 September and Nature Play Day in the October school holidays. We will also be travelling to Andamooka and Woomera to offer parenting support sessions. We are pleased to let you know that Hayley Scrivens will be continuing her role as our Family worker this year. E.I Parenting Groups (2) run weekly Mondays 9am - 10am @ the Community Hub and Thursdays 10am - 11am @ the Children's Centre Family Room. E.I Book Club Weekly Monday's 11am @ the Community Hub. Circle of Security International Parenting is being delivered in partnership with the Children's Centre twice in Term 3 with a Tuesday morning group with free creche and a Wednesday evening group for Dads and Grandads. Moving Back into the Community HubThe Community Hub renovations have finally come to an end! The Hub Team will be moving back in during the school holidays and the Hub officially re-opens to the community when school returns for Term 3. Official launch planning is currently underway and when finalised we will be advertising this exciting event via email and social media. We are looking forward to welcoming the community back into the space that they have embraced so much over the past (almost) two years. Groups will resume with the school term and a timetable will be made available in the Hub. We are currently recruiting a new administration assistant to welcome families, manage bookings and the daily administration of the Hub. The Project officers of the BHP community investment projects Time For Wellbeing, Mining Minds and Strengthening Our Families are looking forward to getting back into the space where they can so easily connect with the community. We would like to thank local designer Jacinta Carr, Lisa Lock and Brian O'Hare from BHP (above left to right) for their hard work and talent in bringing this project to life. The plans were originally designed by interior architect Kurt Jury, founder of the Andamooka Yacht Club with some modifications made by the Hub Team after seeing how the community used the space over the past two years. We would also like to thank the Roxby Children’s Centre for hosting Mining Minds while the renovations have been happening. We look forward to continuing to work closely together. The Hub hosts an average of over 100 locals weekly accessing programs, meeting with project officers or simply gathering to connect. Drop-in times are 10am-2pm weekdays. The Hub is located in Shop 8 Roxby Central, Richardson Place Ph:8671 0261 Pedagogy + MagazinePedagogy + is designed to foster critical thinking and stimulate conversations to advance the theory and practice of pedagogy in early education settings. The design, an in-house production, brings together the thinking of highly respected and knowledgeable education experts in an accessible and sophisticated magazine. Mining Minds Website UpdatedWe have recently updated our website with current project information, team bios and newsletter links. To stay current with Mining Minds community events and projects visit www.miningminds.org Pick A Lane! Newsletter by Semann & SlatteryPick A Lane! is a free education newsletter produced by Semann & Slattery with short, thought provoking articles for educators. You can subscribe by entering your contact details at the bottom of the landing page of semannslattery.com On the 27th of June education leaders met for the first time in 2019 regarding the future of the Education and Child Development Forum over dinner in the Family Room of the new Children's Centre. It was decided that the Forum should continue, but given the commitments and change agendas at some sites restricting the time that can be given to developing and driving a strategic plan, Mining Minds will take an administrative and coordination role in 2019 including representing the Forum on the community Board. Meeting minutes have been distributed to all education sites and current Forum members, and Mining Minds will shortly begin a recruitment campaign to broaden the membership of the Forum to potentially include student voice, parents, businesses and training organisations who may be willing to collaborate on the Post School Pathways Project. It was suggested at this dinner meeting that as the traditional full or half day Mining Minds annual Think Tank is challenging in Term 4 due to busy site commitments, that an evening dinner Think Tank would be an option to suit most members this year. Project Manager Angela ThompsonEmail: angela@semannslattery.com Ph:8671 0261 Mob:0400 877 531Angela is the Mining Minds Project Manager and an education and community leader of 35 years experience. She has managed diverse and complex projects from inner city Sydney to remote areas of outback South Australia. She has extensive experience and high-level skills as a writer, researcher, developer and deliverer of training and development.Family Worker & Administration Hayley ScrivensEmail: hayley@semannslattery.com Ph:0459 824 026Hayley continues to do administration for Mining Minds and the Community Hub and has recently taken on a new role of Family Worker running E. I Parenting, Circle of Security training and the E.I Book Club. She has experience in the early years and a passion to support parents and children with emotional intelligence. Facilitator & Academic Consultant Dr Alma FleetEmail: alma.fleet@mq.edu.auDr Fleet is an Adjunct Associate at Semann & Sattery with a particular interest in qualitative research methodology, educational change, practitioner enquiry and diverse cultural ways of understanding the world, pedagogy and teaching. Her expertise in Practitioner Enquiry continue to impact our educators in the Olympic Dam region. Pedagogical Coach Kristin WardEmail: kristinward1711@gmail.comKristin is a coach and mentor with the Mining Minds team. She is passionate about collaboration, authenticity, nature-based learning and sustainable futures. Kristin has held a number of leadership roles in education, with particular focus on wellbeing, positive education, contemporary curriculum, student voice and choice and sustainability. |