Supporting Schools in Development
We offer comprehensive support and a systematic approach to school development or transformation through guidance from experienced experts and practitioners.
Mateja Peršolja has twenty years of experience in self-regulation, leadership, formative assessment, and visible learning, as well as ten years of experience in leading school development processes.
Nataša Lenarčič has experience in introducing self-regulation and internal control in the field of relationships. She has developed an effective approach for personal growth and relationships suitable for both younger children and teenagers. She holds a certificate in Choice Theory (Glasser Institute) and NLP Coach.
The mode of collaboration and support is determined in agreement with the school leadership and the needs of the staff.
With one year of collaboration, which includes an initial seminar and two sessions with a consultant, as well as at least 3 independent meetings of the development group at the school, we ensure:
Quality support for student learning for 20% - 60% of the staff,
Increased responsibility and motivation for learning in classrooms where teachers introduce the language of learning, self-regulation and metacognitive strategies,
Improved integrity,
Teacher collaboration for the improvement of the learning process and relationships,
Increased satisfaction and creativity among teachers.
Each individual can progress and develop in a safe, supportive environment of accepting colleagues and exceptional leaders. Each person is exceptional and contributes to the community in which they operate.
For the transformation you want to achieve at your school, a three-year systematic development plan with clear goals and focused leadership is required. Since each school has a different leadership style and group dynamics, an adapted leadership approach is needed. The principle that less is more applies to all.
In the first year of development, we focus on professional growth at the individual teacher level. We create a safe and supportive environment for development within the school's development group. We observe effects and progress and identify areas for improvement.
The second year of development is dedicated to knowledge networking, strengthening teacher competencies to support each other. Together with the development group and school leadership, we plan the expansion and implementation at the level of the entire staff.
In the third year, we formulate the school's operating principles, including skills, progress monitoring policies, and feedback.
The plan, development, and work dynamics vary from school to school and do not necessarily follow these steps.
STARTER SEMINAR
2 SUPERVISORY MEETINGS
Detection of areas of strength and areas for improvement.
Creating a supportive environment for the growth and development of teachers and students.
Teacher community3 SUPERVISORY MEETINGS
Knowledge networking, connection and implementation.
Teacher community
3 SUPERVISORY MEETINGS
Development of skills, principles of learning and school functioning.
Teacher community
Opportunities and Challenges
The impact and success of transformation depends primarily on the school leadership and the school development manager.
It is crucial to plan activities meticulously and listen to the needs of the collective. Monthly (or bimonthly) activities with clear goals are necessary to maintain focus on development, implementation, and outcomes over several consecutive years. Therefore, at least three years of intensive work is necessary, preferably without simultaneous execution of multiple projects.
Monitoring needs and providing education, networking of knowledge, and support from experienced practitioners are crucial for the school development team. Hence, membership in communities offered by the institute is recommended.
At the collective level, it is essential to ensure that all members of the collective embark on the path of transformation. Otherwise, questions start arising, particularly from students and parents, about teaching methods and learning techniques used by teachers (especially those not involved). Therefore, it is essential to gain a critical mass of teachers and, after three years, harmonize the school's teaching, monitoring, and evaluation culture/policy. Some Slovenian schools, as well as foreign ones, have extensive experience with this and have achieved a significant improvement in relationship quality and teaching within the school.
Impact
In schools and where we (co)operate, we:
Create a space for sincere sharing and connection among teachers (individuals) in the school (organization) and beyond.
Provide an opportunity for mutual learning within schools (organizations, communities) and among schools (organizations, communities).
Serve as examples and inspirations.
Bring new knowledge, modern research, while respecting tradition and culture.
Explore, listen, and express ourselves authentically.
Co-create and spread a model that works for us and other (teacher) individuals, complemented with what is important to them.
Together, we create a more humane school with an understanding for individuals.
Contribute to individuals who are heard, fulfilled, peaceful, and coexist harmoniously.
Experiences and Insights from Teachers from One of the Slovenian Schools
Experiences and Insights from Teachers from One of the Slovenian Schools
The meetings we have within the framework of the Formative Assessment are like all educational conferences should be: discussions about the quality of teaching, planning improvements in our teaching.
With the introduction of Formative Assessment, students become active, which leads to faster acquisition of knowledge, better retention, and lasting knowledge.
With Formative Assessment, the learning process is handed over to the student as an individual. They become aware of their prior knowledge, know the objectives and process, create their criteria, and dictate the pace of learning.
I've realized that motivating students to become active learners is possible.
For subjects where systematicity (structure) is important, this teaching approach is very welcome.
What I find crucial is to consciously establish goals and the path to achieve those goals together with the students.
During these meetings, I get ideas for handling specific subjects.
I'm enthusiastic about the motivation and independence of students, a different approach to knowledge, as well as peer help and collaboration.
At the meetings, I get interesting ideas. I see that implementing Formative Assessment in various subjects isn't as complicated as I imagined.
I'm thrilled about the positive atmosphere in the classroom and children's cooperation.
I like seeing concrete examples from colleagues, the entire process, and video recordings.
I'm enthusiastic about the authenticity, sincerity and realism of evaluations. I'm now realizing how critical self-assessments can be even for six-year-olds if we guide them in the process of setting performance criteria.
I'm learning how the role of the teacher is changing on one hand and how the role of the student is becoming more prominent, making them active participants in the learning process.
I'm thrilled to realize that I'm on the right path.
Prisluhnite mnenju učiteljice, ki deli dragocene izkušnje o tem, kaj jo podpre pri razvoju in navdihuje pri poučevanju. 🚀👩🏫
"Na začetku me je bilo strah. Če kaj ne vem, potrkam pri kolegici in vprašam. Pridobivam samozavest. Tudi sama zbiram dokaze o svojem delu. Sogovornike imam na šoli in v intervizijski skupini. 💡"