Inspired

Recently I spent some time away from school attending a professional development workshop run by the International Baccaulaureate and a new #physed conference called the APPEC conference. Both were held in Hong Kong, a place I had never been before but really found exciting.

The IB workshop was the best professional development I've ever had. It was the workshop I'd been waiting to go to without realising. It came at the right time in my professional life, making me finally realise the direction I wanted to go. I met many new people and made new connections which I hope will last for a long time in my career.

Training as an IB workshop leader was far from my thoughts a couple of years ago. I knew I had the experience and had been asked previously about the possibility of participating in such a course. I think maybe I was afraid of leaving the classroom and being away from teaching children. I was afraid of going in that direction. But the more I thought about wanting to do this workshop, the more I realised that maybe it was the right direction. Not only could I lead a life where I strive to inspire children, I could lead a life where I also have an opportunity to teach and inspire other adults.

Over the last few months I have really been inspired by Andy Vasily. He came to work with our staff last year and again this year and I had the opportunity to see him speak at the APPEC conference as well.  As one of the key note speakers he spoke about being inspired to achieve and making a lasting change to your lives and teaching.

I also attended a session by Gavin Fausset, where he focussed on warm up games and keeping students active. He decided to measure how much time he talked vs how much activity time the participants had. He wanted us to be mindful about the time we spend talking in class and to keep it to a minimum. This is one thing I am constantly aware of and trying to improve as a teacher. Make your talking time count and making the students think about what you are saying is important. But I also believe it is important for students to be physically active.

---

I will be presenting at KORCOS, which will be held at my school. I will be presenting a similar workshop to the one I did at the APPEC conference on Martial arts in physical education which I have blogged about previously. I am also planning on doing a job-a-like at the conference for local physical education teachers. 

This article I read, by David B Hawley, on thinking about things we should stop doing, start doing and continue doing caught my eye after going to Gavin's session. It has some interesting points to consider and makes you think about what you could be doing in the classroom. Take some time out during the day and think about what you are doing in your teaching, your career and your life.

What are the important things in your teaching that could make a difference to your students? How can they better learn from your teaching? Is there anything in your teaching that you feel it is time to make better?

---

Above All Else // By Live Unbound from LiveUnbound on Vimeo.

Being inspired by many people over the last few weeks only drives me on to continue to do what I am doing. I really do want to continue my search of improving as a teacher and presenter.

Over the years, and even now, there have been so many times when I wonder if what I am doing is worth it. If what I am doing will make a difference. If what I am doing will lead others to be inspired.

I realised though, that you must keep on living your dreams and and strive to do what you think is best with the support of those around you. Above all else, you have one life and this is the only time you can live your dreams.