Author Archives: Cognitiveclassrooms

Sensemaking is, I believe, a fascinating area of study with useful applications in leadership. It is a retrospective process (Weick, 1995; Hopkinson, 2011) in which people use their prior knowledge and their context to help them make sense of new information. This is turn helps them to build up new mental models. As individuals interpretContinue reading “Sensemaking in leadership; my reflections.“

Why is it so much easier to put yourself down than lift yourself up? I know I do it all the time to the extent where that is my default. It is really hard to vocalise positives about yourself for fear of being seen as big-headed, arrogant or cocky yet the negatives flow effortlessly. TheContinue reading “Knowing your worth“

There is no denying that we are both passionate and motivated by our belief in the power of reading and research to improve our practice. Over the years we have tried to share what we have learned with our colleagues in various guises and in varying levels of formality. Last summer Jenny had the inspiredContinue reading “Stepping In and Stepping Up; Creating a culture of improvement“

As the inevitable discussions began in earnest last week about Teacher Assessed Grades for Year 11 and 13, I was reminded of how important it is in schools to be able to see the bigger picture. It is so easy as a teacher, and even as a middle leader, to get entrenched in your ownContinue reading “Zooming out; seeing the bigger picture.”

This week I was reminded of how much more than a building a school is; it is a community, a safe haven and a place of friendship and family. A dear friend and colleague died on Friday at 3pm, at home time, finally losing his fight with cancer. He was one of the good guysContinue reading “More than bricks and mortar: farewell dear friend.”

I am a great believer that theory should influence practice and vice versa. It seems futile for the two spheres to be disconnected; what is the value of research that doesn’t change practice and likewise if practice doesn’t engage with research then that seems futile. However, of late I have begun to wonder if IContinue reading “Living the theory: when life is the wicked problem”

It feels like CPD opportunities have never been so plentiful for teachers. There are seminars, webinars, videos, blogs, courses and master’s plus the huge wealth of knowledge that is available 24/7 via Twitter. I have always embraced CPD; I have taken every opportunity going throughout my career because my love of learning has never leftContinue reading “Learning to lead; the power of professional development”

I know I’m not alone in feeling unsettled right now nor am I am the only person reflecting on what our current circumstances mean for the future. Nothing is the same as it was nor will it be for quite some time (or ever for that matter) but the bigger question that keeps jumping toContinue reading “Back to normal? No, forward to normal.”

This blog focuses on how I manage myself as a middle leader and what I have done to achieve change, peace and productivity. With ‘some’ pressure from my good friend Jude, chief geek and fellow middle leader, I am stepping into this blog land with open eyes and ears. At this challenging time, we lookContinue reading “Middle Leadership, peace and productivity: a guest blog by Jenna Lepore”

The world is a scary and confusing place right now. Everything that we took for granted and everything that we regarded as constant has gone and it has been replaced by fear and uncertainty, everything is unknown. There is no sanctuary; this isn’t about individuals, it is about all of us experiencing this at theContinue reading “Creating new norms when nothing is normal: reflections on current times.”