Te Mātaiaho: The Common Practice Model & the Spiral of Inquiry
A while ago I listened to RNZs Nine To Noon interview with NZCERs Mohamed Alansari who has been involved in the development of the Common Practice Model and shares the five most important principles behind effective teaching that inform the model.
I'm excited to see that New Zealand's most recent research (past 5 years) has informed these principles.
Teachers inquiring into their practice is a key component of the Common Practice Model. I am supporting schools to explore how they can use the Spiral of Inquiry to explore where teachers are placed to implement the Common Practice Model Principles and Shared Pedagogical Approaches. This is allowing leaders and teachers to identify what they’re already doing that is aligned to the Common Practice Model (CPM) and what they need to do next. This exploration could involve first designing a Scan to gather a range of perspectives, for example:
Learner perspectives on belonging and identity, relationships; and what they’re learning and why
An external perspective on the school’s strengths in teaching and learning aligned to the CPM
A leadership Scan in areas where strengths are not present or where there is lack of clarity or consistency re: CPM principles and pedagogical approaches.
If you want to explore this with me too - get in touch. Check out the principles below to get a brief understanding about each.
Culturally Sustaining Practice
Building from individual learner strengths, utilising language, culture and identity and using Diversity as a resource for teaching and learning.
Inclusive, Equitable Practice
Flexible grouping, focusing on how to meet the needs of learners experiencing inequity and addressing barriers to participation.
Collaborative Practice
Teacher-Teacher, learner-learner, teacher-parent, staff to community, school to iwi and hapū and so on.
Promoting Agency and Independence
Problem solving, critical thinking, and learners being able to demonstrate their learning in multiple ways (at least 3 choices). Promoting agency and independence that is aligned to who learners are.
(note from Becc - I’m not such a fan of “independence” - I much prefer “interdependence” which I feel reflects us as humans more accurately).
Strategic and Deliberate Choices in Teaching Methods
Spiral of Inquiry! Teachers making decisions about teaching and learning content to suit their learners' context. Teachers with adaptive expertise - able to select the right approaches based on knowledge of what works for whom. Teachers inquiring into practice, reflecting on what works and what doesn't and why, and recognising the evidence behind teaching approaches.
You can learn more about Adaptive Expertise and growing a professional learning culture through Professor Helen Timperley’s most recent books that she wrote with Fiona Ell, Deidre Le Fevre and Kaye Twyford. These are must-haves for any school using the Spiral of Inquiry to grow a strong professional learning culture:
Leading Powerful Professional Learning
Grow a love of and passion for teacher inquiry among your educators, while expanding awareness of how every learner can succeed. As Aotearoa’s network lead for NOIIE, I support schools in implementing and embedding improved approaches to teacher inquiry, strengthen conceptual and theoretical knowledge of teams, and build a genuine professional learning culture that people continue to embrace.
Through not-your-typical-boring seminars, workshops and long-term learning support, I facilitate conversations with depth while providing a strongly evidence-based approach to teaching and change (I promise, these are workshops your employees will love to be part of).
