Kath Murdoch Consulting | Education

Kath Murdoch Consulting

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24.01.2022 Sorry for any issues with the link for the inquiry cycle workshop next week: here it is! https://www.kathmurdoch.com.au/workshop-online-5

24.01.2022 Oooops! I forgot to advertise this little evening workshop. It’s next week! This is the fifth time I’ve offered this opportunity to explore the inquiry cycle... where it fits in into the bigger picture of Inquiry, how to ‘play’ with its flexible structure and examples of the way it can support planning. Bookings at www.kathmurdoch.com.au #inquirylearning #inquirymindset #cycleofinquiry #inquirybasedlearning #inquirybased

23.01.2022 I have a new post up on my blog. In returning to remote learning here in Victoria, I have been having many more conversations about pedagogy and how we can sustain the beautiful art of inquiry teaching when we are engaging with learners from home. I hope you find some of the ideas useful and would love to hear more! https://www.kathmurdoch.com.au//the-art-of-inquiry-teachin Oh... and these cards are available on my website too :)

21.01.2022 Some overseas friends may not be able to view this but ... well, I hope you can! This series has moments of such profound beauty.

21.01.2022 I have such admiration for this school.

19.01.2022 Please take a moment to read this beautiful story. Shaz Bailey shared it with me not long after it happened and her heart was SO full. If you are a teacher early in your career, read this to learn more about the impact you can make - even with a few words and a kind deed. For those, like me (and Shaz) who have been teaching for decades, read this to remind yourself of why we do what we do. SO many people say that teaching is 'all about relationships' but fewer people really live that out. This is a beautiful example of what happens when you do. And.... just when you thought you could not love Mem Fox any more than you already do...

19.01.2022 I am SO looking forward to this conversation! Next Saturday, Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church and I will be discussing the connections between our respective work on #inquiry and #thinking. We are exploring a really important question: What (still) matters? More details at the link below. Another free, generous offering from Chapters International https://chaptersinternational.com//kath_ron_mark_CITWM_1.h

19.01.2022 SORRY folks - previous post was an automatic post from instagram so did not include the link. This one does! So a couple of weeks ago I sat down with Tania Lattanzio from Innovative Global Educators to record a webinar on concept-based inquiry. As I say in the video, I’ve ALWAYS considered conceptual understanding and inquiry to go hand in hand ... but I realize that’s not always the case. It’s possible to inquire into ‘topics’ without working towards deep understanding. In ...this webinar, Tan and I work through the questions we regularly get asked about inquiry and concepts and try to give accessible, practical advice in response. Tania is an incredibly experienced international educator and consultant. MANY years ago she was my student at Melbourne Uni and I now count her as a dear friend and wise colleague. We planned to present together this year but we got 2020-ed. This is our offering instead...https://vimeo.com/ondemand/conceptbasedinquiry See more

17.01.2022 SO....a few weeks ago, my lovely friend, colleague (and *gasp* ex-student...I am so old) Tania Lattanzio and I sat down to discuss and share our responses to the questions we routinely get asked about planning for inquiry with concepts in mind. The resulting webinar is now available to rent on vimeo and we hope that it might be something you can watch on your own with your team or even as a staff as you go about the planning process. We include lots of practical tips from our work in schools. And try to out do each other with wild hand gestures.

16.01.2022 Just finished a weekend workshop with a lovely group of very dedicated teachers from around the world - many of whom were joining me in the middle of the night to explore inquiry learning. That’s commitment . Today we had a great conversation about the element of an inquiry process I call ‘sorting out’ (many different labels used to describe the same thing ) which is all about meaning making. When learners are engaged in making meaning, they are very often helped if they c...an quite literally MAKE at the same time. This is one classroom I am really missing spending time in . Michele Martin at EPS supports this beautifully when she invites learners to respond to experiences using materials - this allows time for processing, reviewing, talking ... it’s no longer about ‘gathering’ it’s sorting and understanding. At the time of this inquiry journey, @lego was all the rage. What a great way to make thinking visible ... and to have those powerful@‘noticing’ conversations as children create. #inquirybasedlearning #inquirylearning #inquirymindset #inquirycycle See more

16.01.2022 Further to my post/request about materials for play, here is an article you might find interesting. https://www.edutopia.org//integrating-loose-parts-play-pre

16.01.2022 Next in my series of images from when I was actually allowed to be IN a classroom is this lovely memory from Bonython Primary School...isn’t this a powerful question? They have done such beautiful work on exploring learning spaces this year. Our inquiries are framed by powerful, open, compelling questions for which there is no single answer but rather a multitude of responses... #inquirybasedlearning #inquiry #inquirylearning #inquirymindset

15.01.2022 Some lovely ideas here for transforming classroom spaces. https://fairydustteaching.com//how-to-transform-your-thi/ (Thanks for the share IGE: Andrea Muller and Tania Lattanzio)

13.01.2022 Here's a great page to follow. Ive just spent a day planning with a focus on bringing indigenous perspectives to inquiries into seasons, special places, stories...am learning more and more and discovering more and more wonderful resources. Here's another page to follow: https://www.facebook.com/Kooricurriculum/

13.01.2022 We have been working on the development of personal inquiries for almost a decade in several of my partner schools. Each year, we learn more about what works and about how to best honour learner voice and ensure rich, quality learning. It’s not easy but it’s hugely rewarding and by far the thing many learners say is the highlight of their week. Co construction of criteria is vital - learners owning the process from the outset. This is one example of criteria developed with y...ear 6 learners (a while ago now ... still in lockdown here!!) used to self and peer assess. Getting personal with inquiry is also the subject of my new book which has had to go on hold while I madly scrambled to rethink my work during this challenging year. Feeling more settled now ... and SO looking forward to getting back to writing next week! #inquirylearning #inquirymindset #inquirybasedlearning #inquiry #teachersofinstagram #inquiryteacher See more

13.01.2022 Thanks for your lovely feedback on the webinar Tania Lattanzio and I recorded recently. Would you like to take your thinking about planning for concept-based inquiry a little further? We are hosting a conversation (we get to talk WITH you not TO you) based on any issues/questions that have arisen for you based on the webinar. We are going to keep it small - just 25 people joining us. If you are keen, you can book here: https://www.kathmurdoch.com.au/conversation-with-tania-latt

13.01.2022 Latest newsletter is out in the world. It includes a small rant plus a bunch of very good inquiry-is things to read, view and do. If you are not a subscriber...well, I'd love you to be! https://mailchi.mp//latest-newsletter-musings-and-resource

12.01.2022 Just sent out my 10th bi-monthly newsletter. I am really enjoying curating the resources to include in these offerings! If you are interested, you can sign up via the website. The latest one includes some terrific podcasts and a lovely new book on philosophical inquiry. https://us18.campaign-archive.com/

11.01.2022 A rather non-education related post but I hope you will indulge me because I do think this is a beautiful song...and perhaps something those of you still or back in lockdown might find comforting. Full disclosure- this is my daughter Gretta Ray who is a musician here in Australia and this song was written and recorded from her bedroom during our long lockdown here in Melbourne. It has been described by someone as a new genre "poptimism" - while 2020 has meant missing out on so many things...it will, and does, get better. https://open.spotify.com/album/4ufeKZHMAPyISXG9OJ41iE

11.01.2022 I allowed myself to watch a bit of this last night but had too much work to do to continue...but I am beyond excited to watch it in full this weekend!! It is spectacular and I could not help but think about all the ways we could use it with students and the incredible concepts it explores. If it doesn't make you curious and in awe of other living things....I dunno what would... https://www.netflix.com/watch/81045007

09.01.2022 So here in Australia all our kids are back in school, right across the country. Phew!! But what's changed? Have we kept our promises to ourselves? Inspired by the lyrics of Missy Higgin's gorgeous new song, my latest post is here: www.kathmurdoch.com.au//when-the-machine-starts-up-again-w

09.01.2022 Check out this site for inspiring ways to create art in nature..without using glue or bringing the work indoors or, importantly, disturbing habitat. A lovely idea for learning tasks that take us away from screens and into the outdoors. I also love sharing the work of artist Andy Goldsworthy with kids as further inspiration. https://www.kiwico.com/blog/2020/04/17/nature-art-for-kids/

06.01.2022 My daughter @grettaray is doing a live instagram show right now. Normally I don’t mix family and work stuff on insta but artists need support at this time so if you are free to watch... head on over. I can hear her singing right now and it’s pretty lovely ... although im a little biased ...

06.01.2022 As term 2 kicks off, I am looking forward to some face to face workshops interstate! There are still a few places left for this one at the end of the month in St Lucia, Brisbane at a gorgeous venue,. And it is two days. - so we can dive in deep! Details here: https://www.dynamiclearninggroup.com.au//powering-up-inqui

06.01.2022 Wanna talk concepts and inquiry? Tania Lattanzio and I would love you to join us for a practical conversation about planning inquiry through conceptual lenses. How do we help kids (and ourselves) think beyond topics? how do we shift from knowing to understanding? What kind s of concepts should we work with? What about THE CURRICULUM? We are hosting this 'zoomversation' for 75 minutes on Monday 17th. Would love to see you there! Book through my website (go to the shop for details) If you have not watched the webinar...it's OK .. book anyway...!

05.01.2022 Life in lock down still gives me the opportunity to at least FEEL jet lagged .... even if it is not from travelling across time zones! An early night tonight so I can be up and at ‘em for a workshop tomorrow ... 5 am my time but more civilized in other parts of the world! Not worried about missing flights anymore... just missing zoom calls

04.01.2022 Part #2 post about the art of inquiry teaching in the remote context. Up on the blog now https://www.kathmurdoch.com.au/blog

04.01.2022 I have been thoroughly enjoying the long and deep conversations on James Mannion's podcast "re-thinking education". There are some awesome ones for you to listen to. So it was hugely exciting (and a little daunting) to find myself interviewed by James a few weeks ago. We cover a lot of ground here. - James' intention is to go deep and really dig into the subject matter and into the interviewee - this one gets personal. So its a long one. The kind of thing you listen to in instalments...if you are a podcast listener at all. I hope you enjoy listening in to our chat on your next walk/drive/housework session....https://soundcloud.com/rethinking-ed-podc/re15-kath-murdoch

02.01.2022 One would be hard pressed to find a teacher who has NOT been inspired by this man. What a huge loss to the world of education and what an incredible legacy. Ken Robinson championed the right we all have pursue our passions and have our talents nurtured within the school system. The urgency to create more opportunities for each learner to be in their 'element' is something more teachers understand because of him. The need to elevate creativity in our schools is understood mo...re because of him. A true visionary - he pushed hard against a system that no longer serves our young people well...and he did so with grace, clarity, depth and his famous sense of humour. Few people possess his capacity to enchant an audience and communicate a message so powerfully. I once spoke after Ken Robinson at a conference in NZ. It was like Brittany Spears following Pavarotti ... but to have briefly had that connection is something I will treasure even more dearly now. So many educators are richer because of you Sir Ken. Thank you for your contribution, thank you for your wisdom and thank you for all you will continue to teach us through the work you have left behind. Vale. See more

01.01.2022 My calendar tells me I should soon be arriving in Portland to work with Stephanie Harvey and Kimberly Mitchell on a 2 day inquiry learning extravaganza! I am grateful that we can still get together for this 'taster' next week - albeit in the virtual space. I have LONG admired Stephanie Harvey whose work on an inquiry based approach to reading has really aligned philosophically to my own. And of course, Kimberly Mitchell is much loved inquiry companion! So we are excited to offer this taster. We sincerely hope the main event can run next year but in the mean time, we'd love to see you here....I believe there are some places left.

01.01.2022 Beautiful learning spaces - love the choices this child gets to make through the day.