In "The Element", Sir Ken Robinson talks about finding your 'tribe'; a group of people who provide "inspiration and provocation to raise the bar on your own achievements." It got me thinking about the diverse people who make up my 'tribe'.

I have a colleague from a former workplace who has inspired me on an almost daily basis for the last two years. We discuss new ideas, concepts, pedagogies, student issues, staffing issues, and are honest and open enough to give each other feedback and admit when things don't go to plan.

I have another colleague who helped me in my initial journey into using technology as a collaborative tool, and who opened my eyes to the possibilities of learning opportunities that could be achieved through 21st century technologies. Although we no longer work together, he is my "go-to" if I need advice, or clarification, or a sounding-board.

Then there are my Twitter friends, most of whom I've never met in 'real' life. These are people who I follow because their pertinent questions and observations concerning the field of education help me to develop my own ideas about the type of educator I want to be. They open my eyes to new ideas and prompt me to be adventurous, take risks and try new things, for the benefit of my students. And, most interestingly, they probably have no idea they are in my tribe!

I've also found a tribe-member in my new Deputy Head, who has proved to be a tremendous source of encouragement. Who sees what I am trying to achieve and backs me. Who helps me stand up for the things I believe about student learning. Who values my contributions.

Robinson says, "Connecting with people that share the same passions affirms that you're not alone; that there are others like you and that, while many might not understand your passion, some do." I am so grateful to have these people in my tribe, and that they push me to be a better teacher, leader and citizen.

So thank you @kelizplace, @andy_mccaskill, @wholeboxndice, @mrkempnz, @ewanmcintosh and to the many others who inspire me. Who's in your tribe? Do they know that they are driving you to bigger and better things?

An interesting perspective on encouraging entrepreneurial skills in the classroom. If kids are exhibiting these skills, Herold says, why not invest time into coaching them to be successful in these areas rather than trying to tutor them in areas of weakness. Also, get kids telling bedtime stories, not just reading them... Click below to see in full.

One of the many lovely things about school holidays is that it gives me a chance to catch up on some reading. I have just finished Alan November's "Who Owns the Learning?", a book which advocates students having the opportunity to design and direct their own learning. November has come up with a model which he calls the Digital Learning Farm, where students are involved in roles such as Tutorial Designers, Student Scribes, Student Researchers and Global Communicators. I was pleased to discover that many of the ideas and concepts in the book were things I had already implemented in my classroom. However, one thing that leaped out at me was the fact that our 'class blog' is really 'Danni's blog' - an opportunity for me to showcase the photos, videos and classroom happenings that I deem important. I am very much looking forward to handing this over to my class next term, by letting one student each day take on the 'scribe' role and share our learning in their own way. A little change, but one that I hope will produce more engaged students taking on greater responsibilities in our classroom to provide a learning resource for our class.

Sir Ken has got me in a bit of a state. In his book "The Element", which I am currently reading, Robinson claims
that we are all creative in our own way, just as we are all intelligent in our own way. I'm having real trouble identifying where my creativity is hiding. It's not that I have a low self-esteem; it's just that the way I work seems to be anti-creative. I hate getting things wrong. My Year 1 Teacher turned me off art forever when she got angry at me for colouring in the wrong way when I was decorating my Mothers' Day card. When travelling, I thoroughly research things to see and do, and plan out an itinerary which I generally stick to faithfully. I follow recipes to the letter, much to my husband's amusement and, at times, frustration. I have only been proud of 3 artworks that I have created in my entire life, and all three have been when I have copied the art teacher step-by-step. I would like to think of myself as an excellent mother, but any craft or art activities, music, or sporting activities I do with my children have been taken from Playschool, Mister Maker or Facebook. I am the dad out of the Lego Movie, who builds the Lego according to the instructions and won't let the kid dissemble the project to make his own creations. (I actually came out of that movie feeling ashamed. Sir Ken - you'd like the film's message...) In High School I excelled in Drama, but quit when I forgot the words in an exam. I gave up singing when I stuffed up a line in a song and repeated the wrong verse at my Year 12 Graduation, and I quit dancing when I found it difficult to remember choreography in the end of year concert. (I'm glad I've moved on from those fixed mindset days, but am perhaps identifying a persistent memory deficit?!)

Apparently I used to have creativity... I found a couple of stories I wrote when I was much younger that, if it wasn't for the fact they were in my handwriting, I never would have believed I had written... Where did I come up with those amazing and imaginative storylines? The other day I wrote an impassioned letter to someone who I disagreed with, but all of the ideas that I used in my argument had come from other, more knowledgeable people who I referenced accordingly. I loved doing my Masters at uni, but couldn't imagine doing my Doctorate as I can't even think of a question to explore, let alone research it and come up with new thoughts and ideas about the topic. In discussions I faithfully sit and listen to everyone else's ideas and suggestions before making a considered and informed response.
I am currently spending hours researching how to incorporate technology more effectively into my
classroom, which is one of my passions. I share this knowledge with others, and take courses voluntarily to increase my understanding, but... none of it is my own thinking. I love getting new ideas to implement, but I try to do them exactly as described to avoid failure. I hear of something another teacher has done and I think, Yes! That will work in my class! and I get to work to implement it.
 
I wish I was creative, but I just can't see it. I am intelligent, and passionate, and I demonstrate perseverance
and patience. I'm analytical and logical. I know my strengths and can identify areas of weakness, and have always acknowledged that one of these areas was creativity. So, is it possible that after years of claiming I'm not at all
creative, that Sir Ken Robinson is now suggesting that I may be after all?
 
Is this how kids feel when I stand in class and tell them in a well-meaning, encouraging manner that they are all
intelligent in their own way? Is 'intelligence' so firmly ingrained in their minds as 'academia', just as 'creativity' is so firmly ingrained in my mind as - what? being artsy, thinking outside the box, risk-taking? - that I can never see
myself in that category? I'm clinging onto Robinson's assertion that creativity, like intelligence, is not a fixed trait. In any case, I'm only halfway through Chapter 3 so I'm hoping I'll discover my creativity within days ;) Stay tuned...

"Imagination is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein