Calling all teachers! Do you need a boost of confidence in your career? Are you ready to take your profession to the next level? This is the episode for you!
In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome back Dr. Kulvarn Atwal, an educator, principal, and author of The Thinking School and The Thinking Teacher. The Thinking Teacher was written to share the findings of Kulvarn’s doctoral research, which highlights how educators can create a more expansive learning environment through quality teaching.
Listen in to learn how you can take charge of your own professional learning, transform your mindset around teaching, and boost your confidence and resilience as an educator.
In England, 33% of teachers leave the teaching profession within five years. So, Kulvarn has made it his mission to figure out how we can help teachers enjoy teaching more and make it a long-lasting career.
Tune in as Kulvarn shares powerful, research-backed advice for new teachers and teachers who want to leave the profession. He speaks on how schools and teachers can continue innovating and fueling creativity after the pandemic is over. Then, he highlights the importance of teacher agency in their professional development and how that impacts students.
“Sometimes, we look at other education systems and think, what is their magic ingredient? It’s not magic. Just improve the quality of teaching. So, this is about them taking charge for themselves, empowering themselves, and giving them the confidence to know what they’re doing.” – Dr. Kulvarn Atwal
Kulvarn’s Tips for Teachers and Parents:
- Look outside of your classroom for inspiration.
- Take as many risks with your practice as you can.
- Don’t be afraid of getting things wrong, making mistakes, and failing.
- Be yourself and share with your students what you’re doing to fuel creativity.
Recommended Resources:
- Listen to Kulvarn’s first episode of Fueling Creativity in Education
- The Thinking Teacher: How to transform your mindset and your teaching by Dr. Kulvarn Atwal
- The Thinking School: Developing a dynamic learning community by Dr. Kulvarn Atwal
But what I want to do is I want to develop teachers for their career, not to teach what they’re currently being told to teach. To be able to make decisions that impact on every child because we shouldn’t. We should judge ourselves by the child that has achieved the least. Because if I’m a parent of that child, it doesn’t matter to me if everyone else is doing well.
Dr. Kulvarn Atwal
Dr. Kalvurn Atwal is an esteemed educator and principal, known for his expertise in teacher learning and professional development. With over two decades of experience in East London schools, he currently leads two large primary schools, where he is committed to fostering environments that support teacher growth and student success. Dr. Atwal first joined the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast as a guest in its inaugural season, where he shared his insights on The Thinking School.
Now, he returns to discuss The Thinking Teacher, his latest book that explores innovative approaches to teaching and the profound impact of reflective practice. His doctoral research focuses on the factors that shape teacher engagement and ongoing professional learning in schools. Dr. Atwal’s career reflects a deep dedication to empowering educators and transforming school communities through thoughtful, creative approaches to teaching and learning.
Episode Debrief
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