Supervision for Educators
REFLECTIVE CONVERSATIONS FOR TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICE
After 15 years in Independent Education, I observed and experienced the lack of opportunity for Educators to have conversations that focused on reflective practice. Throughout my years in Education, I consistently engaged in conversations with both students and families covering a range of experiences that presented in the classroom:
Religious and cultural experience
Issues of identity
Questions about sexuality and gender
Family violence
Death, sickness and suffering
Many of the incidental conversations that occur in classrooms have far-reaching impacts on students. Additionally, they act as catalysts for emotions and memories in teachers, managers, chaplains and any staff member who interacts with students or their families. Reflective conversations allow teachers to think well, and to integrate best practices more effectively. Personal and professional reflection sparks transformative behaviours. Supervision creates space for teachers to reflect on their work-in-role and provides a safe and confidential environment for thoughtful engagement with ethical deliberations.
How does Group Supervision work?
In Group Supervision, up to four teachers are invited to participate in a reflective conversation guided by Erin as the facilitator. Over 90 minutes, the group use a structured framework and reflective model to ask curious questions about a chosen experience or conversation (a relevant case study) presented to the group.
The Group are invited to actively listen to the selected teacher’s case study and ask reflective questions. The Transforming Experience Framework is utilised to help each teacher reflect on how their practice might be impacted or informed by various domains: the educator-in-role, the context, the education and school system and how personal beliefs and assumptions inform the work of education.
Each group is encouraged to use this conversation as a model for reflection on their own classroom experience.
Setting up Group Supervision
Typically, when starting an effective Supervision relationship Erin schedules an initial 90-minute setup session, which clarifies how supervision works and provides an opportunity for the Supervisee to introduce themselves and their setting. Once a Supervisee understands the purpose of supervision and the types of conversations that might be helpful, they find their continued conversations to be intentional and impactful. To set up effective Supervision, Erin offers this 90-minute introduction session to working hubs of 20. In this Professional Development Erin covers:
What is Supervision?
How does it benefit my teaching practice?
Framework (T.E.F)
Model (C.L.E.A.R)
Making Working Contracts for Groups
What kinds of conversations are helpful for Supervision?
Practising reflection as Educators
Setting up effective Supervision Groups