I wonder if you’ve been caught up in the pressure for assessing literacy development? Did that result in ticking off checklists and requiring more group instruction? It’s certainly reasonable to pay attention to whether children are making progress in the building blocks for becoming literate members of the community. That probably means that you’ve noted … Read more

‘If you are not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback!’        Brene Brown. Living in the ‘Arena’ of leadership means you are going to get dirty; you are going to fail, and not everyone is going to agree with what you do or say. In my 25 years … Read more

We all have moments at work where we either want to scream or stomp a little! When communicating with colleagues becomes difficult or near impossible we need a new strategy to overcome the ‘communication hurdle’. A brillant tool for achieving this goal is called Restorative Practice, or as I like to call them restorative conversations. … Read more

Words are just words, and in the world today there are consulting firms and marketing agencies employed to advise leaders about what to say and how to say things. However, in the end, all that matters is what you do, not what you say. The words we use, the values we espouse, and the impressive … Read more

You are probably aware of advice to be ‘really present’ in work with young children. Certainly, we nod and say, ‘of course’, but honestly, do we have any idea what we’re talking about? Sometimes with a problematic idea, it’s useful to define what it isn’t, perhaps to define the opposite idea, to help us clarify … Read more

Many of our courses and team-building activities have an element of a strengths based approach within them. Why’s that? The research on strengths and their use in the workplace provides a compelling argument as to why organisations could incorporate strengths on a more regular basis. But first, what is a strength? A strength can be … Read more

With the popularity of webinars and other on-line methods of learning, Semann & Slattery is often asked, ‘WHERE IS MY STUFF?’ The ‘STUFF’ usually consists of: Certificates Links to webinars Think sheets – resources NESA hours (for teachers registered in NSW) Here are some tips to make sure you get your stuff delivered to the … Read more

Have you felt entrapped by the surge of frustration coursing through your body? It can pounce without notice! Sometimes it builds from small things turning into deep murmurings. If it is left to fester it drives varying size wedges between us. To avoid this potential disaster at work we have to be ready with a … Read more

In this blog we will introduce the concept of positive psychological capital and the four key theories that build positive psychological capital (PsyCap). What is psyCap? Psychological Capital can be defined as: “An individual’s positive psychological state of development that is characterised by: having confidence (self-efficacy) to take on and put in the necessary effort … Read more

Okay first things first, I am a voyeur when it comes to Facebook. I read more than I contribute, I squeal with joy, I shudder in despair, I am astonished, I am amazed, and sometimes I forget to breathe in despair with some things that I read online. Welcome to the world of Facebook. A place … Read more