Before going on maternity leave for the second time, I had the opportunity to attend a family friendly workshop exploring the use of font and typography to support and enrich literacy teaching at Merton Arts Space in Wimbledon. As I was still in the classroom full time, I brought these activities back to school (also in Merton) and used them to analyse the connotations of the language used to describe the characters of Ignorance and Want in A Christmas Carol, as did one of our English trainees after I shared the strategy with our department.
Keen to develop the partnership between Merton Arts Space and local schools, @designedonpaper came into school for a visit and we brainstormed what opportunities there were for our students. It soon became apparent that some of the most powerful forms of collaboration would be through the teacher CPD that Merton Arts Space could offer, as much as their direct involvement with young people.
When @designedonpaper and I met for the third time at Wimbledon Library, one of the reasons that we could do so just a week after I had given birth, was because the library is only a 7 minute walk from my house – a well-needed but manageable bit of fresh air and physical activity for my slightly battered body and low iron count. The fact that Wimbledon Library and the staff at Merton Arts Space are entirely family and baby friendly has thus far gone unsaid, but it is worth mentioning that there has never been any question regarding my toddler or baby’s presence at these meetings, and this understanding of our needs is key to the positive relationships that we have built.
Whilst the baby slept, as they are wont to do at one week old, @designedonpaper and I discussed the potential for the well-connected Arts Space (they are directly adjacent to tram, train, tube and bus stops): a possible hub for TeachMeets, themed lunchtime lectures, and a celebration space for schools for World Book Day. Acting as a consultant for local council organisations was already great CPD in itself, but what was also exciting was to be invited to be part of the content delivery and organisation of these events in a capacity that would directly benefit my professional interest in Teaching and Learning, developing my subject knowledge, and networking with local primary and secondary schools. The lunchtime lectures in particular, which will be marketed explicitly at parents available during the day, and accompanied by their babies, could provide MTPT community members in our local area with a stimulating learning series, or the opportunity to share their own expertise by delivering their own presentation on a themed topic.
If you have a similar community space near you consider the benefits of offering your services and teacher expertise:
- Liaising with and learning from experts in their fields – @designedonpaper is a fountain of art and literacy knowledge, has connections with the Royal Academy of Arts and just lovely conversations about the Fin de Siecle and literacy research reports (fun!)
- Experience of organising, promoting and evaluating events
- Understanding community perspectives from students, parents and local citizens
- Understanding barriers to participation in your community hub and problem solving to overcome these barriers
- Leadership and innovation experience – depending on what your community hub is, you could find yourself falling in love with your subject again, or finding an entirely new passion
- Networks and partnerships with local schools – particularly helpful for cross phase understanding, for potential progression opportunities, building relationships with feeder primaries or local secondary schools or future collaboration opportunities between schools
- Subject knowledge development – especially if you hope to deliver a 30 minute lecture entitled ‘Dickens and Change’
- Promoting and developing others – if you are asking colleagues to present at TeachMeets, lecture on their own specialist subjects, or develop resources in partnership with your community hub
If you’ve been involved in a similar project whilst on parental leave, we’d love to hear from you – comment, Tweet or contact us to share your experience.
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