Hands On Heads Literacy Coaching 

Dear Principals,

Welcome to Term 4. 

In the spirit of a new term, feeling refreshed and getting reacquainted with our teams, I thought about how coffees bring us closer to the people we work with. No doubt, you may have already had your hot beverage of choice this morning. Perhaps a conversation at the cafe, a chat over the kitchen kettle in the staffroom or a walk up the street to the local coffee shop. 

One of my favourites, an almond latte, continues to bring people together.

I remember, many years ago at my very first school, our Year 5/6 team would head to the café next door to the school every Friday for lunch.

Years later, at another school, there was a café onsite. During a free period, the Junior School leadership team would walk together from one building to another for a coffee.

Now, working alongside teams of teachers and leaders, I see the same thing happen time and time again. And, I can enjoy it with them!

Coffee seems to play an integral role in strengthening team dynamics. But it's not actually about the coffee itself...it's the experience. The walk together- away from the office, meeting room or classroom.

The conversations that don't usually happen between agenda items. 

"How was the weekend?"   "How were your holidays?"    "Did you finish the book?”   “What are you watching?"

These moments build something bigger than connection.

They build trust. And trust is often the foundation for honest conversations, collaboration amongst team members, and meaningful change.

There's no way you'll improve literacy achievement if you don't improve the quality of your professional relationships.

Sometimes the most important work doesn't happen around the meeting table or in an office...it starts with

 a coffee.

I look forward to sharing a coffee with you next week at the APF AGM, ‘Leading with Courage’. 

To your literacy success

Missed the ‘Reading Restructured in Years 5-9’ Webinar? Watch here!