Why Hello!
Outside the Box Learning was founded due to an urge to support teachers, teams, and organisations find their way to bring children and child-centered pedagogical approaches closer together. To support educators find a way to balance playful learning, direct instruction, an inquiring mindset and an environment that supports creative expression.
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I have been a teacher all of my working life and have never strayed far from a calling to walk alongside others as a guide and mentor. I believe that this is what I was put on the planet to do, and I continue to love every minute of it.
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I have been fortunate to have developed my craft under the guidance of talented mentors for many years. I really do stand on the shoulders of giants. Here is my story..
Adventure Awaits
I began my teaching career over 25 years ago, on the West Coast of South Australia, where my classroom (almost) overlooked the ocean and the wild Southern Ocean set the scene for adventure on weekends. And because I love challenge and embrace change, after a few years I moved on to seek adventure further afield. I moved to the United Kingdom and taught in inner city London schools before moving to Scotland to learn a thing or two from the Scottish.
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In both the West Coast of SA and the Scottish Borders, the townships and villages were an extension of my classroom space and my student's and I relished every opportunity to explore beyond the gate. I learnt more from the students in my care and more about these vibrant young people, whilst on these adventures that I could ever hope to achieve in the classroom.
Today I support teams with rhythms, routines, and specific skills to lead groups 'beyond the gate.'
An abundance of Connections
A love of travel and a constant curiosity to learn from others through personally connecting with other teachers, inspired me to travel the world over, where self-guided study tours made travel and teaching merge in the most perfect way. From high altitude schools in the Himalayan mountains, to the smallest schools in Tanzania and rural schools in the South of Italy, a truth was ever present.
Teachers all over the world are creative, resourceful and teach with heart and soul. They use what they have and do the best they can. Powerful teaching comes from connection, intention and an attunement to the learners at hand.
It is one of the cornerstones of my approach today. I support educators to find the magic in the everyday and to do more, with less. I focus on methods to support connection, intention, and an attunement to learners.
Talking about a revolution
When I returned to Australia, I taught in both Catholic and Independent schools and completed a Masters in Educational Computing to bring the newest digital tools into my classrooms. I spent years integrating digital technologies into my learning environments and showcasing how digital tools bring communities together. Little would I know that this skill set would be so useful in 2022.
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I build multimodal learning platforms, create online content, facilitate learning experiences online and walked the well-trodden path of using digital media with purpose and intention in education.
Honouring a legacy
Since settling back into school life in Australia, having two children and juggling ‘all the things’, something else was rumbling away under the surface. I found that, alongside supporting the parents and children in my classrooms, I was being sought out to mentor and guide early career teachers, colleagues, and teachers from various networks with my approaches to literacy, digital technologies, outdoor and play based learning. I embraced these connections and found that I loved, ‘this new’ aspect of teaching as much as I loved teaching young children.
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I jumped into the world of mentoring teachers through professional associations and continued to guide colleagues on their own personal pathways. In 2018, I took the leap out of the school system to work as an educational consultant of sorts, in the not-for-profit sector. Once again, supporting educators from all over with professional learning, mentoring and resources created for specific audiences in early childhood and primary education.
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I love curriculum and big thinking; big ideas are welcome. I have experience with developing scope and sequences to support playful learning and learning outdoors, linking units of inquiry to authentic action, and creating daily routines and rituals to support students to engage and succeed. There has never been a better time to celebrate children’s curiosity and thirst for learning, in ways that suit children best.
When the students are bigger than you
Play is a means of thinking. A way of nurturing creativity. A way of finding out about people. (Kate Burden, 1996)
In an age where children’s worlds are becoming increasingly ‘adult’ like, I continue to advocate for children’s right to play and need for play. I have developed strategies that create opportunities for play and experiential learning in an overwhelming curriculum. Connection to concepts and one another, through play has always been a pillar of my approach. This was modelled brilliantly by my earliest mentor in education, Kate Burden.
Mentoring others is how I honour Kate’s legacy and continue her pioneering approach.
My approach has also been informed by another mentor and friend, who continues to inspire and showcase the amazing potential for learning outdoors, Juliet Robertson of Creative Star Learning.
I support schools and teachers to rekindle the magic and joy in learning, with purposeful play, inquiry, and connection. Together, we find simple ways to embed new approaches to support all areas of curriculum teaching and learning.
I currently work as an Educational Consultant in Australia, supporting educators and school leaders to reimagine learning environments (both indoor and out) and use them with exceptional skill and confidence.
My interests include early childhood education, teaching and learning in outdoor environments, playful approaches to literacy and math's, designing thinking and creativity and wellbeing through nature connection.
I am passionate about supporting children and educators to do more, with less.
I’m excited to explore how we can connect, learn, and play together to celebrate the curious spirit in learners, young and young at heart.
