Teacher Trust

28/11/2024

Excited to have completed the final edits for Creating Schools Where Teachers and Students Want To Be. When myself and collaborator Dr. Fab D'agostin went to Finland we were horrified to find that we had been terribly wrong in the way we had been teaching for decades. Finns were too polite to comment on the dangers of our practices, but their looks said, 'What did you expect?' when we spoke of teacher ' shortages' and mental health challenges for students.
The price of not changing is is unthinkable.
Creating Schools Where Teachers and Students Want To Be is published by Melbourne Books in February.

26/11/2024

A Finnish colleague asked: "So Australian schools would rather go without teachers than look at changing the system that is driving teachers away?"
I have changed.

🌟 Explore Finland with Michael Lawrence - Join the March 2025 Leadership Tour! 🌟 Are you a principal or school leader seeking transformative inspiration for…

05/10/2024

Heading back to Finland and Estonia in March 2025! Excited to be part of the International Education Forum at Tampere University, themed 'Dare to Care'. Looking forward to exploring schools and universities in both countries with a focus on 'Creating Schools Where Teachers and Students Want To Be'. 📚

Interested in how a system can transform teaching into a top career choice and make school an enjoyable experience? It is so important that as many Australian educators as possible see how a system can be created where teaching is a top career choice!
Stay tuned for insights from this journey! hashtag
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23/09/2024

Excited to share that we'll be heading back to Finland and Estonia in March 2025! We'll be attending the International Education Leadership Forum in Tampere, focusing on the theme Dare to Care. Alongside visits to schools and universities in both countries, the central theme revolves around Creating Schools Where Teachers and Students Want To Be, aligning with the upcoming release of the book of the same name in February.

This exclusive opportunity is limited to a small group, with room for one or two educators to join us. It's truly a career-defining experience. Reach out for more details.

10/08/2024

https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2024/august/jacob-robinson/a-class-above-a-class-below?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMAABHYVohfKNUtnUhOhMZaTpFaVNd23-C5TVhcJ4MxdiuiO9PdS_19OJyS0UpA_aem_Nt43pUlyxFHBLmggnpbPxQ&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=6583079302403&utm_content=6583079302003&utm_term=6583079302203&utm_campaign=6583079302403

Social segregation within Australia’s schooling system has become ingrained, and it's affecting our broader society

06/05/2024

27/03/2024

https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/27/free-lunches-brain-breaks-and-happy-teachers-why-estonia-has-the-best-schools-in-europe

How did a small, relatively poor country become an educational powerhouse? Creativity, autonomy and a deep embrace of the digital age

10/03/2024

Witness the world's leading education systems: Estonia and Finland in late August, Canada in early September.
"I am delighted with the school tour organised by Michael. His professionalism and enthusiasm added to the richness of my experience in Finnish schools. Michael demonstrated a thorough grasp of the Finnish education system and enthusiastically shared his insights. The guidance he provided was well-structured, and he showed a genuine interest in the group members and their learning experiences. Overall, Michael made the tour both rewarding and memorable. I strongly recommend him to anyone interested in delving deeper into Finnish education under the guidance of a knowledgeable and friendly educator."

Theodora Bogiou, Award Winning Curriculum Design Strategist, Gold Award in Innovation in Teaching 2020, EFL Teacher Trainer

Professional Development Programs Teacher Trust: A Finnish Perspective The first of its type in Australia and produced in conjunction with the Tampere University of Applied Sciences in Finland, thi…

17/02/2024

They want to be active participants in their own learning. And self-determination – being able to make your own decisions rather than being controlled by others – is one of the major pillars of wellbeing.

Exam factories
But pupils in many schools have very little in the way of agency. They are told what to do and how to do it. Teachers feel pressure to “teach to the test”, leaving pupils few options to follow their interests, let alone passions. As teenagers get older, the more bored and disengaged they may become in school.

Education needs to be more aligned with healthy child development, children’s interests, and the importance of relationships for wellbeing.