Part 2: Student Agency with Lisa Burman

09/15/24 • 28 min

In the second part of the podcast with Lisa Burman, the discussion centres on the concept of student agency and its direct link to teacher agency. Lisa emphasises that educators play a crucial role in shaping learning experiences, and how a teacher’s sense of agency directly affects students’ ability to take ownership of their learning.

Teacher Agency as the Foundation for Student Agency
Lisa reflects on her teaching career in the 1980s when teachers had more freedom to design learning experiences tailored to their students’ needs. She stresses that teachers should view students as individuals developing identities—as readers, writers, scientists, or mathematicians—rather than just teaching specific subjects. However, she notes that increased educational pressures today risk undermining this sense of agency.

The Bigger Picture: Education and Democracy
Lisa connects student and teacher agency with democratic values, referencing Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which affirms children’s right to have a say in matters that affect them. She argues that for true student agency to thrive, teachers must feel empowered to make instructional decisions. However, some educational systems restrict this freedom, hindering creativity and students' development of agency.

Agency and Wellbeing: Lessons from the Pandemic
The conversation turns to the impact of agency on wellbeing. Reflecting on the pandemic, Lisa points out how restrictions led to feelings of helplessness, similar to how students feel in rigid, formulaic teaching environments. Teachers play a key role in creating spaces where students feel their voices matter.

Leadership’s Role and Small Changes
Lisa encourages teachers to introduce small changes, even in controlled settings, and suggests taking a professional stance with leadership to promote student agency. By focusing on student interests and co-constructing classroom routines, teachers can foster a learning culture where students become engaged, purposeful learners.

JOIN TEACHIFIC NOW AND SAVE!

Join Teachific today. Access thousands of resources and a growing number of 'anytime' courses within your membership.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Tune in to "Teacher's Tool Kit For Literacy," a free podcast where accomplished literacy educator Sharon Callen and her team share valuable insights and tips. With over 30 years of experience, they provide strategic learning solutions to empower teachers and leaders worldwide. Subscribe on your favourite platform for exclusive literacy learning content. Apple, Spotify, Google, YouTube

Read our insightful blogs, which make valuable connections between resources, podcasts and courses.
Visit our Cue Learning website and sign up for the Teacher's Toolkit Weekly newsletter to stay updated on resources, events and discover how Cue can support you and your school.
Explore Teachific, our vast collection of PDF resources, to enhance your teaching toolkit. And get even more support from our growing number of 'anytime' online courses.
Connect with the latest news and other educators by joining our Teacher's Toolkit Facebook group
Explore upcoming live or online webinar events

Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us directly at admin@cu...

JOIN TEACHIFIC NOW AND SAVE!

Join Teachific today. Access thousands of resources and a growing number of 'anytime' courses within your membership.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Read our insightful blogs, which make valuable connections between resources, podcasts and courses.
Visit our Cue Learning website and sign up for the Teacher's Toolkit Weekly newsletter to stay updated on resources, events and discover how Cue can support you and your school.
Explore Teachific, our vast collection of PDF resources, to enhance your teaching toolkit. And get even more support from our growing number of 'anytime' online courses.
Connect with the latest news and other educators by joining our Teacher's Toolkit Facebook group
Explore upcoming live or online webinar events

Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us directly at admin@cu...

Previous Episode

Part 1: Student Agency with Lisa Burman

In the latest podcast episode, listeners are invited to delve into the transformative power of student agency with Lisa Burman, a literacy consultant, author, and expert in early childhood education. With over 20 years of experience working across Australia, New York, and Southeast Asia, Lisa shares her insights into how fostering agency can radically enhance both teaching and learning.

The conversation begins by tracing Lisa’s journey, from her teaching roots in South Australia to her decade-long work in New York. Here, she encountered a different educational landscape where many teachers leaned heavily on scripted programs, limiting their professional autonomy. This experience prompted Lisa to reflect on the importance of teacher agency—encouraging educators to rely on their expertise and instincts, adapting lessons to suit their students’ unique needs.

A highlight of the episode is Lisa’s exploration of how schools can foster student agency. Drawing from her book, Are You Listening?, she emphasises the value of listening to children’s voices and incorporating their ideas into the curriculum. Lisa explains that by giving students ownership over their learning, through activities like writing workshops where they choose topics and publish their work, classrooms become more dynamic, and students are more engaged and motivated.

As the conversation unfolds, Lisa shares practical strategies for building a classroom culture where agency thrives. This episode is a must-listen for educators seeking to empower both students and teachers to take control of their learning and teaching journeys.

RESOURCES

See Lisa's new book: A Culture of Agency
Lisa's previous book: Are You Listening?: Fostering Conversations That Help Young Children Learn

'Are You Listening?: Fostering Conversations That Help Young Children Learn' by Lisa Burman

JOIN TEACHIFIC NOW AND SAVE!

Join Teachific today. Access thousands of resources and a growing number of 'anytime' courses within your membership.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Read our insightful blogs, which make valuable connections between resources, podcasts and courses.
Visit our Cue Learning website and sign up for the Teacher's Toolkit Weekly newsletter to stay updated on resources, events and discover how Cue can support you and your school.
Explore Teachific, our vast collection of PDF resources, to enhance your teaching toolkit. And get even more support from our growing number of 'anytime' online courses.
Connect with the latest news and other educators by joining our Teacher's Toolkit Facebook group
Explore upcoming live or online webinar events

Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us directly at...

Next Episode

Part 1: Blessing the Book with Sharon Callen

In this episode of Blessing the Book, host Phil sits down with Sharon Callen to explore the power of professional collaboration, reflective teaching practices, and how intentional planning can transform literacy classrooms. Sharon, an experienced educator, shares her insights from working with schools across Australia, highlighting the importance of teacher agency in driving student success.

The conversation begins with Sharon discussing her work with teachers, emphasising the importance of noticing patterns in the classroom to spark inquiry and drive improvement. She gives a compelling example of a school where students could decode text but weren’t choosing to read. This observation led teachers to collaboratively explore strategies to engage students more deeply in their reading journeys.

Sharon introduces the concept of “Blessing the Book,” a term coined by renowned literacy researcher Linda Gambrell. She explains how this idea focuses on motivating students to read by making books relevant and engaging for them. Sharon encourages teachers to create an environment where books are valued and reading becomes a meaningful, intrinsic activity for students.

Throughout the podcast, Sharon emphasises the importance of intentional planning and reflective practice. She shares stories of working alongside teachers to map out literacy strategies tailored to their students’ needs, with each step driven by thoughtful consideration and professional knowledge.

This episode is a call to action for teachers to reflect on their classroom practices and consider how they can bless the book for their students, fostering a love of reading that goes beyond school tasks and becomes a lifelong joy. Stay tuned for part two, where Sharon dives deeper into practical strategies to bring this concept to life.

TEACHIFIC RESOURCES