MODULE 2: "VISION"

Sailing boat
Having a vision provides the clarity and consistency to set goals that will have the potency to impact a student’s entire life, not just that moment of time or that particular school year. The student, parent and teacher all have a role to play in articulating the student’s vision.

This module provides tools, resources and the framework for developing a clear vision and using it to guide our decision making, goals, and planning for our student.

“We need to share the vision for our student. We need to keeping checking in on vision and reminding each other of what the long term outcomes are, as well as focusing on the small ‘right now’ outcomes”

Teacher

Sky border
VALUES
Respect
Reflection
Commitment
Responsiveness
PRINCIPLES
  • Vision is lifelong
  • Positive approach
  • School and home life are intertwined
VALUES
PRINCIPLES
Respect
Reflection
Commitment
Responsiveness
  • Vision is lifelong
  • Positive approach
  • School and home life are intertwined
Sky border
Vision and Goals – working together
“When there is a discrepancy in how these terms are used, a whole lot of effort misses the mark”

Teacher

Teachers
Vision is looking at where the student is now and where do we want them to be. Setting goals, and strategies of how to get there. Considering academic, physical, social and well-being goals. Ideally, ensuring the student feels safe and understood, and is wanting to be there and willing to learn.

Generally, educators will refer to vision as the goals and successes of the student in that year and towards their achievements at school in general.

“By having a clear vision for our student, we could test processes at school against that, and know if we were staying on track or not”

Teacher

RESOURCE 1: Vision Mind Map – Teacher
RESOURCE 1: Vision Mind Map – Teacher
Parents
Parents shared that the vision for the student’s life is to achieve, be a member of the community and contribute to society so they can live a meaningful, independent life of choice. The school environment can play an important part in the development of our child’s life.

Generally, parents will refer to vision to mean life-long goals and successes that can be continually worked towards, beyond the school years.

“Typically, school is where we start to get a sense of who we are in relation to the world, a sense of how we relate to others… We acquire skills intentionally but also incidentally… The incidental curriculum offers us all so much. In effect, we experience a vast array of opportunities for practice – practice in communication, in relationships, in community, in citizenship, in ideas, in ethics, values and in a sense of self”

Wendy Stroeve

READ: Inclusive Education: A Parent’s Perspective
by Wendy Stroeve
READ: Inclusive Education: A Parent’s Perspective
by Wendy Stroeve
Parents shared their vision for their child as: to one day get a job, go on a holiday independently, have choice in their future life, who they will live with, and what they will do in their life.
“A child’s life gets chopped into pieces with people coming in and out of that life, and unless you have the long game in mind, that is understood and focussed upon, then it is a very disjointed life for your child”

Parent

Watch this video of mum Annette, who sees vision as a touchstone/common thread throughout the school years:
RESOURCE 2:
Vision Mind Map – Parent

READ:
Getting the Good Life

RESOURCE 2:
Vision Mind Map – Parent

READ:
Getting the Good Life

The importance of VISION
“Let not our needs determine our dreams… but let our dreams determine our needs”

Colleen F. Tomko

The vision is what brings early intervention, each year of schooling, post school choices – all the people, effort, learning and growth together.
It is the vision that provides the clarity and consistency to set goals that will have the potency to impact our student’s entire life, not just that moment of time or that particular school year.

This requires a mindset change, thinking beyond the present classroom and current year at school, where the student, parent, and educator have a role to play.

A vision for the future is about not locking an individual into what is already available, what other people have decided is ‘right’ or the way things have always been. A vision is about looking ahead and looking around, about being open to new ideas, about seeing new possibilities and combinations of possibilities. Knowing what is possible, thinking about what is desirable, and having a vision about how things could be and should be and can be are all powerful tools in making that vision happen – from Dream and Visions, (1994) Family Advocacy Inclusion Collection Publications.

Watch Wendy Stroeve talking about Clarity of Vision:

THINKING: “LET’S GET TO KNOW THE STUDENT”
Prior to any conversations it’s good to have thought about what we want to talk about!
“Always remember to dream for your child. Your vision for the future is how you will develop the path to achieving those dreams. Bring your dreams to all meetings, and be prepared to share them with the team. Success is achieved when everyone is reaching for the same goal” (Parents Reaching out, 2013)
Please click on the icon that applies to you to see the content
It’s very important that we get to know what you want in the future. What do you want to do for a job, what are your passions and interests? Where would you like to live, and who would you like to live with? Completing a mind map will assist your parents and teachers to develop a VISION, and set goals to achieve your dreams.
RESOURCE 3
Vision Mind Map – Student

“It was surprising what the effect of formalising our thoughts in writing was.  It made us clarify our thoughts, it made us check that our ideas were shared ones and it helped us when it came to the next stage of communicating this vision to other people”

Parent

In her article Imagining Better, Jane Sherwin says: “With a positive vision as the cornerstone, parents have been able to assist their sons and daughters by crafting lives of joy, purpose, fulfillment, relationships and a foundation for life beyond their parents”.

Further information on the importance of, and to assist in the development of a vision for your child, can be found on the Family Advocacy website https://www.family-advocacy.com/ and in Colleen F. Tomko’s article Developing a Vision.

RESOURCE 4
My Vision for my child as a young adult

“Hearing vision explained like that, it became clear that us, as educators, need to see beyond the four walls of the classroom and that one year of school. If we can enable the vision, through the care and education we offer our student’s day-to-day in the year we have them, we can make a huge impact on the student’s whole of life”

Teacher

A teacher’s role is to work with the curriculum, plan for the child for the year, adhere to the school’s philosophy for their students, while using the vision as a guide in the decision making.  When planning, the importance of reflecting on whether this classroom activity, lesson or action will enable the vision or put the vision at risk.

In her article “Inclusive Education: A principal’s perspective”, Kathie Snow says: “School is where we open children’s minds, bodies, and spirits to their potential in life. At Columbine, the efforts to ensure all kids learned in an inclusive environment were driven by the hope that when children with disabilities left the educational system, they would have the same opportunities as kids without disabilities: employment, emotionally healthy adult relationships, successful families, self-fulfilment, the ability to accept personal responsibility, and being contributing citizens.”

For further information on the importance of, and to assist in the development of a vision for your student, read Developing a Vision by Colleen F. Tomko.

RESOURCE 5
Vision in the classroom
DISCUSSION: “IT’S TIME TO TALK”
Let’s make the vision work
“Vision has been defined as a combination of a deep dissatisfaction with what is, and a clear grasp of what could be” – adapted from Dr John Stott

When the vision is understood and valued by the student, educator and parent, it is a powerful catalyst to a more meaningful and coherent educational experience for our student.

We are aiming to share and unpack the vision and how we can use it to guide our decision making, goals, and planning for our student.

 

Share – Students, parents and educators to share vision planning documents.

 

Consider – Let’s discuss how the yearly goal setting aligns with the life-long vision for our student.

 

Impact – How might this information now be noted and integrated into how our student is understood, taught and valued.

RESOURCE 6
Conversation guide – Vision
RESOURCE 6
Conversation guide – Vision
ACTION: ‘PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER’
Let’s make the vision happen
Let’s each share something positive to start with – on the topic of something we have discovered about our student, or more generally.

What has been discussed, decided upon? Has the student been consulted before, during, and in regards to outcome?

What needs to be followed up, who will do this, by when and how will we know that it has been done? Is there a review required?

Who else is it important we share this information with? How will we do this? Who will do this? – (consider other school staff, replacement teachers, peers

Now go back to your “Conversation Guide” document and complete the “actions” section

Home
Next module