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Hometown:: Neerim South

About Me:: I am feeling fabulous about fish and would love to share the joy. I teach Visual Arts at Trafalgar Primary School, Australia.I'm discovering the potential of the Fish Philosophy in my Art room and would love to create dialogue with other fish fanatics.

FISH! Experience: Read book(s), FISH! for Schools

What industry do you work in?: Education

Size of your workgroup/team/organization?: 25staff+310 children

Are you in a leadership position?: Yes

Di Olsson's Blog

The Joy of Making Their Day

Posted on November 20, 2007 at 3:36am 2 Comments 0 Likes

I have a story that I feel I must tell the network. I should be writing 310 end of the year reports but somethings are far more important. Like spreading the joy of working in a school that has adopted the fish philosophy.

Today I took a grade of 6 and 7 year olds to visit the residents of the aged care home down the road from our school. The residents of this home have been active members of our community. They have helped build public halls, entertainment centers, sporting clubs, service… Continue

Sharing the Joy.

Posted on July 26, 2007 at 8:27am 2 Comments 0 Likes

I'll share some fish joy with

you. I've been thinking about the principle of, choose your attitude, and how

that looks in the art room. And I discovered its power. When the kids hit grade

3/4 they begin to doubt their ability to draw and they become anxious about

every mark they make and continuously search for an eraser or start again and

again and again. They believe… Continue

Comment Wall (17 comments)

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At 5:39am on November 20, 2007, Ben said…: Thanks for the reply Di! I just feel that the kids have a lot to offer when it comes to project based learning and I know that from what my kids have done in the last couple of terms is fantastic and yet just the tip of the iceberg. I am only just beginning to 'wonder' myself what the possibilities could be and I would love to follow up and explore this type of learning. I have already learned so much from my kids using this type of curriculum and as I said I am only just beginning to grasp the possibilities of this type of learning. I would love to get some type of group together to discuss some ideas and try them out. I will catch you on Thursday for a chat! I am interested in learning more about Reggio too so if you have any articles etc I would like to have a read some time. Cheers, Ben.

At 1:53am on November 20, 2007, Di Olsson said…: Yeah Ben, thanks so much for asking me to be part of your next project. I'd love to. It is so much better to work collaboratively, better for the teachers sharing, debating and wondering together. And great for the kids to have 4 ears and 4 eyes listening to them.
A movie sounds fantastic! My hunch is that the kids will absolutely fly with this and they will take us on a journey that will blow us away and blow up our minds as it will make us question our own philosophy teaching and learning.
What do I think about project based learning? I have been interested in the projects that have come out of Reggio Emilia and the principles behind the projects. There is alot out there including Griff''s ed vision schools.
Perhaps we could get a discussion group together that met maybe once a month for breakfast or tea with the purpose of sharing and questioning the projects that are happening or the potential of more to come. I'm sure we have Traf staff interested and I know some other teachers from around the region who would like to create a network.
What do you reckon?

At 5:19am on November 19, 2007, Ben said…: What do you think about project based learning Di? I am fascinated by the idea of it and I reckon you're the person to toss ideas around with! I want to do a couple of short film things with a couple of small groups within my class and I would like to base it around our values and FISH!. What do you think and would you like to get on-board? There are a couple of small groups of kids who I think would be mature enough to take it on and who have expressed an interest in having a go before the end of the year. Let me know what you reckon. Ben.

At 2:12am on November 8, 2007, Vicki Miles said…: Hey Ms Fabulous you've been quiet?
Thanks for the great taste in music I really got into the van morrison today, its always a joy when you are in. I hop[e you know it even though I haven't had time to tell you! Keep Rockin DI.........is the trip booked yet?

At 5:37pm on October 5, 2007, Vicki Miles said…: DI,
Have missed you heaps, keep thinking if DI was here, Di would love that, and I have the best story to tell you, but............... work didn't enter my head until the jetlagg kicked in with no help from the work de mons that have haunted me ever since landing! Must find a way to keep work out of my head at 4.00am in the morning! Now there's a brick wall that I'm determned to go through.

At 4:30pm on September 20, 2007, Steve Clem said…: Thanks re: the wig Di! Although who is to say that's not MY real hair :)

Yes...big big big college football (american rules of course) fan here. You aussies are much to tough for our version - where they're allowed to wear helmets and pads.

Thanks for the welcome...you Aussies certainly are an active bunch on here.

At 7:09am on August 29, 2007, Vicki Miles said…: Di,
Can't help it, I'm missing you all and keep checking the blogs to see that you are all failing miserably in my absence, get on and blog girl, you know that you are VERY interesting, I'm sure there's still magic happening in that artroom.

At 5:09am on August 15, 2007, Vicki Miles said…: OK its official........I'm a NERD! but I couldnt help myself, because I need to tell the world how fabulous you are!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the great presentation tonight, in retrospect we should have videoed it so that the world could see just how you connect your thoughts to the visuals in your room, and your beliefs about learning.
I hope FISH philosophers start "picking" that brain of yours theres lots to learn and explroe together. Well done.............and sorry for being boring but I'll be way more interesting when I get back from Europe!

At 6:23am on August 14, 2007, Tristan Mether said…: I second that,,, even though i thought of the idea in the first place, so i think that is 1 1/2 that idea really..

At 5:25am on August 14, 2007, Vicki Miles said…: Di,
I hope your presentation to the staff tomorrow night highlights your belief about "joyful" learning. Can you inspire joy in all the staff? To know what joyful learning really is you have to experience it, either as a learner yourself or as an active participant in the child's learning ( and from the perspective of the child).
Thanks for the paperbag princess, I seem to interrupt at the best times for me, but I'm not sure that they are the best times for you!