Dobronín Primary School and Kindergarten

We teach differently – and we know we are not on our own

The Helping Schools Succeed project has completely changed our view of a teacher’s work and everything it entails. It has shown us what true teamwork between colleagues, whether teachers or school managers, looks like. Lately there has been much talk about learning communities in the teaching world – and we have been lucky enough to belong to one for the past eight years.

An expedition to the roots of learning

We believe that the project unique in how deeply it explores learning itself. It guides teachers to devote themselves to each student, examine their own performance and learn how to best move themselves forward. For us, it has also led to a deepening of collaboration between all teachers and an understanding that collaboration requires common tools: reading, writing, and the critical literacy which follows.

The Helping Schools Succeed project has completely changed our view of a teacher’s work and everything it entails. It has shown us what true teamwork between colleagues, whether teachers or school managers, looks like.

Ivo Mikulášek

Head Teacher, Elementary school and kindergarten Dobronín

The helping hand we receive and offer

We also appreciate the concept of an independent project consultant introduced by the project. Teachers can contact a consultant whenever they need and check whether they are on the right track. Our teachers most appreciate that they can talk about their work with more experienced colleagues instead of their superiors and find a way together to improve their teaching. We took advantage of these opportunities often and gladly, but now we have reached the stage where it is our teachers who are supporting colleagues at our school and others.

Inspiration throughout the year

Other benefits? The regular summer school is a chance for us to think about the start of the new school year and getting to where we want to go. During the year, we draw inspiration for our work at disciplinary and experiential reading sessions.

We all like to read more now, too.

Besides our overall approach to learning, the relationship adults at our school have with reading has also changed. We now share our reading experiences with more enthusiasm – before the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, we would get together once a month at school and share breakfast and a book.

Ivo Mikulášek
Head Teacher

Go to the website of Dobronín Primary School and Kindergarten