The Teaching and Learning Centre at Aitchison College successfully conducted a pilot for the Professional Reading Circles (PRC). This involved sixteen teachers across the three schools – the Junior, the Prep and the Senior, divided into four circles. During the four-week pilot, teachers worked as circle leaders, reading, reflecting and managing the logistics of their respective circles. They read four pre-selected articles and then had comprehensive sixty minute discussions on issues raised in the material.

At the end of the PRC there was a focus group discussion where teachers spoke about how they were able to link literature to their practice, the opportunity of peer-to-peer learning and the chance to use their voice and try out ideas firsthand. After the success of the pilot, the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) has planned regular PRCs throughout the academic year. Sixty-four teachers from across the three schools will be divided into sixteen circles to use this effective form of professional development, which is going to be an essential part of TLC’s teacher training programs.

There was a two-hour workshop conducted at Junior School to prepare the teachers for this experience.