Author Archives: mwalker

Is it that important to build teacher efficacy?

Posted on March 8, 2010 by mwalker

“Well, what are the most important things to achieve in the strategic plan this year?” This question was posed recently at a school council committee discussion on strategic plan accountabilities. While I was initially challenged to say everything in the … Continue reading →

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-08

Posted on March 8, 2010 by mwalker

Teaching teams held parent information sessions this week about curriculum expectations for the year – 35% of parents attended, successful? # Powered by Twitter Tools

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Teaching teams held parent inf…

Posted on March 6, 2010 by mwalker

Teaching teams held parent information sessions this week about curriculum expectations for the year – 35% of parents attended, successful?

Posted in Twitter | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-01

Posted on March 1, 2010 by mwalker

Talking with colleagues from schools and looking at eps it appears many schools are holding ballots for council elections – puzzled why? # The pressure on reducing class sizes continues unabated in schools – do student outcomes improve? Jury still … Continue reading →

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Using data to improve teaching – a work in progress.

Posted on February 25, 2010 by mwalker

I don’t think many teachers would disagree with the idea that its a good thing to use student assessment data to try and determine what students need to learn next, at least in Victorian schools – or would they? Often teachers … Continue reading →

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Cyber Safety – a bigger issue in homes than in schools?

Posted on February 25, 2010 by mwalker

At the start of the school year I’m teaching a series of workshops on cyber safety for students from Years 3 – 6 . These workshops coincide with the distribution the annual student Internet Agreement that parents and students sign. Part … Continue reading →

Posted in cyberbullying, Family, Leadership, school, Teaching | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Chinese New Year hits Elsternwick Primary

Posted on February 25, 2010 by mwalker

This year we celebrated Chinese New Year. Thanks to our new Mandarin teacher students this year had a week long celebration of Chinese New Year. Students learned Chinese cultural dances, made lanterns and the week ending with the traditional dragon … Continue reading →

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-15

Posted on February 15, 2010 by mwalker

According to the Age Newspaper directives to teach for the Naplan tests has started in Victoria just 8 days after results get published. # Powered by Twitter Tools

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Online Safety

Posted on February 15, 2010 by mwalker

Last week I sent an email to the middle and senior team leaders offering to take the students from years 3-6 for an online safety session. This was partly a response to several incidents that occurred last year with students. … Continue reading →

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What are the big ideas in maths that students need to know – in the Early Years?

Posted on February 9, 2010 by mwalker

At the start of the school year most of the local primary schools got together to hear Di Siemon from RMIT speak about the big ideas in mathematics education. Di really challenged some of our teacher ideas and spoke about the big ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in curriculum, Instruction, Mathematics, Teaching | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The eyewriter!

Posted on February 8, 2010 by mwalker

The Eyewriter from Evan Roth on Vimeo. Thanks to Julie O’Connell I came across this cheap use of open software that has changed the life of at least one person.

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Teach to the test – what’s next?

Posted on February 8, 2010 by mwalker

Well, as reported in the Age Newspaper, it didn’t take long for some directive to teachers to teach to the Naplan test. We all know you get some short term gain for 1 year and as the article points out … Continue reading →

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League tables

Posted on January 26, 2010 by mwalker

Over the past week newspapers all over Australia have featured articles and editorials on the Federal Governments new tax payer funded website “My School” which will allow parents [and others] to see how their schools rates against the national average … Continue reading →

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Student empowerment vs engagement

Posted on January 18, 2010 by mwalker

I’ve been following a conversation started by Chris Lehmann and joined by Dave Sherman questioning whether student engagement is a worthwhile improvement goal for schools to set. The conversation is worth some thought as Victorian schools like Elsternwick Primary are … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, reflections, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

New School Facilities

Posted on January 18, 2010 by mwalker

This photo of the new school gym and performing arts centre was taken over the January 2010 school holidays. Part of the governments recession proofing strategy in 2009 was to build much needed school buildings. Elsternwick Primary School was entitled … Continue reading →

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