Author Archives: mwalker

Elephants on the Table!

Posted on December 4, 2008 by mwalker

Ever been to a meeting where some “elephants” were raised from under the table?  Well at a recent staff meeting two elephant type issues were raised: student’s repeating classes and teacher roles and how allotment decisions are made.  I have previously made … Continue reading →

Posted in Repeating Classes, school, school structures, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ancient Rome in 3d

Posted on November 28, 2008 by mwalker

Thanks to Cindy Barnsley I discovered this resource for teachers of history or those structuring student investigations [www://earth.google.com/rome].

Posted in Teaching | 2 Comments

Student transitions from year to year

Posted on November 28, 2008 by mwalker

Today whilst hearing about the Departments latest version of the school review I had one of those light bulb moments when I heard a school reviewer talk about student transitions. To put this into context in Victoria all public schools … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Leadership, Teaching | Tagged | 1 Comment

Prep Transition Programs

Posted on November 25, 2008 by mwalker

Most people accept that its important for children and their parents to have a well informed and smooth start to the school year and that this is best achieved through a multi session transition program.This week the prep team completed the … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Video Clips | 1 Comment

Parramatta Catholic Education Office tours Elsternwick

Posted on November 12, 2008 by mwalker

This week I have had colleagues from the Catholic Education office in Parramatta NSW visit Elsternwick Primary to look at the use of flexible learning spaces, how technology is embedded into facilities and the curriculum, as well as a model of … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, Leadership, school, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Marketing a school to prospective parents through fortnightly tours

Posted on November 11, 2008 by mwalker

Today I have just finished the last of 20 group tours I have conducted in 2008 for prospective parents. It’s interesting to reflect on their value – do they answer parents questions? – do they present the school in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaborative Communities, Leadership, sports, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Generation WE – the movement coming to you!

Posted on November 11, 2008 by mwalker

Generation WE: The Movement Begins… from Generation We on Vimeo. I saw this video tonight and thought it made some powerful statements about how the political landscape will change in America and what concerns will need real solutions from policy … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, politics, school | Leave a comment

Do schools kill creativity?

Posted on November 10, 2008 by mwalker

Sir Ken Robinson is featured in this video on Do schools kill creativity? The video goes for 20 minutes and is quite entertaining to watch – it’s ideal for parents to view or to use at a staff meeting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Leadership, school | Tagged | Leave a comment

Stand by me

Posted on November 6, 2008 by mwalker

I really like this clip of various people all over the world singing with hope the classic song “Stand by Me”. In some ways it reminds me of the hope lots of people in the States shouted out this week … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Shadowing

Posted on November 6, 2008 by mwalker

Last week I had a leading teacher, Kendra, from a neighbouring school shadow me for 2 days as part of a leadership program for teachers interested in becoming a principal. I think it was a full 2 days with Kendra amongst … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, school, Teaching | Leave a comment

New Learning Spaces in Denmark

Posted on October 28, 2008 by mwalker

Thanks to a new site I discovered by Andrew Fraser I was able to get this clip from a school in Denmark who are trying to change their pedagogy using more flexible spaces – really like his comment that the … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, Leadership, Teaching, Video Clips | Tagged | Leave a comment

Teachers and Students blogging.

Posted on October 27, 2008 by mwalker

Last week I was helping a colleague create a blog for his prep class. He had made a film or vodcast of the writing process with his young students and wanted to show this to their parents. He was thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Vivian Robinson’s work on Instructional leadership

Posted on October 27, 2008 by mwalker

Thanks to Greg Whitby I found this clip of Viviane Robinson’s work on instructional leadership in schools which in my opinion is well worth a look by leadership teams.

Posted in Leadership, school, Teaching, Video Clips | Leave a comment

“Necessary but not sufficient”

Posted on October 25, 2008 by mwalker

  This phrase “necessary but not sufficient” has been ringing in my ears of recent weeks when thinking about those students who are achieving below minimim standards. I first heard Paul Brock use the phase and subsequently I have used … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008 ACEL Conference, Leadership, school, Teaching | Tagged | 4 Comments

Data Conversations – worth the time?

Posted on October 21, 2008 by mwalker

At a recent leadership meeting we discussed several articles on the value of data conversations. One of the articles posed a question around gathering data on the different levels of implementation of curriculum in individual classrooms and the need to assess gaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments