Category Archives: Uncategorized

New Leadership

Posted on April 2, 2010 by mwalker

In Victoria, principal class positions are openly advertised and a selection panel which comprises a teacher and parents from the school and a regional network leader appoint the successful candidate. Sarah my Assistant Principal was recently successful in being appointed … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ultranet – what is it and why is is important?

Posted on April 1, 2010 by mwalker

Our statewide improvement agenda for public education in Victoria includes using an online learning environment called the Ultranet which amongst other objectives gives students their own online workspaces with all the relevant web 2.0 tools. These online workspaces eventually will … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Teaching, Ultranet, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Reading comprehension scaffolded for older students.

Posted on March 16, 2010 by mwalker

At our regular team leaders meeting where we gain an overview of curriculum planning across the school we discussed what readers workshops look like for older primary aged students. Our problem of practice started out about identifying what students are … Continue reading →

Posted in curriculum, Instruction, Reading, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

Social Networking a clip for those who are sceptics!

Posted on March 9, 2010 by mwalker

I’ve written a few posts recently on cyber safety or its inverse cyber bullying after some workshops I’ve run with students from Years 3-6. In the workshops I ask students do they use social networking sites and 65% of students … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Leadership, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Chinese Language, school, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Technology, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

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

Reflections on a year just finished – what changed and what’s ahead.

Posted on December 23, 2009 by mwalker

Photo courtesy of Bayside leader At the end of a school year I generally get a little reflective – after a day or two on holidays that is and after I’ve spent some time catching up on the uncompleted tasks … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, Instruction, Leadership, reflections, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

How far have we come as teachers in using technology to engage learners?

Posted on December 23, 2009 by mwalker

Have a quick flick through this presentation as we in Australia shut down for the summer school holiday period. I’m reminded of a now famous quote “Yes we can” when I see this. I remember as far back as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Collaborative Communities, Instruction, Reading, school, Teaching, Technology, Uncategorized, Video Clips, Walkthroughs | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Does a school transition program make any difference to parent concerns about student class placements?

Posted on December 22, 2009 by mwalker

Certainly one of the by products of an effective school transition program we hoped was the easing of parent concerns about the student class placement for the following year. An earlier post on school transition described the program that we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Face Book a dad’s dilemma

Posted on December 2, 2009 by mwalker

I’ve been following one dad’s dilemma about allowing his 12 yo daughter to use facebook. For those interested in this please click on the link below Dave Sherman

Posted in Technology, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Facebook dilemmas

Posted on November 26, 2009 by mwalker

Recently we faced a dilemma as school leaders about students using Facebook and in posting this I’m seeking feedback from a wider audience. To explain we were alerted to a situation about a young student who had a Facebook page. The police had been involved … Continue reading →

Posted in cyberbullying, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

National Standards – do they improve teaching and learning?

Posted on November 22, 2009 by mwalker

Thanks to Greg Carroll I came across this video where John Hattie makes a case around issues like accommodation, retention [repeating classes] or dumbing down learning surrounding National Standards. National Standards are due to be introduced in Australia next year. He concludes … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Tagged | Leave a comment

School Transition Programs – Do they make a difference?

Posted on November 22, 2009 by mwalker

During our school review we identified student transition as an area to improve student engagement and connectedness to school. Our transition program aims to provide smooth pathways for students moving from one year level to the next or from location to … Continue reading →

Posted in school, school structures, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments