Category Archives: Instruction

Changes to Teacher Training

Posted on July 11, 2023 by mwalker

Newspapers (e.g. Age , Sydney Morning Herald)are reporting that an “expert teacher education panel” recommendations have been accepted by the various States education ministers to reform initial teacher education. The report identified several perceived weaknesses with initial teacher education includes … Continue reading →

Posted in Deakin Teachers in training, Deakin University, Feedback, Instruction, professional learning, school, Teaching, trainee teachers, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lesson Timing

Posted on June 1, 2023 by mwalker

Often I speak to pre service teachers (PST’s) during their placements in schools/classrooms and the feedback they are receiving is that their lesson timing needs to be tightened or a goal. This is fine if there is a shared understanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Deakin Teachers in training, Deakin University, Instruction, school, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Reading Debates Continue: But what happens in classrooms?

Posted on November 8, 2022 by mwalker

It’s a long article on reading instruction but I think one worth some time and subsequent reflection. It purports that cognitive scientists again and again have proven that students need phonics to become “good” readers. It then goes on to … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Reading, reflections, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

What does back at school look like?

Posted on May 22, 2020 by mwalker

. As schools in Victoria resume face to face teaching over the next 2 weeks there might be a temptation for a period of testing to see where students are up to, what gaps may have occurred and know what … Continue reading →

Posted in curriculum, Instruction, parenting, school, Technology, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Use differing Genre in teaching Reading and Writing

Posted on September 9, 2019 by mwalker

I’ve posted these two images from the work of Cass a reading specialist after recent discussions about the growing effects of NAPLAN particularly on writing. It seems the genre we teach is narrowing to narrative (what sort of narrative I … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Instruction, writing | Leave a comment

Maribyrnong Network of School Leaders

Posted on October 29, 2018 by mwalker

This post is to follow-up our network day on the first 2 steps of Data Wise. We spoke about answering the WHY question when change is being advocated – as we are about to advocate for change in collaboration in … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, differentiation, Feedback, Instruction, Leadership, Networks of Schools, professional learning, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

Why have learning intentions without success criteria?

Posted on July 24, 2017 by mwalker

John, in this 9 min clip, puts the case for why we need to explain what we intend students to learn, why and how they might self assess success. It’s hard to defend the opposite. In this clip John’s work … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, differentiation, Feedback, Instruction, professional learning, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Effective Lesson Planning: length of lessons

Posted on June 20, 2017 by mwalker

Some of the questions, concerns and issues raised by trainee teachers so far include: constantly repeating instructions to students students forget what to do students either don’t finish the tasks in the time set or finish in the first 5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Deakin University, Instruction, Monash University, teacher efficacy, Teaching, trainee teachers | Leave a comment

Why aren’t us parents seeing any benefit in smaller class sizes?

Posted on July 29, 2016 by mwalker

I have just responded to this post by a parent: As a parent, the Bloomfield Public School system has sold smaller class sizes as part of their narrative. The experience of my two children has been a DECREASE in group … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Instructional Rounds, Leadership, parenting, professional learning, school structures, Teaching | 6 Comments

Transitional Vocabulary – one process of effectively teaching grammar.

Posted on July 16, 2015 by mwalker

I realise there are times when I might show a little bias however I had to show this photo of a teacher at my school teaching grammar in ways that both engage and support students transferring the understanding to their … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Teaching | 1 Comment

tips on changing teacher practice

Posted on June 30, 2015 by mwalker

Looking for some simple advice on why you change your practice from Dylan Wiliam. Focus on one or two things (max) till they are automated, take a risk, take the time (when offered by your school leaders) and do this for … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Teaching | 1 Comment

How do we scaffold what we teach in grammar to student writing?

Posted on June 21, 2015 by mwalker

I often hear teachers complaining or just plain confused about why students don’t transfer what they learn in one context or lesson to their performances in another. They have taught something in grammar (e.g. dependant clauses) or spelling (e.g. letter combinations … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Instruction, Teaching | 2 Comments

An authentic purpose for learning – a makers market.

Posted on June 18, 2015 by mwalker

Tonight our Year 1 and 2 students ran a “makers market” as their last performance for their technology based unit of learning “how do you make”. As you can see by the photo the market was well attended with hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Instruction, Teaching | 3 Comments

Meaningful Reading Comprehension – students doing the work!

Posted on June 4, 2015 by mwalker

This is a year 2 boy’s attempt to infer the meaning of words in a non fiction book of his choosing. Both the teacher and I thought this a really good artefact to show his reading comprehension development. The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Reading, Teaching | 1 Comment

Teaching Writing? (part 1)

Posted on April 8, 2015 by mwalker

I’m sitting on the back porch of a small lodge at the base of Mt Buller listening to the babbling sound of rushing water on the Delatite River. As I gaze up from this iPad I see many differing shades … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Instruction, Teaching, writing | 1 Comment