Category Archives: Instruction

“Ability alone does not lead you to success – you have to work for it!”

Posted on July 12, 2012 by mwalker

Thanks to James Nottingham’s Facebook page I came across an article by Carol Dweck , author of Mindset, where she talks about how she was influenced by and connected to 5 different published works. People may remember 2 prior posts ( mindsets , … Continue reading →

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Personalising is really an outcome of differentiation: points to note for educators

Posted on June 10, 2012 by mwalker

At a recent regional Principal conference I heard Vic Zbar, an educational consultant based in Victoria; speak about personalising teaching and learning. Personalising learning he put it was really an outcome of differentiation. Vic then made a number of points I … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, differentiation, Geelong Conference, Instruction, school, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Harvard Coach!

Posted on May 13, 2012 by mwalker

One of the great privileges Penny and I had at Harvard was the allocation of a dedicated coach (Emma) who assisted us in the preparation of our presentation and helped us determine what the next level of work. Prior to … Continue reading →

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The ‘learning pit’ of Harvard: a data wise inquiry into what next!

Posted on May 10, 2012 by mwalker

We are at the end of our time at Harvard having had our presentation both acknowledged by the facility and celebrated by our American colleagues.It felt gooood! Our thinking was then sharpened over the remainder of the course to focus … Continue reading →

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Kath says students acquire assets through inquiry focused instruction

Posted on March 4, 2012 by mwalker

Last week Kath Murdoch continued her work with us here at Elsternwick with a session on the “assets” students learn through inquiry focused instruction. From the outset let me be clear that I’m not saying students cannot acquire these dispositions through … Continue reading →

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Building Classroom Learning Communities

Posted on March 4, 2012 by mwalker

  One of last week’s walk-through foci was on classroom learning communities. These are some of the images I captured on the walk-through. At the start of each school year we as a staff and teachers in all classrooms expect to build … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaborative Communities, Community, Instruction, school, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2011 Instructional Rounds Evaluation

Posted on January 27, 2012 by mwalker

As I set up our Network Instructional Rounds dates for 2012 I was interested to read and reflect upon another group of principal evaluations of their experiences last year. Overwhelmingly the consistent comment of principals as observers in both groups are … Continue reading →

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Everett Kline challenges our assessment beliefs and practices.

Posted on January 10, 2012 by mwalker

Ever been to a professional learning workshop or presentation and felt discomfort, challenged, empowered and an overwhelming sense relief all at the same time? Well I have several times (lucky me some might say) and this session led by Everett … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011 ASCD Conference, Assessment, Feedback, Instruction, Teaching | 2 Comments

Carol Tomlinson: an encounter to remember!

Posted on January 5, 2012 by mwalker

This year in our Instructional Rounds group within the local network of schools we purchased Carol Tomlinson’s book “Leading and Managing A Differentiated Classroom” to use as a base text for understanding our observation of instruction in classrooms. Last year … Continue reading →

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21st Century Learner

Posted on November 27, 2011 by mwalker

I’m constantly searching for better ways to engage in conversations with groups about learning, the work of schools to both reflect and lead communities in change and the leadership required to achieve these things. I came to this clip in this … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction | 2 Comments

Like to start teacher conversation about observing practice – with humour?

Posted on November 16, 2011 by mwalker

Recently we ran a workshop on observing teacher practice in classrooms within a coaching relationship. To break the ice but make the point we used this clip from Summer Heights High which was an Australian TV show that “sent up” … Continue reading →

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

Rick Wormeli on redo’s and retakes

Posted on November 6, 2011 by mwalker

I’ve been pondering some recent parent feedback about our senior students lack of engagement with some teachers and the material they are expected to learn. I began my reflections about the students coming from the digital generation and expecting to … Continue reading →

Posted in differentiation, Feedback, Instruction, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | 6 Comments

Inspect what you expect

Posted on October 30, 2011 by mwalker

Earlier this year Penny, one of my assistant Principal’s, and I participated in the ASCD summer conference in Boston. One workshop we attended was by Pete Hall the Principal of Sheridan Elementary School in Spokane. Pete spoke about the need to monitor classroom instruction … Continue reading →

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Reflections on ‘Learning Intentions’ of classroom lessons

Posted on July 12, 2011 by mwalker

Over the past 3 months I have been honoured to observe instruction by teachers in classrooms across a number of schools. One of the indicators of effective instruction is that each lesson has a clear learning intention stated up front to … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Instructional Rounds, reflections, Teaching, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A new Internet paradigm for learning.

Posted on July 11, 2011 by mwalker

Last month I was fortunate to hear Mark Treadwell [pictured above] speak to a group of aspirant leaders I am mentoring. He had some I think important things to say about learning and I think leadership. He began the morning … Continue reading →

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