Category Archives: coaching

This category includes coaching teachers or sports coaches in effective skills and strategies.

Jason Day tells how he made it to number 1 in the world and more …….

Posted on December 12, 2023 by mwalker

I have listened to this clip several times now as he describes during his childhood experiences he found a passion for golf and family. It’s worth a listen for anyone either interested in golf or wanting to get better at … Continue reading →

Posted in coaching, Leadership, professional learning, reflections, sports, Video Clips | Leave a comment

Are you Humpty Dumpty waiting for a fall?

Posted on March 28, 2017 by mwalker

Quite often Principal’s can feel like Humpty Dumpty “just waiting for the fall”. When you think of how many “clients” you serve (students, their parents and then the wider community) even a middle size school of 500 would add up … Continue reading →

Posted in coaching, Leadership, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bo’ai Primary School our sister school

Posted on December 19, 2013 by mwalker

A few months ago I visited our sister school Bo’ai Primary School, Changzhao in China. The school has 3 sites: a Year 1/2 school for about 1,500 students, an older site currently being demolished and rebuilt and a new site … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Sister School, sports coaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Why do some 12 year old coaches get what some adults loose sight of?

Posted on October 30, 2013 by mwalker

Over the past fortnight I have accompanied 6 successful school basketball teams to various representative knock out carnivals. Five of the teams were ultimately unsuccessful in making the State level round yet I could not have been prouder of them … Continue reading →

Posted in sports coaching | 2 Comments

A shock – bullying too close to home!

Posted on March 12, 2013 by mwalker

Last night I was shown a clip of Australia’s number 1 cyber bully, Tristan Barker. This story featured heavily in the New Zealand press where he is currently living with his father. I suppose what brought this to home was … Continue reading →

Posted in coaching, Community, Video Clips | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in coaching, Data Wise Program, Harvard, Instruction, Leadership, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Three improvement strategies to make a difference to relationships and learning.

Posted on April 10, 2011 by mwalker

Over the past 2 months we have focused on preparing our teachers to differentiate instruction. I’m writing this post to explain to readers within my own community why this emphasis on preparation and why we need to adopt three different … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, coaching, Collaborative Communities, differentiation, Instruction, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

To err and succeed

Posted on November 17, 2010 by mwalker

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.             And that … Continue reading →

Posted in school, sports, sports coaching, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Support in schools arguments

Posted on June 1, 2010 by mwalker

This is the second post on the issue of support for teachers. In the previous post “What constitutes support for a teacher?” I set the scene that we have been re conceiving our workforce plan with the loss of 50% … Continue reading →

Posted in coaching, school structures, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Some coaching principles that might help avoid those awkward moments when dealing when upset or angry players or parents.

Posted on April 5, 2010 by mwalker

Let’s begin by acknowledging that it’s an honour and a privilege to coach. In thinking about some general principles that might guide coaches I came up with 5. If coaches follow these in their own style then they are less … Continue reading →

Posted in coaching, sports coaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What’s your coaching philosophy?

Posted on April 2, 2010 by mwalker

Here are two legends of Australian Basketball Lindsay and Andrew Gaze. Their names are the first most people recall if you mention the Melbourne Tigers. As I have written about before my son Mitchell plays in the Melbourne Tigers Under … Continue reading →

Posted in coaching, sports, sports coaching | Tagged | Leave a comment