Category Archives: school

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

Parents want more than jobs out of education for their children.

Posted on June 22, 2020 by mwalker

The Australian Newspaper features an article by Chris Mitchell “Parents want education system to prep kids for jobs, not political activism”. In the article he makes a number of claims and offers solutions which I think need a response. Mitchell’s … Continue reading →

Posted in parenting, politics, school, Teaching, 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

Lilydale High School

Posted on November 22, 2019 by mwalker

During November I worked with the leadership team at Lilydale High School on collaboration. Some of the resources we used: https://hbr.org/2002/06/a-survival-guide-for-leaders Lilydale HS Meeting Rolling Agenda.docx http://mwalker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Inventory-of-Instructional-Initiatives.xlsx

Posted in Data Wise Program, school, school structures, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dirty Data!

Posted on May 23, 2017 by mwalker

Well I’m now officially retired as a school principal – no really! I’m sleeping well, planning holidays and of course playing more golf. But what about my mind – it’s not ready to give up as an educator. So I’m … Continue reading →

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

features of a wise leader

Posted on November 15, 2016 by mwalker

I was recently going through my email and found this from a close Scottish colleague. THE TEN FEATURES OF A ‘WISE’ LEADER Holds unshakeable values which define their being; Translates their ‘way of thinking’ into the ‘way they do things’; … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, reflections, school | Leave a comment

Why become a teacher? part two – my story

Posted on July 29, 2016 by mwalker

Some people can pinpoint a single incident or person that answers this question – for me I need to tell a story as I came to my moral purpose quite late. I went as a young 5-year-old to Corpus Christi, … Continue reading →

Posted in reflections, school, teacher efficacy, Teaching | 2 Comments

You start a round trying to perfect your swing and end up thinking about leadership – how does that happen?

Posted on July 5, 2016 by mwalker

There are times when you are blinded by a parallel scenario as I was recently playing golf. I had played badly the previous round and wasn’t overly confident as I started on my first hole. The ball just didn’t seem … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Don’t take yourself too seriously!

Posted on June 28, 2016 by mwalker

Each year the students set the school leadership a dare challenge if they raised significant funds for the school in the annual walkathon. I was reminded of this when I stumbled on the photo of one challenge they set me … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, school, school administration | 16 Comments

Choosing Schools

Posted on June 27, 2016 by mwalker

Parents choosing schools based on the ‘vibe’ and community rather than test scores and fancy facilities This newspaper article attracted my attention over the weekend as it resonated with my experience as both a parent and school leader. In my … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Leadership, parenting, school, school structures | 8 Comments

A School Farewell

Posted on June 21, 2016 by mwalker

This week I was very humbled to attend my farewell assembly at school. There were students, teachers, parents and some returning parents of former students, former and current colleagues, representatives from the Department of Education and my family. Farewell’s are … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, reflections, school, Video Clips | 29 Comments

Small classes are still being sold as the “golden” goose!

Posted on June 19, 2016 by mwalker

I’ve just finished cooking omelettes for breakfast and I open the daily paper (Age) and stumble across the Independent Schools Guide. It’s a 16 page full colour advertising features that doesn’t appear online. The last thing I’m wanting to do … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Revolution School, a must watch documentary on ABC television

Posted on June 5, 2016 by mwalker

There is a new 4 part documentary on our ABC channel called “Revolution School” with the first episode screened last week. I think this is a must watch show for anyone interested in schooling. The ABC took cameras into a normal secondary … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Data Wise Program, Harvard, Leadership, professional learning, school, teacher efficacy, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

“Rounds being like a dipstick” part two of a book discussion – Ch 3-5

Posted on June 24, 2015 by mwalker

Well this is the second instalment of our discussion as some points to comment on. The first being I just love the image of “rounds being like a dipstick” (p.110)   Comment: there are just so many ways you might … Continue reading →

Posted in Instructional Rounds, Leadership, school, Teaching | 3 Comments