Category Archives: school

Courtenay Gardens P.S. Non fiction Writing in Victoria!

Posted on June 2, 2009 by mwalker

Recently, a professional learning team from Elsternwick Primary,  visited a school, Courtenay Garden’s P.S. in Victoria that focused on non fiction writing implementing the research of Douglas Reeves. Courtenay Gardens P.S. ,a school located in the growth corridior of the outer south eastern suburbs … Continue reading →

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Learning to Change and Changing to learn

Posted on May 20, 2009 by mwalker

I have been hanging onto this clip for a while not knowing what to do with it – in re-looking at it – again – its challenging. I heard some really interesting comments: “nearly now” space created by technology where … Continue reading →

Posted in school, school structures, Uncategorized, Video Clips | 1 Comment

What Inspires People

Posted on May 20, 2009 by mwalker

Here is a clip of NASA’s Colonel Eileen Marie Collins when asked what inspired her to become an astronaut. It’s from Dennis Richards and worth a look at for students. A NASA Astronaut’s Inspiration: Colonel Eileen Marie Collins, USAF, RET. … Continue reading →

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The Age of Learning

Posted on May 20, 2009 by mwalker

This is a useful clip for those teachers or administrators wanting to start or continue a conversation about learning and what it might look like in classrooms and why – has a technical focus but still worth a look.

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Teachers do not teach comprehension they test it.

Posted on May 20, 2009 by mwalker

Last week I attended a presentation by Di Snowballwho has recently returned from working in schools in the States for over 16 years. Di has been contracted to work in some regions in Victoria to hlep “struggling” schools, I gather, however … Continue reading →

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Monet by Johnson

Posted on May 5, 2009 by mwalker

Monet from Philip Scott Johnson on Vimeo. Once again Philip has excelled himself with this clip on Monet – worth a look. I have seen a few of Monet’s works here in Melbourne and in Paris many years ago.

Posted in Art, Creativity, school, Video Clips | Tagged | 2 Comments

Teaching Reading Clips

Posted on April 28, 2009 by mwalker

We have discovered this wonderful resources from the Canadian Curriculum Services which has great web casts with similar challenges to our schools: http://www.curriculum.org/secretariat/april18.shtml We have been revising our understandings about reading instruction and what certain teaching strategies look and sound … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, school, Teaching, Video Clips | Tagged | 2 Comments

A new model for “Writing” is needed in schools.

Posted on April 12, 2009 by mwalker

It seems writing is now more in focus than reading. Over the last 6 months I have heard and read a great deal about the power of writing and how the model needs to change in schools. I wrote about … Continue reading →

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

Mitchell at the Red Centre

Posted on April 9, 2009 by mwalker

Mitchell, my son has just returned from 13 days in the the Northern Territory and South Australia exploring the red centre of this vast continent. He has been to places I haven’t and has a set of experiences that will last … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Holidays, school, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Twitter – what for?

Posted on April 9, 2009 by mwalker

Thanks to Chris Betcher, a teacher I found this clip on twitter which is one of the more popular social networking tools out now. PURPOSE. PURPOSE. PURPOSE is everything. Without a purpose lets not rush into this – I’m still … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaborative Communities, school, Teaching, Technology, Video Clips | 1 Comment

assessment for learning

Posted on March 29, 2009 by mwalker

At last weeks leadership meeting we struggled for some time with the question how to best use the latest assessments we had of students mathematical understandings. During March we had all our 350  Prep – Year Four students individually tested … Continue reading →

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The Star Fish Story

Posted on March 11, 2009 by mwalker

This video reminds me of a former school council president, John Stafford who would each year thank the teachers for their service to the community. John would present each of them with a star fish he would make and a … Continue reading →

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social networking possibilities in classrooms

Posted on March 8, 2009 by mwalker

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzpix/3332094759/  I was reading Will Richardson’s article on the use of social networking sites in classrooms. Will was quoting the research of Christine Greenhowa doctoral student at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Yes, some of you might say that … Continue reading →

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Old Man Take a Look at Yourself – Graduation

Posted on March 4, 2009 by mwalker

At the start of each school year we, in the broadest sense of community, plan a series of activities and events for the coming year that are connected – connected to students, their learning, their families and some of the challenges … Continue reading →

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Fires continue to burn amid questions what if that was a school day!

Posted on February 20, 2009 by mwalker

Every meeting I attend recently at some point has conversations about the ongoing – yes that right, 2 weeks later and I still say on going – bush fires. Today was no exception at the first network principals meeting where … Continue reading →

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