Category Archives: Leadership

Young Australian of the Year – Khoa Do

Posted on June 2, 2008 by mwalker

The opening keynote speaker of the conference was Khoa Do a young film maker who left Vietnam as a two year old with his parents on a fishing boat to seek a better life. His messages were simple yet powerful- … Continue reading →

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No cup of tea leadership here please!

Posted on June 2, 2008 by mwalker

Last week at the regional principal conference I was fortunate enough to introduce one of our key note speakers, Vivane Robinson a professor from the University of Auckland. Vivane gave an insightful presentation on school leadership and student outcomes, what works … Continue reading →

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Personalising learning at Bellaire Pimary School

Posted on June 1, 2008 by mwalker

Whilst attending the principal conference at Geelong this week my assistant principal and I visited Bellaire Primary School in Geelong. The picture is from the senior unit which has been remodelled so that no teacher teaches in isolation. The unit has 5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Geelong Conference, Leadership, Teaching, Technology | 1 Comment

Feeling the beat!

Posted on May 17, 2008 by mwalker

Last Friday I was in a lift listening to the chanting of the latest hip hop song by a group of youths. One had just downloaded the song and was telling his friends that it a nerve … I think? Translate – … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Uncategorized, Walkthroughs | Leave a comment

National Literacy and Numeracy Tests: Useful information or a waste of time?

Posted on May 14, 2008 by mwalker

   This week students in Years 3,5,7 and 9 are completing, for the first time, national tests in literacy and numeracy, NAPLAN. Whilst this has been common place in America, England and other countries its the first time in Australia … Continue reading →

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Teaching and learning coaches in schools

Posted on May 9, 2008 by mwalker

At this weeks district Principal’s meeting we heard a report from one of DEECD’s appointed teacher coaches working in our local public schools. She spoke about frustrations over the system’s need for accountability data  verses the need to just do it … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Protocols, Teaching, Walkthroughs | Leave a comment

Fishbowling protocols that look at student work

Posted on May 1, 2008 by mwalker

This week we took the second step in learning to use protocols to look at student work.  At the staff meeting the leadership team modelled the process using a fishbowl technique. Teacher feedback from last weeks introduction to protocols indicated more learning experiences … Continue reading →

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Teen Writing – some positive research

Posted on April 28, 2008 by mwalker

  I was reading a recent research report titled: “Teens, Writing and the Internet”. The summary which I have linked makes for easy reading and quotes in my view some positive information: 85% of teens engage in social forms of … Continue reading →

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Composite Classes – a pressure point- at least in East Lothian, Scotland.

Posted on April 28, 2008 by mwalker

  I have just read a post and added a comment on Don’s log which I thought was worth a mention. Don is the Acting Director of Education and Children’s Services in East Lothian, Scotland. School organisation it seems is … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Teaching | 2 Comments

Why use protocols when looking at student work?

Posted on April 28, 2008 by mwalker

We posed this question at a team leadership meeting last year when we discussed the quest to personalise learning more for our students? Perhaps one answer came after we introduced the idea to staff last week – it’s a bit like … Continue reading →

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“iNet” online conferences

Posted on April 25, 2008 by mwalker

I recently posted a comment on an iNet online conference. iNet is an international network of schools committed to innovative change that supports improved student learning.   The online conference had a focus on “curriculum redesign” and posed a question … Continue reading →

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Parent Information Evening

Posted on April 21, 2008 by mwalker

Last week at our parent information evening I spoke for a few minutes on our school’s vision and why we might do things that are different from their personal images of primary school. I used this video to demonstrate how … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Technology | 1 Comment

Government’s Blueprint Summit

Posted on April 16, 2008 by mwalker

Last week I was invited to participate in the Government’s 2 day summit on the new Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development. The move to construct a seamless framework for early childhood education and care so that children can transition into schooling … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 1 Comment

A Webinar on Transforming Building Plans into Student Results

Posted on April 15, 2008 by mwalker

I recently enrolled in a webiner from The Leadership and Learning Centre which is located in Colardo, USA. I learnt several valuable lessons: In America most schools are called buildings and so the title refers to transforming school plans into … Continue reading →

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Design meets learning

Posted on April 15, 2008 by mwalker

The teachers in the Years 5/6 team at Elsternwick Primary are faced with many challenges and questions when co-designing learning environments that stimulate and promote both collaborative and individual learning as well as the environment supporting students and teachers living a set of values: … Continue reading →

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