Category Archives: Reading

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

Reading Comprehension Strategies made explicit in classrooms

Posted on April 4, 2009 by mwalker

I visited Matthew Needlemans blog and really like the way his is trying to get his students to anchor their reading comprehension skills through the creation of posters that students can connect to. Often charts displayed in rooms don’t provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Making a difference by Douglas Reeves.

Posted on October 14, 2008 by mwalker

I was fortunate to hear Douglas Reeves for the second time at the recent ACEL conference in Melbourne. He is the founder and chief executive officer of the Center for Performance Assessment, an organization dedicated to improving student achievement and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2008 ACEL Conference, Assessment, Leadership, Reading, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

School improvement is not unlike peeling an onion – the jouney is layered and may produce tears .

Posted on September 11, 2008 by mwalker

  At most weekly leadership meetings we agenda a discussion on a published research paper distributed and read prior to meeting and this week it was the 90/90/90 Schools: A Case Study article. The article written by two journalists was based on research … Continue reading →

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Toronto Superintendent Kathy Cowan visits Elsternwick.

Posted on August 10, 2008 by mwalker

On Wednesday 7/8/08 I was honoured to host Kathy Cowan a superintendent of a family of schools [SE6] in Toronto. I first met Kathy at Harvard University in 2006 and again in 2007 in Toronto when I visited a number of the family’s principals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Collaborative Communities, Harvard, Leadership, Reading, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Get Smart – Open the Classroom Doors!

Posted on August 3, 2008 by mwalker

One of the central themes of the Big Day Out this year was to “get smart and open the classrooms doors” so that instruction, which can often seen as private teacher business, can be seen and improved. Each year Darrell Fraser, … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Leadership, Protocols, Reading, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Between Class Difference: Myth or Reality!

Posted on July 25, 2008 by mwalker

This week at our weekly leadership meeting we discussed a research article about an American school who number crunched student achievement over a 3 year period. This article really set us up for the weekly staff meeting where we were investigating the … Continue reading →

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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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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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Teaching for Understanding

Posted on April 8, 2008 by mwalker

Have you ever struggled with teaching or assessing growth in learners understandings – I do? It’s easier to teach and assess skills. I like the example many people give of coaching a sports team – you teach skills that are observable – … Continue reading →

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Mentoring at Monash University

Posted on March 12, 2008 by mwalker

Yesterday at the invitation of a colleague I joined him at Monash University as he started a Masters in Education course.  As I walked from the car park I was struck by the both the number of students [I’m told … Continue reading →

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Leaders talking teaching and learning!

Posted on February 21, 2008 by mwalker

At this week’s leadership meeting I set the context for our reading of John Hattie’s article on building teacher quality. The article lists a number of key strategies [e.g. feedback] that have the greatest effect size on student learning. It concludes: “expert … Continue reading →

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2006 PISA results from an Australian Perspective

Posted on January 25, 2008 by mwalker

ACER has just published a national report on the PISA results from an Australian perspective. Schools from all sectors and states are selected to complete the tests. Overall the results are very good in scientific, reading and mathematics literacy and compare … Continue reading →

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Weight tests for new prep students

Posted on December 18, 2007 by mwalker

The Federal Government has just released a plan to weigh children before they start school to try and crack down on obesity. The Health Minister, Nicola Roxon was reported to have said that the  condition had become a national responsibility … Continue reading →

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Learning by Heart

Posted on December 6, 2007 by mwalker

  I’m currently rereading a book by Roland Barth titiled “Learning by Heart” which I think makes a number of relevant comments for me about school reform from a very practical perspective. I also think his quotes are great: e.g.  “Experience … Continue reading →

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