Category Archives: Teaching

Data Wise: Summer Institute: Day 1

This series of posts are being written by three teachers Erin, Jess and Sarah and Penny the Assistant Principal who are all attending or part of the teaching team at the Harvard University Data Wise Institute.  Well, we’ve just finished … Continue reading

Posted in Data Wise Program, Harvard, Instruction, Teaching, Video Clips | 1 Comment

Eldership: Is this self conceit by a few or are we in education constantly losing this to retirement?

This post is a little introspective so I apologize in advance if the topic is not of interest. Last week was a little strange for me and it started with my regular Monday night viewing of the ABC’s show Q&A. … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

‘The Arts’ an essential part of the curriculum.

I couldn’t resist posting this TV clip about my school. The clip was shown on a community TV station last week about an Art Reach Program that Elsternwick P.S., Monash University and National Gallery work together on. I think my … Continue reading

Posted in Art, curriculum, Monash University, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

hire people who believe what you believe

I was listening to this Ted Talk by Simon Sinek on inspiring leadership and one line he said was the title of this post “hire people who believe what you believe”. He talked about a connector between inspiring leaders being “they answer … Continue reading

Posted in teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | 1 Comment

start where they are at?

Recently I was sent these pictures from a proud mum of her 4 year olds drawings about one of his passions – footy. Yes that’s right a 4 years old – and if we to diagnose what’s his next steps … Continue reading

Posted in school, Teaching | 1 Comment

the strap!

I was searching my back storeroom at work recently I came across one of the original straps used by Principals and some teachers who were delegated to “dish out” corporal punishment. Corporal punishment (that is legally striking a student with wooden … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, parenting, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Naplan hits headlines

This article headlined in my school newsletter this week and I have invited comments. Unless you are a teacher or parent of student in Years 3, 5, 7 or 9 you may switch off when reading a newspaper headline with … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Harvard, Teaching | 4 Comments

Teachers Overseas: professional learning opportunities that also serve as an acknowledgement of effort.

  I couldn’t help post these 3 images taken in New Mexico last week. The first is a group of teachers and principals from two neighbouring schools Elsternwick and Elwood Primary Schools who share a common belief that relationships build … Continue reading

Posted in Leadership, Networks of Schools, professional learning, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Stop bashing public education for the tsunami effect will be big and long lasting.

I’m indebted to Greg Whitby for provoking me to write this post when he wrote on a quality education for all. Greg, I think was stirred by Prof Dinham when he recently wrote in the Age newspaper about what he perceived … Continue reading

Posted in China, Community, Instruction, Leadership, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Michael McQueen on decoding todays students

This is the last post from the Principal conference and the second on Michael McQueen I thought worth sharing. In this post he identifies 7 paradigm rifts if we are to understand todays students: The concept of truth being an … Continue reading

Posted in Conference, school, Teaching | 1 Comment

Michael McQueen on navigating around student engagement.

This is the second post from that Principal’s conference I attended last term. The theme if your read the first post (McCrindle) was on social trends and their impact on education, schools and teachers. We were fortunate to have two … Continue reading

Posted in Instruction, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

McCindle says students don’t care how much you know till they know how much you care.

Mark McCrindle, a social researcher,  presented at a conference I attended last term. His presentation was full of really interesting data or information on the various mega trends that effect education in general. The presentation is featured below. In the … Continue reading

Posted in Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Is there a mindset change needed to engage parents when using formative assessment during parent teacher interviews?

I’ve been thinking lately about our upcoming parent teacher interviews which we now hold in March and August of each year and whether we need to reset the context for both teachers and parents? Let me set a little background … Continue reading

Posted in Assessment, Sister School, Teaching | Leave a comment

Keeping earlier improvements alive – a constant juggling act for school leaders.

Have you ever wondered how you keep earlier improvement work on the slow boil whilst undertaking more recent deeper work? I know this is a constant challenge for school leaders particularly as new teachers who often unfamiliar with the earlier … Continue reading

Posted in Feedback, Leadership, Reading, Teaching | 1 Comment

An older image of schools of the future

Thoughts

Posted in Teaching | 1 Comment