Category Archives: Teaching

Is there a social agenda that pushes the use of data in schools to a more summative view?

Posted on September 2, 2012 by mwalker

Over recent weeks I have pondering concerns raised by teachers and a few parents on the use of data to report to parents (summative assessment). Last week three of my staff attended a briefing on the new National Curriculum due … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

‘Words their Way’ Spelling Workshop.

Posted on August 26, 2012 by mwalker

Recently we held another teacher workshop on the “Words their Way” approach to spelling. I’ve talked about this approach before, which we have trialled in different year levels for some 18 months. All of our trial results have been positive … Continue reading →

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Is the Olympics just about winning gold medals?

Posted on August 13, 2012 by mwalker

Context of this post: This morning I’m teaching a group of year 5/6 students. The WALT (We are learning to…) is join an online discussion via a blog and make a comment. Post: An overseas friend made a light-hearted  jib … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Teaching, Technology | 17 Comments

“Ability alone does not lead you to success – you have to work for it!”

Posted on July 12, 2012 by mwalker

Thanks to James Nottingham’s Facebook page I came across an article by Carol Dweck , author of Mindset, where she talks about how she was influenced by and connected to 5 different published works. People may remember 2 prior posts ( mindsets , … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, parenting, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Appreciative relationships in schools.

Posted on July 4, 2012 by mwalker

I’m writing this post with a few reservations. My intent is not stir up the vast majority of parents (I am one too) for I feel they (or should I say we) generally have good relationships with our child’s teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in parenting, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Personalising is really an outcome of differentiation: points to note for educators

Posted on June 10, 2012 by mwalker

At a recent regional Principal conference I heard Vic Zbar, an educational consultant based in Victoria; speak about personalising teaching and learning. Personalising learning he put it was really an outcome of differentiation. Vic then made a number of points I … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, differentiation, Geelong Conference, Instruction, school, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Knowing our core work

Posted on June 10, 2012 by mwalker

Recently I heard Major General Jim Molan, a retired Army officer who served in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars talk about leadership. He opened with the observation that the army and schools have something in common – they both … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The purpose of a school is………………

Posted on May 29, 2012 by mwalker

Last week I was working with Dr George Otero on trying to navigate through the various theories of action that underpin our work at Elsternwick. What are the connections between relational learning framework, Data Wise inquiry cycles, instructional rounds observations on task … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Creativity: alive and well

Posted on May 25, 2012 by mwalker

  I was walking past some art work at school today and was so impressed with the quality of the pieces I felt I had to showcase them by putting them on my blog. We hear about creativity being a … Continue reading →

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The ‘learning pit’ of Harvard: a data wise inquiry into what next!

Posted on May 10, 2012 by mwalker

We are at the end of our time at Harvard having had our presentation both acknowledged by the facility and celebrated by our American colleagues.It felt gooood! Our thinking was then sharpened over the remainder of the course to focus … Continue reading →

Posted in Data Wise Program, Harvard, Instruction, Leadership, reflections, school, Teaching, Travel | Leave a comment

Leadership and Relational Learning

Posted on April 3, 2012 by mwalker

Last month we held our 3rd curriculum day on one of our strategic improvement strategies – the implementation of a relational learning framework in teaching and learning and to engage with the parent and wider community   (school are entitled to hold 4 … Continue reading →

Posted in curriculum, Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A few challenges to the idea of “life long learning.”

Posted on March 15, 2012 by mwalker

Last week I was privileged to spend 3 days interacting with James Nottingham and others around the topic of life long learning. He made to me some valuable points worth exploring a little further. “tests show only what a child has … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Conference, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Kath says students acquire assets through inquiry focused instruction

Posted on March 4, 2012 by mwalker

Last week Kath Murdoch continued her work with us here at Elsternwick with a session on the “assets” students learn through inquiry focused instruction. From the outset let me be clear that I’m not saying students cannot acquire these dispositions through … Continue reading →

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Everett Kline challenges our assessment beliefs and practices.

Posted on January 10, 2012 by mwalker

Ever been to a professional learning workshop or presentation and felt discomfort, challenged, empowered and an overwhelming sense relief all at the same time? Well I have several times (lucky me some might say) and this session led by Everett … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011 ASCD Conference, Assessment, Feedback, Instruction, Teaching | 2 Comments

Carol Tomlinson: an encounter to remember!

Posted on January 5, 2012 by mwalker

This year in our Instructional Rounds group within the local network of schools we purchased Carol Tomlinson’s book “Leading and Managing A Differentiated Classroom” to use as a base text for understanding our observation of instruction in classrooms. Last year … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011 ASCD Conference, Assessment, differentiation, Instruction, Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment