Monthly Archives: February 2010

Using data to improve teaching – a work in progress.

Posted on February 25, 2010 by mwalker

I don’t think many teachers would disagree with the idea that its a good thing to use student assessment data to try and determine what students need to learn next, at least in Victorian schools – or would they? Often teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Leadership, school, Teaching | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cyber Safety – a bigger issue in homes than in schools?

Posted on February 25, 2010 by mwalker

At the start of the school year I’m teaching a series of workshops on cyber safety for students from Years 3 – 6 . These workshops coincide with the distribution the annual student Internet Agreement that parents and students sign. Part … Continue reading →

Posted in cyberbullying, Family, Leadership, school, Teaching | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Chinese New Year hits Elsternwick Primary

Posted on February 25, 2010 by mwalker

This year we celebrated Chinese New Year. Thanks to our new Mandarin teacher students this year had a week long celebration of Chinese New Year. Students learned Chinese cultural dances, made lanterns and the week ending with the traditional dragon … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese Language, school, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-15

Posted on February 15, 2010 by mwalker

According to the Age Newspaper directives to teach for the Naplan tests has started in Victoria just 8 days after results get published. # Powered by Twitter Tools

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Online Safety

Posted on February 15, 2010 by mwalker

Last week I sent an email to the middle and senior team leaders offering to take the students from years 3-6 for an online safety session. This was partly a response to several incidents that occurred last year with students. … Continue reading →

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What are the big ideas in maths that students need to know – in the Early Years?

Posted on February 9, 2010 by mwalker

At the start of the school year most of the local primary schools got together to hear Di Siemon from RMIT speak about the big ideas in mathematics education. Di really challenged some of our teacher ideas and spoke about the big ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in curriculum, Instruction, Mathematics, Teaching | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The eyewriter!

Posted on February 8, 2010 by mwalker

The Eyewriter from Evan Roth on Vimeo. Thanks to Julie O’Connell I came across this cheap use of open software that has changed the life of at least one person.

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Teach to the test – what’s next?

Posted on February 8, 2010 by mwalker

Well, as reported in the Age Newspaper, it didn’t take long for some directive to teachers to teach to the Naplan test. We all know you get some short term gain for 1 year and as the article points out … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, politics, reflections, Teaching | Tagged , , | Leave a comment