Category Archives: Teaching

Why aren’t us parents seeing any benefit in smaller class sizes?

Posted on July 29, 2016 by mwalker

I have just responded to this post by a parent: As a parent, the Bloomfield Public School system has sold smaller class sizes as part of their narrative. The experience of my two children has been a DECREASE in group … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Instructional Rounds, Leadership, parenting, professional learning, school structures, Teaching | 6 Comments

Why are you a teacher?

Posted on July 25, 2016 by mwalker

Ever had that questions posed to you? I have and its often followed by the popular quip: “because of the holidays?” What do the numbers say? More often then not it’s the story behind the numbers or data that inspires … Continue reading →

Posted in teacher efficacy, Teaching | 8 Comments

You start a round trying to perfect your swing and end up thinking about leadership – how does that happen?

Posted on July 5, 2016 by mwalker

There are times when you are blinded by a parallel scenario as I was recently playing golf. I had played badly the previous round and wasn’t overly confident as I started on my first hole. The ball just didn’t seem … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Politics aside we need some truths to accept the challenges we face as a nation. That’s the election message we are sending!

Posted on July 5, 2016 by mwalker

Well its election time here in Australia and we may have a tie. I don’t normally stray into politics but the situation calls for some commentary. For my overseas readers we have 3 levels of government (Federal, States and local … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Leadership, politics, Teaching, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Small classes are still being sold as the “golden” goose!

Posted on June 19, 2016 by mwalker

I’ve just finished cooking omelettes for breakfast and I open the daily paper (Age) and stumble across the Independent Schools Guide. It’s a 16 page full colour advertising features that doesn’t appear online. The last thing I’m wanting to do … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Prioritising your workload

Posted on February 29, 2016 by mwalker

I recently read a short article in the January ASCD “education update” by Elena Hegland, an English teacher in New York, on the topic of prioritising work. It got me thinking about principal’s priorities. Elena lists her top 5 priorities as Student … Continue reading →

Posted in reflections, school administration, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Transitional Vocabulary – one process of effectively teaching grammar.

Posted on July 16, 2015 by mwalker

I realise there are times when I might show a little bias however I had to show this photo of a teacher at my school teaching grammar in ways that both engage and support students transferring the understanding to their … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Teaching | 1 Comment

When art inspires reflection!

Posted on July 15, 2015 by mwalker

My son and his girlfriend have just returned from 5 weeks in Europe and one of their photos was of the Pietà in St Peter’s Bascillica in the Vatican City AND before anyone starts NO it wasn’t the old slide … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Leadership, Teaching | 1 Comment

tips on changing teacher practice

Posted on June 30, 2015 by mwalker

Looking for some simple advice on why you change your practice from Dylan Wiliam. Focus on one or two things (max) till they are automated, take a risk, take the time (when offered by your school leaders) and do this for … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Teaching | 1 Comment

“Rounds being like a dipstick” part two of a book discussion – Ch 3-5

Posted on June 24, 2015 by mwalker

Well this is the second instalment of our discussion as some points to comment on. The first being I just love the image of “rounds being like a dipstick” (p.110)   Comment: there are just so many ways you might … Continue reading →

Posted in Instructional Rounds, Leadership, school, Teaching | 3 Comments

How do we scaffold what we teach in grammar to student writing?

Posted on June 21, 2015 by mwalker

I often hear teachers complaining or just plain confused about why students don’t transfer what they learn in one context or lesson to their performances in another. They have taught something in grammar (e.g. dependant clauses) or spelling (e.g. letter combinations … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Instruction, Teaching | 2 Comments

An authentic purpose for learning – a makers market.

Posted on June 18, 2015 by mwalker

Tonight our Year 1 and 2 students ran a “makers market” as their last performance for their technology based unit of learning “how do you make”. As you can see by the photo the market was well attended with hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Instruction, Teaching | 3 Comments

DataWise – the community grows at the 2015 on-campus Institute.

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Penny Jayne

The final challenge from the first day of the Data Wise Summer Institute (DWSI) here at Harvard was to encapsulate my learning experiences thus far, in only five words. Mine was; Similar challenges towards systemic improvement. I wanted to share … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Data Wise Program, Harvard, Teaching | 3 Comments

Diving Deep to Build Assessment Literacy – Step 2 of the Data Wise Improvement Process – Day 2

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Penny Jayne

The focus of Day 2 of the Summer Institute is the work around both Organising for Collaborative Work and Building Assessment Literacy, (which comprise the Prepare Phase). At Elsternwick PS with new teachers joining the team and the existing staff … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Data Wise Program, Harvard, Teaching, Travel | 5 Comments

Meaningful Reading Comprehension – students doing the work!

Posted on June 4, 2015 by mwalker

This is a year 2 boy’s attempt to infer the meaning of words in a non fiction book of his choosing. Both the teacher and I thought this a really good artefact to show his reading comprehension development. The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Reading, Teaching | 1 Comment