Mark's Learning Log- Should we worry about socioeconomic segregation in Australian schools? December 23, 2024As we enter the Christmas Holiday period in Australian Schools it’s time to reflect on some trends and wonder are we getting better. I know that’s a broader query but a recent Google link on my phone this morning got … Continue reading →mwalker
- Wondering if all teachers in training and graduate teachers are being taught to instruct all students in reading as though they were in the red? September 29, 2024I have this wondering that we are teaching all students in the class – as a whole class lesson – in the junior years as though they all needed the intensive phonic instruction and frequent repetition. Yes some explicit instruction … Continue reading →mwalker
- Should we worry about socioeconomic segregation in Australian schools? December 23, 2024
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Author Archives: mwalker
Selecting schools is not like shopping!
In writing my last post on community I’ve come to reflect on a phrase I used on school tours “please shop around before considering this school”. I’m wondering whether I contributed to a consumerist way of looking at education or schooling. In saying … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, parenting, school
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A school dragon is born.
Late last year I was remiss in not sharing news about a project two teachers imagined – a school dragon to use when we celebrate Chinese festivals and events. The Mandarin teacher, Bec had the original idea and then another … Continue reading
Posted in China, Chinese Language
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Community Project – a school orchard
Last month my school community led by a dedicated group of parents came together to construct a school orchard. This project has been in the planning phase for over 12 months as the committee rasied funds, involved some university students in the … Continue reading
Posted in Community, construction, Uncategorized
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Meeting the Minister
Recently I, along with 2 colleagues, were nominated by our network of schools to meet with the Minister of Education to chat over a few concerns our colleagues wanted us to raise. We raised a number of points that he … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, school, Uncategorized
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Leadership and Relational Learning
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
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Having fun “joining in” – playing with the image of principal.
Over the past few weeks there have 2 work occassions where I felt a need to “join in”. As a general rule I don’t like dressing up in fancy dress. It’s not that I feel I have a conservative image of a principal … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Uncategorized
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A few challenges to the idea of “life long learning.”
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
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Kath says students acquire assets through inquiry focused instruction
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
Posted in Instruction, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Building Classroom Learning Communities
One of last week’s walk-through foci was on classroom learning communities. These are some of the images I captured on the walk-through. At the start of each school year we as a staff and teachers in all classrooms expect to build … Continue reading
2011 Instructional Rounds Evaluation
As I set up our Network Instructional Rounds dates for 2012 I was interested to read and reflect upon another group of principal evaluations of their experiences last year. Overwhelmingly the consistent comment of principals as observers in both groups are … Continue reading
Everett Kline challenges our assessment beliefs and practices.
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
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Carol Tomlinson: an encounter to remember!
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
University Entrance a maze to be understood.
I recently read a blog post by Jenny Luca which was critical of the way universities select entrants based on a single score. In Victoria the score is called an ATAR score. The post attracted a few comments saying it was a … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Family
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Understanding History – an experience around the Freedom Trail
I feel a little self indulgent in showing these photos of the historical freedom trial Penny Vanderkruk and I walked over several mornings whilst studying at Harvard last year. However in walking the trail we feel we got a glimpse … Continue reading
Posted in Harvard, history
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The Harvard Social Experience.
A few things have cropped up since we returned from the Harvard course in July that I haven’t had a chance to share some thoughts about the trip and so being on summer holidays is the perfect opportunity to do … Continue reading
Posted in Harvard
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