Author Archives: mwalker

Why become a teacher? part two – my story

Posted on July 29, 2016 by mwalker

Some people can pinpoint a single incident or person that answers this question – for me I need to tell a story as I came to my moral purpose quite late. I went as a young 5-year-old to Corpus Christi, … Continue reading →

Posted in reflections, school, teacher efficacy, Teaching | 2 Comments

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

Don’t take yourself too seriously!

Posted on June 28, 2016 by mwalker

Each year the students set the school leadership a dare challenge if they raised significant funds for the school in the annual walkathon. I was reminded of this when I stumbled on the photo of one challenge they set me … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, school, school administration | 16 Comments

Choosing Schools

Posted on June 27, 2016 by mwalker

Parents choosing schools based on the ‘vibe’ and community rather than test scores and fancy facilities This newspaper article attracted my attention over the weekend as it resonated with my experience as both a parent and school leader. In my … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Leadership, parenting, school, school structures | 8 Comments

A School Farewell

Posted on June 21, 2016 by mwalker

This week I was very humbled to attend my farewell assembly at school. There were students, teachers, parents and some returning parents of former students, former and current colleagues, representatives from the Department of Education and my family. Farewell’s are … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, reflections, school, Video Clips | 29 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

mobile/cell phones on school or summer camps

Posted on June 11, 2016 by mwalker

that sixth graders who spent just five days at a tech-free sleepaway camp developed greater understanding of real-world interpersonal communication cues, including a better ability to read facial expressions, make eye contact, and interpret tone of voice and other prompts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, parenting | 2 Comments

Some essential questions to ask.

Posted on June 11, 2016 by mwalker

I was referred to this speech by a close colleague of mine, also like myself a summer school alumni member of Harvard (if this is indeed claimable). Having listened to the speech now several times I cannot but help think … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Revolution School, a must watch documentary on ABC television

Posted on June 5, 2016 by mwalker

There is a new 4 part documentary on our ABC channel called “Revolution School” with the first episode screened last week. I think this is a must watch show for anyone interested in schooling. The ABC took cameras into a normal secondary … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Data Wise Program, Harvard, Leadership, professional learning, school, teacher efficacy, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Downsizing your house? We did and what did we learn?

Posted on June 5, 2016 by mwalker

Ever considered downsizing your house? We sold our family home in October last year after about 6 weeks of preparation time. After we finished repainting (over 1/2 of the external house and windows – once you start where do you … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

The Wounded Leader

Posted on May 31, 2016 by mwalker

Recently I recalled a book I read a few ago called The Wounded Leader by Ackerman and Maslin-Ostrowski. In the book they suggest schools have leadership resistant architecture typically “the conspiracy of busyness: where there is little time for leaders to … Continue reading →

Posted in China, professional learning, reflections, school administration, Sister School, Uncategorized | 13 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