Mark's Learning Log- Single Figures Again August 4, 2021It’s been at least 10 years since I made single figures at my golf handicap and its a great feeling to be back again even though its a just made it 9.9. It’s winter as well and with the course … Continue reading →mwalker
- It’s important to reflect on our “why”! July 19, 2021In doing work around equity in schools or using data wise improvement processes to build greater equity (LIFE OPPORTUNITIES) its important we found to know thy why. A “why” may have a beginning – something that we reflected on that … Continue reading →mwalker
- Single Figures Again August 4, 2021
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Why have learning intentions without success criteria?
John, in this 9 min clip, puts the case for why we need to explain what we intend students to learn, why and how they might self assess success. It’s hard to defend the opposite. In this clip John’s work … Continue reading
Dirty Data!
Well I’m now officially retired as a school principal – no really! I’m sleeping well, planning holidays and of course playing more golf. But what about my mind – it’s not ready to give up as an educator. So I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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Are you Humpty Dumpty waiting for a fall?
Quite often Principal’s can feel like Humpty Dumpty “just waiting for the fall”. When you think of how many “clients” you serve (students, their parents and then the wider community) even a middle size school of 500 would add up … Continue reading
Posted in coaching, Leadership, Uncategorized
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You start a round trying to perfect your swing and end up thinking about leadership – how does that happen?
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
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Politics aside we need some truths to accept the challenges we face as a nation. That’s the election message we are sending!
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
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Small classes are still being sold as the “golden” goose!
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
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Some essential questions to ask.
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
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Revolution School, a must watch documentary on ABC television
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
Downsizing your house? We did and what did we learn?
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
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The Wounded Leader
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
Prioritising your workload
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
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Victoria the “ice” capital of South East Asia !
Today at our local State principal network we heard from Les Twentyman a long serving youth outreach worker who has supported the marginalised and at risk young people who are generally homeless and on the streets. A few years ago … Continue reading
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School Based Instructional Rounds: a progressive book club discussion (Ch 1 & 2)
In an earlier post I wrote about personal teacher professional learning. One of our teachers is doing a leadership course at Bastow Institute this year and her research project is using instructional rounds at the school level with teachers. One of … Continue reading
Posted in Instructional Rounds, Leadership, Uncategorized
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young people’s anger – here’s one thought.
I’m fortunate as a school leader that my teachers share their ideas and thoughts with me. This is one teachers share last week that resonates so strongly with me – how does one promote young people’s conversations about dealing with … Continue reading
Posted in curriculum, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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identifying teacher itches to scratch
Schools in Victoria have many standardised data sets about student learning, student attitudes to school, parent opinion surveys and finally staff opinion surveys. This post focuses on this last data set, staff opinion. There was industrial action for the 3 … Continue reading
Posted in Data Wise Program, Harvard, Observation, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized
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