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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Instructional tips that might make a difference
At this week’s leadership meeting I introduced John Hattie’s article on building teacher quality. We began talking as the instructional leaders of the school of our individual journeys to making a greater difference in student learning. Hattie explores this learning … Continue reading
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“School can be like a vacuum cleaner sucking the knowledge out of kids.”
I am working on one of the DEECD principal focus groups for building an instructional model for teachers in Victoria. During the first workshop we listened to this video clip from Richard Elmore talking about some of the challenges. Richard … Continue reading
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What lense do you use when looking at children’s writing?
I looked at this 6 year olds work on thinking and thought of this quote a team leader used at the annual parent information night: “We let children paint their faces, swing around poles, blow bubbles, build cubby houses, go … Continue reading
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What drives your classroom coaching program?
Last year I caught up with Barrie Bennett in Toronto and had the chance to talk through his framework for classroom improvement. It was one of those light bulb moments when it became clear for me what the missing focus was in both … Continue reading
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Leaders talking teaching and learning!
At this week’s leadership meeting I set the context for our reading of John Hattie’s article on building teacher quality. The article lists a number of key strategies [e.g. feedback] that have the greatest effect size on student learning. It concludes: “expert … Continue reading
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Raise the Bar and Close the Gap
At last weeks principal network meeting we briefly talked about this notion of raising the bar on student achievement. Michael Fullan defines moral purpose for schools in terms of raising the bar and closing the achievement gap. The conversation was started from … Continue reading
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Principals turn to booze to cope
Today a report is being released on principal workload. The report based on a national survey of 1,100 principals shows that while most love their job many are finding that “endless paperwork, dealing with abuse or grievances from angry parents, and … Continue reading
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Student Leadership
I was talking to the senior students at school this week and used this clip to start the discussion about leadership changing the world We often start in our own backyard so to speak in small ways and the students said by being kind … Continue reading
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Classroom Rules
I found this clip may just in a fun way create a converstaion with students about classrooms rules.
Posted in Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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Multiplication by lines
John Connell and Stephen Heppell are on fire this week with this interesting mathematical problem. I can see it works but I’m still trying to see how.
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Tests are everywhere but this can only be in America!
Thanks to John Connell from Cisco I came across this article on the testing business in America. Businesses make huge profits from selling tests to school districts or states as a result of the NCLB legislation and as it now … Continue reading
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A hoe is that what you want? or Why teach Speaking and Listening skills.
This week I was casually listening to a teacher explain something of a technical nature to colleague and it reminded me of the need to be careful in our use of language in schools particularly when trying to explain a new … Continue reading
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2006 PISA results from an Australian Perspective
ACER has just published a national report on the PISA results from an Australian perspective. Schools from all sectors and states are selected to complete the tests. Overall the results are very good in scientific, reading and mathematics literacy and compare … Continue reading
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head teachers
I was looking at a colleagues blog from the UK recently and saw this cartoon attached to an entry about why head teachers were paid more than teachers. http://libertonheadsblog.blogspot.com/
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We only think when we are confronted with problems.
The title of the article comes from a quote by John Dewey [1859 – 1952] an American philosopher who is widely renowned as a leader in the progressive educational reforms of the 20th century. At this week’s leadership meeting, the first … Continue reading
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