Category Archives: Uncategorized

Asian Languages in Schools: in decline!

Posted on August 21, 2011 by mwalker

This week our school was featured on an ABC show (Newsline – Language Barrier)reporting the decline in Asian Languages taught in schools. The show pointed to the low numbers of students continuing their language studies in VCE [which is our … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese Language, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“learning as a social process through which understanding is achieved”

Posted on August 7, 2011 by mwalker

The title of this post comes from a book titled “Schools and Communities: working together to transform children live’s” by West-Burnham, Farrar and Otero. Pictured above is George Otero, a co author of the book and Co-President of the Relational Learning Centre … Continue reading →

Posted in curriculum, reflections, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Reflections on ‘Learning Intentions’ of classroom lessons

Posted on July 12, 2011 by mwalker

Over the past 3 months I have been honoured to observe instruction by teachers in classrooms across a number of schools. One of the indicators of effective instruction is that each lesson has a clear learning intention stated up front to … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Instructional Rounds, reflections, Teaching, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A new Internet paradigm for learning.

Posted on July 11, 2011 by mwalker

Last month I was fortunate to hear Mark Treadwell [pictured above] speak to a group of aspirant leaders I am mentoring. He had some I think important things to say about learning and I think leadership. He began the morning … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Instruction, school, Teaching, Technology, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

School Readiness or Not

Posted on May 24, 2011 by mwalker

Recently Elsternwick Primary in partnership with Bayside Council hosted a talk by Kathy Walker on school readiness. This annual event is always  popular with over 50 people present. Kathy Walker is a noted early years educator who works in schools and kindergardens. … Continue reading →

Posted in Repeating Classes, school, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Feeling mixed emotions on ANZAC Day.

Posted on April 25, 2011 by mwalker

This recently discovered photos of Aussies in the trenches in World War 1 brings another special memory to ANZAC Day celebrations this year in Melbourne. I’ve just finished watching the ANZAC Day parade here in Melbourne and how the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, reflections, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Principal’s can graduate too!

Posted on April 19, 2011 by mwalker

Here are three shots that capture parts of my graduation from Monash University with a Masters in School Leadership. Two shots were taken with the supervising professors from Monash and my mentor and friend Ray at a Department of Education presentation … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Masters in Education Course, Monash University, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Three improvement strategies to make a difference to relationships and learning.

Posted on April 10, 2011 by mwalker

Over the past 2 months we have focused on preparing our teachers to differentiate instruction. I’m writing this post to explain to readers within my own community why this emphasis on preparation and why we need to adopt three different … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Assessment, coaching, Collaborative Communities, differentiation, Instruction, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Wikipedia – an example of the social construction of knowledge.

Posted on March 20, 2011 by mwalker

I was conducting a school tour recently for prospective parents where we started to discuss the social construction of knowledge. My tours do go to some ‘random’ places. A prospective parent asked why we placed such importance on personal and … Continue reading →

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Do you have a fixed or fluid mindset?

Posted on March 16, 2011 by mwalker

Occasionally you stumble upon some research that just makes sense. Well this research about the effects of fixed and fluid mindsets on student motivation made sense to me. Have you heard someone say they just no good at………… maths or … Continue reading →

Posted in Feedback, Instruction, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | 7 Comments

Aspirant Leaders Program

Posted on March 16, 2011 by mwalker

Recently I met a group of enthusiastic aspirant leaders at the start of their year long professional learning program. Aspirant leaders, I think, is in many ways a misleading title as these teachers are already leaders in their own classrooms, or teams or school. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aspirant Program, Leadership, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Elmore on the challenges in schools

Posted on February 1, 2011 by mwalker

I used this clip on the first day this year with teachers when the question was raised about teachers letting go [stop talking to the whole class] after a challenging task was set [some scaffolding has already occurred].

Posted in Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

things to do on the first day [or month] of school

Posted on January 30, 2011 by mwalker

I was reading What Ed Said blog and this post struck a cord with me. Next week during the first 3 days of school, which are pupil free for teacher professional development, my only session with the staff has a … Continue reading →

Posted in flexible learning spaces, Instruction, Teaching, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

changing paradigm for universities

Posted on January 30, 2011 by mwalker

Having just completed a course at University I have some experience in the way universities use technology for learning. Most of my notes were online, the bulk of the articles I used in my research came from online journals where it … Continue reading →

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Implications of the “still face” experiment

Posted on January 26, 2011 by mwalker

Thanks to John Connell for this clip which I think has wider implications for all those working with our youth – not just parents with babies. I think this experiment along with a few others like the little Albert Experiment … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, parenting, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment