Mark's Learning Log- 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
- Why Why is the question we all need to answer! May 31, 2024In my work with school educators this is the question I ask them to resolve for themselves. What drives you to lead / teach young people and why? What happened to you and why is that important. I was reminded … 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, 2024
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Category Archives: politics
The push to teach discipline!
A recent report also found the “disciplinary climate” in schools in Australia was among the least favourable in the OECD according to student reports. This is based on a 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) index, which asked students how … Continue reading
Parents want more than jobs out of education for their children.
The Australian Newspaper features an article by Chris Mitchell “Parents want education system to prep kids for jobs, not political activism”. In the article he makes a number of claims and offers solutions which I think need a response. Mitchell’s … Continue reading
Posted in parenting, politics, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Songs can hold our memories!
Certain songs or voices can bring many memories flooding back to us. It’s 1970 and the happy and even melancholic memories flood back to me when I hear Simon and Garfunkel sing their classics. Its been over 45 years since … Continue reading
Posted in Community, history, politics, Video Clips
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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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What about measuring learning found through cultural travel experiences to counterbalance missed schooling and lower national test scores?
At the recent ACER conference in Adelaide Stephen Zubrick presented a paper on school attendance and the effects on academic performance. The Sunday Age in Melbourne picked up the story with a headline “No safe level of missing school, study … Continue reading
Knowing our core work
Recently I heard Major General Jim Molan, a retired Army officer who served in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars talk about leadership. He opened with the observation that the army and schools have something in common – they both … Continue reading
Posted in politics, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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National Tests for students next month [NAPLAN] – so what?
Next month all year 3, 5 7, and 9 students in Australia embark on a series of National Tests over a 3 day period in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and number. Teachers have been encouraged to better prepare … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, politics, school, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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Teach to the test – what’s next?
Well, as reported in the Age Newspaper, it didn’t take long for some directive to teachers to teach to the Naplan test. We all know you get some short term gain for 1 year and as the article points out … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, politics, reflections, Teaching
Tagged http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/ranking-by-naplan-results-rates-a-fail-20100202-nay4.html, http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/why-my-school-fails-the-test-20100207-nk9c.html, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/my-school-statistics-give-flawed-picture/story-e6frg6nf-1225826526522
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League tables
Over the past week newspapers all over Australia have featured articles and editorials on the Federal Governments new tax payer funded website “My School” which will allow parents [and others] to see how their schools rates against the national average … Continue reading
Posted in Industrial Issues, politics, Reading, school
Tagged http://www.education.vic.gov.au/aboutschool/schoolreports/default.htm, http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2009/dec/01/primary-league-tables-unfair, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/schools-to-get-online-grading/story-e6frf7l6-1225823472962, http://www.myschool.edu.au/, http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/parents-tick-school-data-site-20100123-mrqn.html, http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/teachers-to-make-stand-on-ranking-20100118-mgoq.html, http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/website-to-expose-coasting-schools-20100125-muhr.html, http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/editorial/testing-time-for-teachers-20100120-mlnv.html, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/why-school-league-tables-will-not-work/story-e6frg6zo-1225822680095
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National Standards – do they improve teaching and learning?
Thanks to Greg Carroll I came across this video where John Hattie makes a case around issues like accommodation, retention [repeating classes] or dumbing down learning surrounding National Standards. National Standards are due to be introduced in Australia next year. He concludes … Continue reading
Posted in politics, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
Tagged http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/
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TIMMS test results spark controversy
This past fortnight I have talked about my schools performance on national tests to school council [NAPLAN] and now I’ve seen lots of editorials and responses in newspapers about Australia’s performance in the recent international tests in maths and science for years … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Assessment, politics, school, science, Teaching, Uncategorized
Tagged 00.html, 23739, 24777327-5016679, 24778101-7583, 24779000-2702, 25197, http://www.acer.edu.au/documents/TIMSS_2007-AustraliaHighlights.pdf, http://www.acer.edu.au/ozpisa/, http://www.acer.edu.au/timss07/images/uploads/MR_081210-TIMSS.pdf, http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/dec/11/primary-maths-science-politics, http://www.naplan.edu.au/, http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0
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Generation WE – the movement coming to you!
Generation WE: The Movement Begins… from Generation We on Vimeo. I saw this video tonight and thought it made some powerful statements about how the political landscape will change in America and what concerns will need real solutions from policy … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, politics, school
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