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: school structures
Lilydale High School
During November I worked with the leadership team at Lilydale High School on collaboration. Some of the resources we used: https://hbr.org/2002/06/a-survival-guide-for-leaders Lilydale HS Meeting Rolling Agenda.docx http://mwalker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Inventory-of-Instructional-Initiatives.xlsx
Posted in Data Wise Program, school, school structures, Uncategorized
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Why aren’t us parents seeing any benefit in smaller class sizes?
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
Choosing Schools
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
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School timetables are factors in lesson structures!
I have a wondering whether a school timetable influences the way instruction is planned in classrooms? Now I know the answer is obviously yes from a practical perspective but the deeper question I’m pondering is do those timetable influenced instructional decisions … Continue reading
Posted in Instruction, school, school structures, Teaching, Video Clips
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Extended family holidays – an opportunity or a threat to learning?
Last week I was engaged in my school’s peer review process and we tossed around a question on extended student absence from school for family travel purposes. You see extended family holidays are close to the number one reason why … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Holidays, parenting, school, school structures
4 Comments
Are schools are at a “Tipping Point” in supplying ICT to students!
I’m writing this post to explore viewpoints on a school’s capacity to supply ICT to students – for I propose schools are at a “tipping point” in their attempts to achieve this by themselves. A little context perhaps: About 10 … Continue reading
Posted in school, school structures, Technology, Uncategorized
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Dysfunctional Teams
Thanks to Greg Carroll, a principal in NZ, I found this clip on dysfunctional teams which seems to make some sense. We often hear about how to build teams and make productive meetings well this clips comes from the other … Continue reading
The honour of presenting at Harvard
A few weeks ago we were asked to present our work on changing a school culture whilst engaging with the ‘Data Wise’ inquiry process at Harvard. It’s an honour to be invited for it acknowledges our work and commitment to … Continue reading
Posted in Data Wise Program, Harvard, school, school structures, Uncategorized
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Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education
This is the third recent post on the direction of education in schools. In the first post I used the work of Sir Ken Robinson who gave us an outline of the history of public education and some of the challenges … Continue reading
Posted in school, school structures, Teaching, Video Clips
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One to One Computing
This book takes a serious historical and international look at the “digital pencil” movement to equip every student with a computing device with wireless connection. Using an ecological perspective as an overarching framework, and drawing on their own studies and … Continue reading
7 survival skills for 21st century classrooms and schools: post 2
After listening to Sir Ken Robinson talk about the history of education and challenge why we do things and then listen to Chris Betcher continue the challenge with a DaVinci in the classrooms – I poist so what do we … Continue reading
think divergently – encourage a DaVinci in your class or school [this century]: Post one
Sometimes you just stumble upon a great resource that helps you to challenge your own thinking. Well here is one by a well known writer, thinker and talker… Sir Ken Robinson. This clip is one to use and challenge others thoughts – … Continue reading
Hard lessons for better leadership
I’ve been feeling a mixture of guilt, fatigue and overload over the past month as I grapple with work commitments and university study so the blog has gone somewhat quiet of late. But I couldn’t help notice this article by Professor … Continue reading
Posted in Industrial Issues, Instruction, Leadership, school, school structures, Uncategorized
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Yong Zhao speaks about the limitations of test scores to define good schools
Yong Zhao a University Distinguished Professor at the College of Education at Michigan State University and international consultant to many governments talks here about the dangers of the narrow use of national test scores to define what students need. I … Continue reading