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: Collaborative Communities
Teacher challenges in setting up creative, collaborative and competitive learning spaces in classrooms.
It’s near the end of the school year here in Victoria and the pressure is on to finish the school year [student reports have been distributed, class lists finalised with the transition session tomorrow morning, the roll over of our … Continue reading
Marketing a school to prospective parents through fortnightly tours
Today I have just finished the last of 20 group tours I have conducted in 2008 for prospective parents. It’s interesting to reflect on their value – do they answer parents questions? – do they present the school in the … Continue reading
Posted in Collaborative Communities, Leadership, sports, Uncategorized
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Challenges of learning to change and changing to learn
This 5 minute clip is useful for educators either as individuals or in teams in schools to talk through and using technology to so new things in new ways. It challenged me – do we have classrooms or learning communities [go outside … Continue reading
Posted in Collaborative Communities, Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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Sage words for bloggers
I have just stumbled upon Chris Lott’s blog which has provided some sage like words to explain why I share my thoughts on a blog and …. the words were written 500 years ago by Michel Montaigne. [An account of a … Continue reading
Does consistency mean sameness or mindfulness?
At this weeks staff meeting Sarah, the assistant principal and I talked about the weeks walkthroughs posing some questions in particular the above question – is consistency between classrooms sameness or mindfulness? We used a fish bowl strategy to share our thoughts where Sarah and I … Continue reading
takingitglobal.org
I have just joined Michael Furdyk’s learning community called takingitglobal. I heard Michael speak in Sydney last year about trying to connect the youth around the world so that we can truly understand whats happening and take action. When you … Continue reading
Toronto Superintendent Kathy Cowan visits Elsternwick.
On Wednesday 7/8/08 I was honoured to host Kathy Cowan a superintendent of a family of schools [SE6] in Toronto. I first met Kathy at Harvard University in 2006 and again in 2007 in Toronto when I visited a number of the family’s principals. … Continue reading
Shift Happens updated video
I have posted the updated version of Shift Happens as its still worth showing teachers and parents to set the context for change in education. It goes for about 7 minutes but hang in there – the discussion afterwards is … Continue reading
New Learning Spaces
This is another post on learning spaces we have constructed. These images are of a new building that houses years 5 and 6 students. The first image is of a large central spaces that facilitates learning in different size groups. … Continue reading
Kath Murdoch, an inspiration on how to learn within a social context.
Readers of my blog will know that we have had Kath Murdoch working with our teachers at Elsternwick Primary over the past 4 years. Kath initially worked with the whole staff to develop some shared understandings about inquiry learning and … Continue reading
Posted in Collaborative Communities, Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Andy Hargreaves speaks about a new learning gap.
I heard Andy Hargreaves speak at the ACEL conference in Sydney last year and was impressed with his candor about governments setting what seemed to be easy targets for schools. I thought his … Continue reading
Classroom 2.0
Over the weekend I discovered this online collaborative learning community dedicated to supporting educators use technology with learners. It’s worth a look.