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: Conference
Michael McQueen on decoding todays students
This is the last post from the Principal conference and the second on Michael McQueen I thought worth sharing. In this post he identifies 7 paradigm rifts if we are to understand todays students: The concept of truth being an … Continue reading
Posted in Conference, school, Teaching
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A few challenges to the idea of “life long learning.”
Last week I was privileged to spend 3 days interacting with James Nottingham and others around the topic of life long learning. He made to me some valuable points worth exploring a little further. “tests show only what a child has … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Conference, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Everett Kline challenges our assessment beliefs and practices.
Ever been to a professional learning workshop or presentation and felt discomfort, challenged, empowered and an overwhelming sense relief all at the same time? Well I have several times (lucky me some might say) and this session led by Everett … Continue reading
Posted in 2011 ASCD Conference, Assessment, Feedback, Instruction, Teaching
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Carol Tomlinson: an encounter to remember!
This year in our Instructional Rounds group within the local network of schools we purchased Carol Tomlinson’s book “Leading and Managing A Differentiated Classroom” to use as a base text for understanding our observation of instruction in classrooms. Last year … Continue reading
Inspect what you expect
Earlier this year Penny, one of my assistant Principal’s, and I participated in the ASCD summer conference in Boston. One workshop we attended was by Pete Hall the Principal of Sheridan Elementary School in Spokane. Pete spoke about the need to monitor classroom instruction … Continue reading
Educating for the unknown- what’s worth learning?
David Perkins from Harvard University was another keynote speaker at the Singapore conference. He put the proposition that a lot of what goes on in schools is educating for the known – we teach lots of information – spelling rules … Continue reading
Instructional Leadership Presentation in Singapore: Using data to improve instruction
I co-presented at the international conference in Singapore on instructional leadership and the use of data and other strategies to improve student learning. After the session, which was cut short, there were a number of questions asked by delegates on … Continue reading
Posted in 2009 Singapore Conference, Uncategorized
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Kishore Mahbubani – The New Asian Hemisphere.
Certainly one of the more challenging speakers at the recent World Convention of Principals was Kishore Mahbubani. For those not familiar with Kishore or his work, and I was one of them, he is currently a Professor in Public Policy at the … Continue reading
World Convention of the International Confederation of Principals – Singapore – a hit!
I have just returned from the 9th World Convention of the International Confederation of Principals in Singapore. It was truly an international convention with1,400 delegates from over 40 countries. It was also an opportunity to meet up with old friends … Continue reading
Posted in 2009 Singapore Conference, Leadership, Networks of Schools, school, Teaching, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Singapore, http://pow.com.sg/, http://www.focussingapore.com/photo-gallery/botanical-gardens/evolution-garden/, http://www.moe.gov.sg/, http://www.raffles.com/EN_RA/Property/RHS/History/, https://www.icpsingapore2009.com/
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“Necessary but not sufficient”
This phrase “necessary but not sufficient” has been ringing in my ears of recent weeks when thinking about those students who are achieving below minimim standards. I first heard Paul Brock use the phase and subsequently I have used … Continue reading
Posted in 2008 ACEL Conference, Leadership, school, Teaching
Tagged http://www.naplan.edu.au/
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The Class Size Debate
I was fortunate to meet John Hattie recently who is one academic I often quote in my work. John Hattie is from New Zealand and has been researching amongst other things the effects of various strategies or innovations on student learning. … Continue reading
Ethics in teaching grammar – surely not to pass tests?
I recalled a conversation I heard between Jerry Starratt and Hedley Beare recently on how metaphors can portray or even drive our thinking about curriculum when I read an article [featured in the daily newspapers in most capital cities] about the new National Curriculum. … Continue reading
“learning that is supported by teaching”
At the recent ACEL conference in Melbourne I heard a group of young leaders from a school in Greenford High School in West London speak about their contributions to school improvement which included students being trained to give constructive feedback to volunteer secondary … Continue reading
Making a difference by Douglas Reeves.
I was fortunate to hear Douglas Reeves for the second time at the recent ACEL conference in Melbourne. He is the founder and chief executive officer of the Center for Performance Assessment, an organization dedicated to improving student achievement and … Continue reading
Shift Happens: Australian Version
Readers of my blog will know how I have used the Shift Happens clip to stimulate discussion at staff, council and parent levels about futures in schools. One of the workshops at the recent ACEL conference put me onto the … Continue reading