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: Leadership
Mark Twain’s quotes for todays age!
This quote is often attributed to Mark Twain however the site quote investigator casts some doubt on this. I found it while on twitter and another’s blog. The quote whoever penned it is still apt for today. A person who … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership
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School Based Instructional Rounds: a progressive book club discussion (Ch 1 & 2)
In an earlier post I wrote about personal teacher professional learning. One of our teachers is doing a leadership course at Bastow Institute this year and her research project is using instructional rounds at the school level with teachers. One of … Continue reading
Posted in Instructional Rounds, Leadership, Uncategorized
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The pendulum conundrum of strategic planning.
Over the past 18 months we as a school having been reviewing our performance as a school through the student, teacher and parent lenses. There was lots to celebrate which we have. However human nature is a curious things for … Continue reading
Posted in Instruction, Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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What might Benjamin Franklin have to say to our young students?
At Monday’s school assembly I used Benjamin Franklin’s story to talk about the importance of effort and persistence as we strive for personal excellence. “energy and persistence conquer all things” Benjamin Franklin I talked about his childhood days in … Continue reading
Posted in history, Leadership, Reading, school, Teaching, Video Clips
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Alberta and Victoria: separated by two great oceans but close in educational thinking.
I have just finished rereading a 2012 research paper on transforming education in Alberta Canada. I found it a great read. I didn’t know for example that Alberta has been Canada’s highest performing province for over a decade. Andy Hargreaves … Continue reading
Posted in curriculum, Leadership, school, teacher efficacy, Teaching
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flipping classrooms?
I’ve been thinking about the concept of “flipped classrooms” now for a while and the great thing about holidays is that it frees up time to do just that – think and in this case write, share and hopefully promote … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Teaching, Technology, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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EPS visits Jefferson Elementary School in New York
This blog entry is the eighth in a series from the team visiting schools in the States and comes to you from the ‘Big Apple.’ Today we visited Jefferson Elementary School (K-5), located in upstate New York in a town called … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Data Wise Program, Instruction, Leadership, school, Teaching
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EPS visit Joseph Lee and Harvard-Kent schools in Boston
Here is our new post, sent from South Station, Boston. This is the seventh post in the series from the team participating in the Data Wise Institute at Harvard. (Penny, Jess, Erin and Sarah) Today we visited two schools within … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Data Wise Program, Harvard, Leadership, professional learning, Teaching
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Eldership: Is this self conceit by a few or are we in education constantly losing this to retirement?
This post is a little introspective so I apologize in advance if the topic is not of interest. Last week was a little strange for me and it started with my regular Monday night viewing of the ABC’s show Q&A. … Continue reading
Posted in Community, Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized
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the strap!
I was searching my back storeroom at work recently I came across one of the original straps used by Principals and some teachers who were delegated to “dish out” corporal punishment. Corporal punishment (that is legally striking a student with wooden … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, parenting, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Teachers Overseas: professional learning opportunities that also serve as an acknowledgement of effort.
I couldn’t help post these 3 images taken in New Mexico last week. The first is a group of teachers and principals from two neighbouring schools Elsternwick and Elwood Primary Schools who share a common belief that relationships build … Continue reading
Stop bashing public education for the tsunami effect will be big and long lasting.
I’m indebted to Greg Whitby for provoking me to write this post when he wrote on a quality education for all. Greg, I think was stirred by Prof Dinham when he recently wrote in the Age newspaper about what he perceived … Continue reading
Posted in China, Community, Instruction, Leadership, teacher efficacy, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Understanding defined by measurement?
“It is important to measure performance because if you can’t measure it, you can’t understand it; if you can’t understand it, you can’t control it and if you can’t control it, you can’t improve it.” The Times of India I … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Leadership, Uncategorized
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student leadership can promote a sense of belonging
Recently I was given the honour of presenting the special year 6 rugby top, to all our year students. The rugby tops, which have all the students names on the back, is one of the key symbols of student leadership … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, school
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Keeping earlier improvements alive – a constant juggling act for school leaders.
Have you ever wondered how you keep earlier improvement work on the slow boil whilst undertaking more recent deeper work? I know this is a constant challenge for school leaders particularly as new teachers who often unfamiliar with the earlier … Continue reading
Posted in Feedback, Leadership, Reading, Teaching
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