Mark's Learning Log- Should we worry about socioeconomic segregation in Australian schools? December 23, 2024As we enter the Christmas Holiday period in Australian Schools it’s time to reflect on some trends and wonder are we getting better. I know that’s a broader query but a recent Google link on my phone this morning got … 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, 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
- Should we worry about socioeconomic segregation in Australian schools? December 23, 2024
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Category Archives: Leadership
“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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Data Conversations – worth the time?
At a recent leadership meeting we discussed several articles on the value of data conversations. One of the articles posed a question around gathering data on the different levels of implementation of curriculum in individual classrooms and the need to assess gaps … Continue reading
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
Leadership Footprints
I’m on holidays in Queensland this week for a break before the final term which is usually jammed packed full of tasks. Next week Sarah, the assistant principal, and I are presenting a research paper on our instructional leadership … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, school, Uncategorized
Tagged http://www.acel.org.au/index.php?id=684
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School improvement is not unlike peeling an onion – the jouney is layered and may produce tears .
At most weekly leadership meetings we agenda a discussion on a published research paper distributed and read prior to meeting and this week it was the 90/90/90 Schools: A Case Study article. The article written by two journalists was based on research … Continue reading
Turning on the lights in a dark room.
This Fathers Day I was spoilt with a cooked breakfast, a lazy morning watching a not so old movie and midday basketball training. The not so old movie was Freedom Writers staring Hilary Swank. For those of you not familiar with this … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
Tagged http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Writers
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Is personalised learning the holy grail?
I was watching the Da Vinci Code movie the other night and got to pondering was the holy grail that so many knights had fought to find and in some cases protect, in fact Mary Magdalene’s sepulchre as the Dan Brown’s … Continue reading
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
Tagged http://taspd.edublogs.org/
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tests and the Rudd education revolution
Today the Prime Minister of Austalia, Hon Kevin Rudd delivered a speech at the National Press Club on the education revolution. I received a transcript of the speech which for me had several highlights: While Australian schools stand up reasonably … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
Tagged http://www.edutopia.org/assessment-overview-video
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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
Phone a friend in exams?
I have just finished reading Chris Betcher’s post on PLC in Sydney where year 9 girls sitting an English test were able to use a phone to search the Internet for an answer as long as they quoted the source. The papers were … Continue reading