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- 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: Teaching
Dirty Data!
Well I’m now officially retired as a school principal – no really! I’m sleeping well, planning holidays and of course playing more golf. But what about my mind – it’s not ready to give up as an educator. So I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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Why become a teacher? part two – my story
Some people can pinpoint a single incident or person that answers this question – for me I need to tell a story as I came to my moral purpose quite late. I went as a young 5-year-old to Corpus Christi, … Continue reading
Posted in reflections, school, teacher efficacy, Teaching
2 Comments
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
Why are you a teacher?
Ever had that questions posed to you? I have and its often followed by the popular quip: “because of the holidays?” What do the numbers say? More often then not it’s the story behind the numbers or data that inspires … Continue reading
Posted in teacher efficacy, Teaching
8 Comments
You start a round trying to perfect your swing and end up thinking about leadership – how does that happen?
There are times when you are blinded by a parallel scenario as I was recently playing golf. I had played badly the previous round and wasn’t overly confident as I started on my first hole. The ball just didn’t seem … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
4 Comments
Politics aside we need some truths to accept the challenges we face as a nation. That’s the election message we are sending!
Well its election time here in Australia and we may have a tie. I don’t normally stray into politics but the situation calls for some commentary. For my overseas readers we have 3 levels of government (Federal, States and local … Continue reading
Posted in Community, Leadership, politics, Teaching, Uncategorized
5 Comments
Small classes are still being sold as the “golden” goose!
I’ve just finished cooking omelettes for breakfast and I open the daily paper (Age) and stumble across the Independent Schools Guide. It’s a 16 page full colour advertising features that doesn’t appear online. The last thing I’m wanting to do … Continue reading
Posted in school, Teaching, Uncategorized
10 Comments
Prioritising your workload
I recently read a short article in the January ASCD “education update” by Elena Hegland, an English teacher in New York, on the topic of prioritising work. It got me thinking about principal’s priorities. Elena lists her top 5 priorities as Student … Continue reading
Posted in reflections, school administration, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Transitional Vocabulary – one process of effectively teaching grammar.
I realise there are times when I might show a little bias however I had to show this photo of a teacher at my school teaching grammar in ways that both engage and support students transferring the understanding to their … Continue reading
Posted in Instruction, Teaching
1 Comment
When art inspires reflection!
My son and his girlfriend have just returned from 5 weeks in Europe and one of their photos was of the Pietà in St Peter’s Bascillica in the Vatican City AND before anyone starts NO it wasn’t the old slide … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Leadership, Teaching
1 Comment
tips on changing teacher practice
Looking for some simple advice on why you change your practice from Dylan Wiliam. Focus on one or two things (max) till they are automated, take a risk, take the time (when offered by your school leaders) and do this for … Continue reading
Posted in Instruction, Teaching
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“Rounds being like a dipstick” part two of a book discussion – Ch 3-5
Well this is the second instalment of our discussion as some points to comment on. The first being I just love the image of “rounds being like a dipstick” (p.110) Comment: there are just so many ways you might … Continue reading
Posted in Instructional Rounds, Leadership, school, Teaching
3 Comments
How do we scaffold what we teach in grammar to student writing?
I often hear teachers complaining or just plain confused about why students don’t transfer what they learn in one context or lesson to their performances in another. They have taught something in grammar (e.g. dependant clauses) or spelling (e.g. letter combinations … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Instruction, Teaching
2 Comments
An authentic purpose for learning – a makers market.
Tonight our Year 1 and 2 students ran a “makers market” as their last performance for their technology based unit of learning “how do you make”. As you can see by the photo the market was well attended with hundreds … Continue reading
Posted in China, Instruction, Teaching
3 Comments
DataWise – the community grows at the 2015 on-campus Institute.
The final challenge from the first day of the Data Wise Summer Institute (DWSI) here at Harvard was to encapsulate my learning experiences thus far, in only five words. Mine was; Similar challenges towards systemic improvement. I wanted to share … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Data Wise Program, Harvard, Teaching
3 Comments