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
Mark’s Visitor Map
Readers Map
Category Archives: Teaching
Do student incentives give the wrong messages?
As we finish the school year and pack up for Christmas and the summer holidays I’m starting to reflect on what we achieved this year and what’s part of the journey ahead. We have just finished a 3 year building … Continue reading
Posted in Feedback, Instruction, Leadership, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
Leave a comment
Hattie’s comments on the effect of feedback on student learning
A few of Hattie’s comments on feedback that he made at a recent seminar struck a discord with me: Feedback is much more about what students receive than teachers give. When feedback is given to the whole class its received … Continue reading
Posted in Feedback, Instruction, Leadership, reflections, Teaching, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
To err and succeed
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that … Continue reading
Posted in school, sports, sports coaching, Teaching, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education
This is the third recent post on the direction of education in schools. In the first post I used the work of Sir Ken Robinson who gave us an outline of the history of public education and some of the challenges … Continue reading
Posted in school, school structures, Teaching, Video Clips
Leave a comment
Rounds a constructivist challenge and a tool to build a culture that values the ‘chops’.
I was honoured recently to participate in a 1/2 day conversation with Professor Richard Elmore from Harvard University on Instructional Rounds. He spoke about where the protocols of Instructional Rounds first developed, the pivotal problem of practice, the challenge of … Continue reading
Posted in Instructional Rounds, Leadership, Teaching, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
think divergently – encourage a DaVinci in your class or school [this century]: Post one
Sometimes you just stumble upon a great resource that helps you to challenge your own thinking. Well here is one by a well known writer, thinker and talker… Sir Ken Robinson. This clip is one to use and challenge others thoughts – … Continue reading
High Expectations for all students.
High expectations for all – now that’s a trick. Marzano talks about how we stay with students [who get it quickly – brighter? – well in this discipline at least] longer with more demanding questions. One of the tricks is … Continue reading
Posted in Instruction, Teaching, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Social Networking
Most of us at some point have attended a party, work function or been somewhere where you look at a person and say I know you from somewhere. Well that happened to me last week whilst attending a special session on Instructional Rounds … Continue reading
Posted in Teaching, Technology
1 Comment
Why the fuss about flexible learning spaces: building the case for relational trust and personal learning skills.
This is the second post on working in flexible learning spaces [refer categories to access the first on challenges]. Common Context: We have two flexible learning centres at the school currently occupied year 1’s and year 5/6’s. Both the year … Continue reading
Posted in flexible learning spaces, school, Teaching
2 Comments
Differentiated instruction the Holy Grail or something that can be done?
Last term our district instructional rounds team visited a school where the leadership team identified differentiation in instruction as the problem of practice. Nina and Jenni posted this clip on the Ning and I have copied it to my blog … Continue reading
Posted in Instruction, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
2 Comments
Data Teams: the ongoing quest to improve teaching and learning and not just the latest fad!
As our second semester begins we at Elsternwick have planned a series of 8 professional learning team meetings [PLT’s] on Monday nights to focus on the use of data to improve student learning. This carries on from the 6 PLT’s … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Instruction, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
Leave a comment
Using IWB’s in Classrooms not the silver bullet
Just replied to Chris Betchers post on using IWB’s in classrooms. Worth a look
Posted in Teaching, Technology, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Personalising Learning and Assessment in the 21 Century
This little clip talks about using technology to personalise learning and record individualised assessments online. Its a timely reminded as we move forward with the Ultranet here in Victoria and the power of technology to personalise learning for students. … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Instruction, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
Leave a comment
What are the challenges of working in flexible spaces?
New flexible learning environments are being built in schools as rate never seen before [and given the country’s debt probably never again] in this country. The ‘Building the Education Revolution’ Commonwealth Government initiative was part of Australia’s economic recession proofing … Continue reading