I cannot get enough of the research on classroom seating arrangements
It's just a prime example of how progressive, "student-centered" education promises much but ultimately fails
When desks move from groups to rows, on task behavior DOUBLED
Conversely, rates of disrupted TRIPLED when desks were placed in groups
We continue to bemoan 1/3 students graded below 4 in Eng Lang when
a. grade boundaries are set for that approx proportion
b. Eng Lang GCSE is a poor exam that doesn't test competence in use of lang in a meaningful way
c. marking is erratic, so the results aren't even reliable.
Experiences of exam marking this year continue to be beyond awful. Middle and senior leaders will need to brace themselves for a record number of reviews of marking, because the standard is going to be shocking
I love being a teacher but giving English teachers 10 days (while teaching all day and on top of other responsibilities) to mark 56 literature essays all between 2-3 sides of A4 each is actually irresponsible.
‘Why should we read aloud in class?’
“The teacher reading aloud and expertly modelling fluency (pace, expression, volume etc.) is likely a better bet than selecting underpractised pupils to read.”
https://t.co/BhN1Z0JdxD
Love hearing things like this. It’s why I believe sharing concrete things is so powerful: people can implement immediately & see the impact.
Go Mr Marshall! 🙌🏼
The other established routines:
1. I say, you say
2. Choral response (on 3... 1,2,3)
These inject energy & involve EVERYONE to keep them on 'the bus'. I've written about the 3 phases of questioning & these strategies here, & elsewhere on BunsenBlue:
https://t.co/Ev3R4ozFME
Direct instruction is joyful & leads pupils to success. Here is a *clip* where I use high frequency & high participation questioning in 3 phases:
1. Check for listening
2. Rehearsal
3. Check for understanding
Established routines: all hands up, turn & talk, SLANT & ruler reading
@HeroicMrT I just feel for the student! All that emotional trauma, over analysis and questioning of themselves for it to just be human error! It’s such a flawed system where no one wins…
Back to school & want to build a strong culture?
Here is a thread 🧵 of 5 blog posts with concrete strategies that you can implement from day 1.
1. Four Whole School Strategies to set pupils up to pay 100% attention in your lessons. 1/5
https://t.co/xY6M3tl24q