Clare Hodgson MCCT

Senior Teaching & Learning consultant @LutonBorough. Here for the collab & the greater good. Life-long learner & reader of all the books.

[Karen Vaites @karenvaites]

.@C_Hendrick’s keynote at @researchED_US was astoundingly good.

I caught most of it on video…

Sorry that it’s in Tweetable chunks, but I promise that it’s worth the headache of pressing Play a few times.

What is learning, Carl asks?

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

@MsGHist I would start with the second wave Dutch AFL revolution that builds on Dylan Wiliam’s work. Talk about formative action and use the steps/diagrams shown here https://t.co/W2G1fk0wph and here
https://t.co/wU8AULsKeo…
Avoid the word assessment and tighten steps 1 and 5. Good luck

[Penelope Slater @mrspennyslater]

A really useful resource to share with TAs/parents to help them explore what fluent reading sounds like at KS2.
Does the chd read with 'convincing expressiveness' ie can they convince you through their full use of expression, phrasing etc that they understand the text?

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

@mrspennyslater I concur!

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

My claim to frame: I too was there in 2022, listening to ⁦⁦@toetsrevolutie⁩. I concur that this is the teaching revolution we need to really make a difference. Thank you ⁦⁦@teacherhead⁩ . Look forward to your blog too. https://t.co/W2G1fk0wph

[Visible Learning @VisibleLearning]

In his latest piece, John Hattie reveals a transformative insight: It's not just what teachers DO but what they THINK that shapes student success. Dive deep into the power of perspective, scaling up triumphs and crafting a love for learning.

https://t.co/ceAkAgmgRt

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

Loved this blog. So well explained and then we get ‘… but no child actually behaves in an ‘average’ way. Every child is unique and complex …’ ❤️ The brilliant Ben Fuller explaining the yearly nuances of the progress model @hertsassessment
https://t.co/I8DSBjACwn

[Anthony Vicino @AnthonyVicino]

Storytelling is a superpower.

Steve Jobs said:

"The most powerful person is the storyteller."

Unfortunately, most people don't know how to tell a good story.

So they are at the mercy of those who do.

Let's change that:

Here's 5 principles for telling an amazing story:

1. The Hook

This is THE most important part of your story.

It's what gets people invested enough to come along on the journey.

A great hook does two things:

• Plants a Seed of Intrigue
• Compels the Audience Forward

Best way I've found to accomplish both is through Open Cognitive Loops.

But, before I break down how to Open Cognitive Loops, let's talk about the second principle:

2. The Image

The power of story is that it unlocks something inside each of us:

A blank canvas upon which your words can paint.

Each brush stroke must be placed with intention.

Each detail crafted with care.

Get this part right and you can design worlds and characters in your audience's mind that they feel more connected to than the drab reality of their day-to-day lives.

3. The Lesson

Have you ever told a story that started strong but petered out midway 'cause you couldn't figure out how to wrap it up?

So instead, it just ends on a blech note with something like:

"Yeah, I guess you just had to be there."

Oof... I feel ya.

We've all been there.

The problem?

You committed the most deadly of Storytelling Sins:

You told a Story without giving it MEANING.

When most people tell a story, they're simply reciting events in a chronological order and then leaving it to the audience to imbue it with meaning.

Great storytellers don't leave this to chance.

They tell you exactly WHY this story is so important and WHAT they want you to take away from it.

Here's an example from a story I told the other day about my cat nearly dying:

“The next morning we were scheduled to put him down.

I remember feeling so impotent and shallow because I’d put a dollar value on the life of a loved one.

Now, I get it…

Sparta is just a cat.

But that’s not the point.

Because it’s about the larger truth:

I wasn’t in a position to help if my dad, or my partner, or my siblings, were ever to fall sick.

I resolved at that moment, money would never again be the reason I couldn’t help a loved one in need.”

Alright, so what should you do if you're not sure what the meaning of your story is?

Easy...

Don't tell it.

Seriously.

A story without meaning is just a list of events.

Nobody's life has ever been changed by a list.

4. The Two Journeys

Every great story has a character striving to achieve a goal.

Frodo must destroy the Ring.

Harry must kill Voldemort.

Luke must redeem his Dad.

You must get a loaf of bread from the grocery store.

(not all stories are epic)

Now, within the struggle to achieve these goals, our character is actually on TWO journeys.

1. The External
2. The Internal

The stories I listed above are The External.

These are easy to visualize and the one that most of us think about when it comes to storytelling.

However, The Internal struggle is the journey our character must go through in wrestling with who they are in relation to the world.

THIS journey is the one that imbues our story with deep resonance.

Without it, if we merely focus on The External struggle, we end up with a Michael Bay movie like The Transformers where everything is blowing up and yet nobody gives a shit.

Let's take a step back to my Sparta-story...

The External struggle is that Sparta is dying and needs surgery I can't afford.

The Internal struggle is realizing I hate myself because I've put a price on my loved one's life.

The key to telling a great story lies in your ability to resolve both the External and Internal Journey.

If you can master this, you can make an impactful story out of anything...

Even something so small as picking up a loaf of bread from the grocery store.

5. Closing Loops

At the beginning of this post I said that great stories plant a seed of intrigue and compel the audience forward.

To accomplish this I said we Open Cognitive Loops.

But I didn't tell you what an Open Cognitive Loop is...

Instead, I showed you (by opening one).

Seriously, go back and look to see how I did it.

See, an Open Cognitive Loop is simply a question that needs answering.

One of the ways to keep your audience on the edge of their seat and invested in the story is to keep opening and closing cognitive loops until the very end.

But the truth is, ending your story is often the hardest parts.

So here's a trick:

Next time you find yourself meandering lamely towards an ending and can't figure out how to wrap things up...

Use these words:

"I share this with you because..."

And then tell them exactly why you shared it with them.

This is called The Tie Down.

It brings everything full circle and gives a sense of closure (which is a story in and of itself for another day).

Here's how it works in real time:

I share these five principles of storytelling with you because I believe every single one of us has a story inside...

A story with the potential to change the world if only we knew how to tell it better.

I believe Storytelling is a Superpower...

And I can't wait to see what you do with yours.

Yo, if you want more stories about business, investing, and personal development, give me a follow @AnthonyVicino .

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

@TTRadioOfficial @MrZacJamesB Also shows it’s easier to get a grade 8 or 9 than a U or 1! 😂
Does it mean the GCSE’s are criterion referenced, at least at the grade 3/4 pass mark boundary, not just nom referenced?

[Martin Galway @GalwayMr]

Our latest @Literacy_Trust Diverse Libraries webinar is now up for viewing with @bcb567 & @patrick_ness sharing some deeply important & stirring insights. Find them here: https://t.co/ANs0b9k1UL Special shout outs to teachers/librarians as lifelines. Now more than ever.

[Alex Quigley @AlexJQuigley]

The new @Literacy_Trust annual report on ‘Children and young people’s reading in 2023’ is out.

What struck me particularly is how reading not being enjoyed as a regular habit is becoming a consistent and grim norm. Read more here:

https://t.co/UejMKGRVPq

[Penelope Slater @mrspennyslater]

Loads to digest from this excellent report. This bit jumped out: importance of recommendations. Book swaps; book blind dates; waiting lists; top 10 lists; book of the week - all help create a buzz & get chn talking about their next book.
Great to see your name here @GalwayMr

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

@son1bun @RonBergerEL @XPtrust @StMattResearch @hydeh_rose @traceya75 @MissJohnston2 @teacherhead Life goals right there!

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

Thank you Carole!

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

Excited to be joining the trusted and inspirational education service team @lutoncouncil. This was me on my way to my first day today! #firstday

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

@kate_exhead @lutoncouncil Thank you Kate!

[Adam Smith @MrSmithNorwich]

This summer I read 20 books.

Here’s how I did it and the changes I made that I don’t plan on reversing any time soon.

[Tom Sherrington @teacherhead]

10 things: Establishing expectations with a new class. https://t.co/yH35NqH4Ht

[Peps @PepsMccrea]

This is an *epic* collection from @joe__kirby.

🎓 21 seminal articles by teachers on curriculum. Each with a link and one-sentence summary.

[Clare Hodgson MCCT @AssessmentClare]

@annaframe Completely!