My hypothesis.
Everyone had a major reset over lockdown and realised the pace of life pre covid wasn’t healthy.
Schools then went right back to exactly the same as they were before, but the children didn’t.
I can’t believe we didn’t take stock and implement changes in schools.
The single biggest impact that a small change to my teaching has made is to “check” books each lesson instead of “marking” them every few weeks. No red pen needed. My teaching is more adaptive; I can address misconceptions immediately; I know the students better. Game changer.
Students thrive in quiet, calm and focused classrooms.
Typicality & predictably are essential.
Rigid systems carried out with high expectations allow for this.
I really do think rows are far more effective that grouped tables.
I also do zero group work.
It is a chain, improve behaviour and you improve T&L, there is less cognitive load for teachers and eventually well-being is then improved, if well being is improved so is retention as you are less likely to leave a culture where you are happy.
This blog has generated a lot of discussion & debate. In this thread I’ll try and address some crucial points about the two strategies:
1.*All* hands up cold calling
2.Checks for listening
THREAD 🧵 1/
1 - Sweat the Small Stuff
Picking up on untucked shirts, undone top buttons, no underlined date... help set the bar high
It gives the impression that because you can't get away with small things that there is no way you can get away with anything more