Pace & Engagement

1. Pace & Engagement Challenges of a 2 hour lesson “students think they have all lesson to complete one task” “……it really starts to drag” “Nothing can compete with their ipods, X boxes and phones”

2. A few ideas to try Plan 2-3 shorter lessons within the single lesson, perhaps each ‘mini’ lesson will allows students to work towards the next levelled objective? Use time targets for each task and put students in charge (either to time, agree challenging targets, or sounds – there are some great ones free to download)

3. Employ a variety of short tasks (used as starters and plenaries) to break up a longer lesson Check out ‘The Plenary Producer’ when stuck for ideas Tasks should allow students to identify progress made and identify next steps Use each opportunity for praise and rewards, even for the actual transition

4. Odd one out Copper, iron, magnesium Paper, cardboard, tree, acetate Sister, brother, mother 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 17 Could be pictures Good as an early task as all responses are valid when given with a reason Very good in lessons where comparisons are required

5. Thinking about outcomes I must identify strategies to improve the pace and engagement of students in lessons I should trial strategies I could apply strategies in lessons and evaluate Starter: What evidence could you provide to demonstrate you have met some or all of the outcomes above? What things could you do to provide this evidence? What will you do to provide this evidence? Why? Hint: learning styles Plenary: What have you done to meet the outcomes? What progress have you made? What level are you? How could you improve your work to meet the next outcomes? What evidence can you produce?

6. Peer Assessment After first 20 minute task: Ask you partner to demonstrate that they have met the necessary objectives for their target level. What level do you think they are? Which objective have they met? How? What could they do to improve the quality of their demonstration?

7. How would each ‘colour hat’ respond to the following tasks: Soldering the electrical components in a nightlight Carrying out a written essay Calculating the height of Gloucester without a ladder WHITE – info needed? what do I need to know? How will I find out? RED – gut reaction / instinct BLACK - negative BLUE - chairperson YELLOW - positive GREEN -creative Thinking hats

8. Learning Styles In pairs list as many learning styles as you can What kinds of activities demonstrate each learning style? What can you do in one of the learning styles which is good for you, to meet the objectives? It can be effective to get students to prepare a revision activity of different levels in different learning styles

9. Active ideas Modelling - Use card/plasticine/materials to show/demonstrate……….. Whiteboards Act the answer (non-verbal) What’s the question? What’s your question? Card sort Feedback – planner colours, thumbs etc.

10. Brain Gym – nonsense but useful • Name writing (you need 2 writing implements) • Circles and pats • Heads shoulders knees and toes, then backwards! • Warms them up in the winter • Relate this to how we learn and how we can use this to learn new things • Students might suggest a similar way to learn the facts for the lesson

11. Wordy Active Vocabulary Pneumonic & word associations Tom Bought a Bunch of Old Apples BFARM - vertebrates Mitochondria Phlebotomist Mitosis Meiosis Carbohydrates Riddles

12. Huh? Demonstrations What is it? Unusual object is looked at and students work out what it is? Or its purpose. Student is blindfolded or item is in box and they need to use other senses to work out what it is Students describe item to the ‘student in the dark’ until the item is identified Carry out the activity. Do not make any comment Allow time for questions to begin to flow 20 Questions Keyword, idea or person Emotive Picture -what question would you ask? What do you think is happening? How does the person feel?