Cooperative learning approaches for developing team workers

jlee — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:00:00 +0000

So far in our series on ‘Team Workers’ we have looked at procedures involving:

Learning together: how collaborative research can benefit students and teachers

scameron — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:10:13 +0000

The ‘Learning Together’ project

Christmas maths resources

scameron — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:28:06 +0000

Download and print these lesson activities out for some festive educational fun.

Taken from The Primary Christmas File, edited by Nick Hutchins, David Playfoot and Martin Skelton (no longer published)

Primary teaching resource: writing skills

scameron — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:38:45 +0100

Writing frames are an indispensable tool in any teacher’s repertoire of activities for developing pupils’ writing.

This free teaching resource includes a number of photocopiable worksheets for students, for them to fill in and work through, and also sets out ideas for class group work.

Written by Steve Higgins with Viv Baumfield and edited by David Leat

Creative thinking in literacy, art and design

scameron — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:49:27 +0100

Pam Smyth provides suggestions for enriching the curriculum in creative ways to help children achieve the National Literacy Strategy objectives.

Taken from The Literacy Coordinator's File, edited by Roger Hurn (no longer published)

Science enrichment activity: Crime scene

scameron — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:16:43 +0100

This 18 page lesson plan looks at forensic science, including forgery and chemical analysis.

It aims to capture the imagination of students by relating science to popular television programmes and films, by examining the different areas of scientific investigation applied when assessing crime scenes.

It also includes a 'student's notes' pack, with diagrams for students to examine fingerprints, and forms for them to print their own.

Written by John Senior and Angela Tuff

Maths resources: Sunshine Game and Rounders

scameron — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:52:17 +0100

Both these maths games encourage Year 3 pupils to understand numbers and the numbers system by engaging them in group activity.

Taken from Maths Games for ages 7 to 11, edited by Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Maths resources: Addsub dominoes and Decimal Grand Prix

scameron — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:32:33 +0100

Both these maths games encourage KS3 pupils to understand complex addition and subtraction, utilising the laws of arithmetic and inverse operations, by engaging them in group activity.

Taken from Numeracy Games for Key Stage 3, edited by Barbara Clark and Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Lesson sequences: The Amazon rainforest

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:28 +0100

These lesson plans for geography teachers are taken from our 2005 Geographical Association Gold Award winner, Re-presenting Geography. The pack includes an essay planner, diagram cards and wall display plans, and could be used as part of a geography project on de-forestation. Written by Liz Taylor

Geography lesson plan: Disposal of different kinds of waste

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:26 +0100

This exciting and constructive game will help you to successfully implement the geography curriculum in your school.

Pupils are encouraged to think about the implications waste disposal has on the environment and people. Pupils are also encouraged to decide how they would dispose of different kinds of waste. Cut-out cards are included with this resource for geography teachers.

Written by Rex Walford

Geography lesson activity: Should the rainforest be developed?

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:26 +0100

This is a geography lesson activity that is available to download, and has been tried and tested by Tividale High School in Sandwell and will help you to achieve these learning objectives:

Geography lesson plan: Improving a shanty town

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:26 +0100

This tried and tested geography exercise is stuctured to help pupils to develop their decision-making skills. This award-winning teaching resource contains ready-to-use slides and worksheets to stimulate thinking and discussion.

Using dilemma-based learning in the classroom

sara — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:26 +0100

Introduction to dilemma-based learning and thinking skills in the classroom

Written by Phil Wood, Barry Hymer and Deb Michel

This resource explains the key features of the dilemma-based learning technique and shows how it can aid the development of higher-order thinking skills, particularly in a group situation.

Geography lesson plan: Caribbean fishermen

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:24 +0100

This game is a simulation activity for all key stages, based around the lives of fishermen on a small Caribbean island.

The game can be used with as few or as many students as desired, and can be managed by a teacher or self-operated by pupils.

Written by Rex Walford

Enrichment Activities: Sportswear design and the use of slang

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:21:43 +0100

This week's primary enrichment activity looks at slang and asks pupils to develop and use their own private language.

This week's secondary enrichment activity explores the potential psychological effects and competitive advantages of new developments in swimwear.

***Primary Enrichment***

KS 2: Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

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Working in groups: an under-used strategy?

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:51 +0100

Over the years considerable empirical evidence has been gathered, mainly in the United States, that group work can be a very effective teaching strategy for helping pupils of all ages to learn. Not only do pupils do better in terms of academic achievement when cooperative structures for learning are compared to competitive and individualistic ones, but there are often other important gains relating to social cohesion, motivation and improvements in pupils’ self-esteem.

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Energising literacy through collaboration

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:48 +0100
Hastings and St Leonards is in a coastal location, with issues which affect many such communities, including a high level of social deprivation. In 2000, when the EAZ was set up, it was the 27th most deprived local authority area (out of 354) on the multiple deprivation index. This has improved somewhat and in 2004, when the cluster started, it was the 39th most deprived. It still contained the highest proportion of super output areas (SOAs, small geographical areas of about 1,500 residents) in the most deprived 20% in the South East region.

Background

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Learning and thinking skills through drama

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:47 +0100

Mantle of the Expert was devised by Dorothy Heathcote, one of the world’s leading drama teachers, and is currently being introduced in schools throughout the country, with support from the QCA. The approach involves pupils in developing a particular point of view, as people running a fictional ‘enterprise.’ For example, they might be running a library, factory or shop; they might be scientists in a laboratory. They undertake a range of different tasks in running their enterprise, building up a collective sense of expertise.
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Scheme of work: Thinking actively in a social context Year 6 science

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:45 +0100
Thinking Actively in a Social Context (TASC) is a tremendously powerful tool for reaching and extending all the learners in a mixed-ability class, especially the most able. I went on a TASC course led by Belle Wallace and listened to some fascinating presentations by teachers who had tried the method. I bought a TASC Wheel Problem Solving pack and waited for an opportunity to try it out. Go straight to the scheme of work.

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Thinking skills: Thinkathon

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:42 +0100
In Flora Thompson’s novel Lark Rise to Candleford a school inspector asks why a boy is ‘idling’. ‘I was only thinking what to say,’ is the boy’s reply. Thinking might have been seen as idleness in late Victorian England, when this scene is set, but we now know that it is a skill that can be developed, and supporting this process has become a major part of the teaching strategy in many UK schools.

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Learning detectives: learning to learn

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:42 +0100
In 2006, three advanced skills teachers for assessment for learning (Linda Baines, Lucy Watts and myself), from three Leading Edge secondary schools in Cornwall, planned a joint project on learning. We wanted to investigate how students saw their learning and how they could have a say in their learning. We planned an outline which would be cross-phase and cross-school spread over three years.
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Achieving a fully inclusive school: Brampton Manor

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:40 +0100

In December 1999 an Ofsted inspection found that Brampton Manor’s academic standards were below the national average. Other failings cited included overall unsatisfactory teaching in KS3, below average pupil attendance and weaknesses in leadership and management that ‘reduced the impact of management commitment on pupils’ learning.’

I was appointed as headmaster within two months of the inspection and a recovery plan was written by the school and agreed by Ofsted for immediate implementation.
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Managing gender difference issues in the D&T workshop

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:39 +0100
My research project was undertaken as part of a Gatsby Fellowship relating to a Master’s degree research study. It was conducted at Cottingham High School, an 11-18 mixed comprehensive in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Year 7 students were used as the focus for the research, which involved academic study, surveys and lesson observation using new media technology.

Project aims
The aims of my project were to:

understand the theory behind gender difference: Do girls and boys learn differently? Why?

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Building emotional safety in groups

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:30 +0100
Circle time is still mostly thought of as a primary school activity. It is likely that most children of primary age have had an experience of circle time. More than that, many of them will have a weekly opportunity to sit in a circle with their classmates to discuss issues that are of immediate concern to the class, or to explore emotions and learn social skills.

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Singing your way to PSHE goals

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:17 +0100

One of the best ways for young people to express their creativity, meet new friends and develop a range of skills is to join a choir. This is a pursuit that knows no age, gender, economic, geographical or social boundaries, and one which offers considerable benefits. No specialised equipment is required, costs are low, and choirs for all types of music – jazz, classical, pop, folk, musical theatre – are in operation all over the country. There is wide support for tutors regarding choir networking and special singing ventures.
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Problem-solving skills: getting on with others

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:15 +0100

A key skill in developing emotional literacy is solving problems with others. This is about how to: negotiate, compromise and invent novel solutions together.

Education develops problem-solving skills and can assist in learning how to solve emotional and social problems. However, learning how to solve these problems directly can give children invaluable skills. Indeed, it helps them with the problem that most directly concerns them (and often their teachers as well) – how they can get on with others.
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Pupil discussion at CDEC – bullying, fair trade and global citizenship

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:19:48 +0100

Kath: I'm Kath. I'm the anti bullying co-ordinator for the county. There's only me and I only work part time, so you won't see very much of me at all. I've just finished doing the research on bullying in schools, and if you're really interested in it it's on the website. Have a look at it.
The other thing that I'm going to be doing shortly is an anti-bullying website which will be interactive, and you should be getting details of that. So feel free to use it if you want or need to.
So do you know what you're here for today?
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Getting the most out of project work

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:19:42 +0100
Rewarding educational project-work is something that many teachers feel should be done more often, but for one reason or another, it is not the right moment, there are too many things to be taught, exams are coming up...
Project-work

Appeals to students who have different learning styles.

Promotes the many types of intelligences that students possess and that need to be given space to develop in stimulating and non-threatening environments.

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A starry approach to enrichment

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:19:28 +0100

Rosalind Scott of Tilbury and Chadwell Excellence Cluster and Ann Nelson of Havering Excellence Cluster describe the experience.

The Tilbury and Chadwell experience

Rosalind Scott
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Groupwork

Cooperative learning approaches for developing team workers

Learning together: how collaborative research can benefit students and teachers

Christmas maths resources

Taken from The Primary Christmas File, edited by Nick Hutchins, David Playfoot and Martin Skelton (no longer published)

Primary teaching resource: writing skills

Creative thinking in literacy, art and design

Taken from The Literacy Coordinator's File, edited by Roger Hurn (no longer published)

Science enrichment activity: Crime scene

Maths resources: Sunshine Game and Rounders

Taken from Maths Games for ages 7 to 11, edited by Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Maths resources: Addsub dominoes and Decimal Grand Prix

Taken from Numeracy Games for Key Stage 3, edited by Barbara Clark and Godfrey Hall (no longer published)

Lesson sequences: The Amazon rainforest

Geography lesson plan: Disposal of different kinds of waste

Geography lesson activity: Should the rainforest be developed?

Geography lesson plan: Improving a shanty town

Using dilemma-based learning in the classroom

Geography lesson plan: Caribbean fishermen

Enrichment Activities: Sportswear design and the use of slang

Working in groups: an under-used strategy?

Energising literacy through collaboration

Learning and thinking skills through drama

Scheme of work: Thinking actively in a social context Year 6 science

Thinking skills: Thinkathon

Learning detectives: learning to learn

Achieving a fully inclusive school: Brampton Manor

Managing gender difference issues in the D&T workshop

Building emotional safety in groups

Singing your way to PSHE goals

Problem-solving skills: getting on with others

Pupil discussion at CDEC – bullying, fair trade and global citizenship

Getting the most out of project work

Project-work

A starry approach to enrichment