In this series of blog posts, I reflect on how my teaching has evolved since my time as trainee. Last week I wrote about behaviour. This week... Teacher Talk Everyone seems to have an opinion on how much time a teacher should spend talking each lesson. I've heard of countless trainee teachers receiving feedback after lesson … Continue reading Evolution of my Pedagogy II (Teacher Talk)
Author: BunsenBlue
Evolution of my Pedagogy: Behaviour
One thing I've always been told and believe in to this day is that constantly finding ways to get better will ensure you see continuing success. This applies to teaching as much as any other aspect of life. Reflecting back to when I started teaching, I realise just how much my teaching style, classroom presence and eye … Continue reading Evolution of my Pedagogy: Behaviour
Don’t let politics colour educational evidence
Everyone involved in education wants pupils to succeed. It is likely that most will agree on definitions of success such as access to the best universities, a good base of knowledge across a range of subjects and skills such as speaking for an audience, for example. But the means to achieve these is subject to … Continue reading Don’t let politics colour educational evidence
GCSE New Specification Biology Resources
I have made lessons that cover the content from the first (of seven) topic for the new AQA GCSE Biology and AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy specifications. The lessons focus on giving pupils exposure to rigorous academic language and develop pupils' theoretical language before exploring ideas practically. This scheme of work also includes two required practicals: Observing … Continue reading GCSE New Specification Biology Resources
The Limits of My World (Part II)
In Part I of this post, I discussed the importance of teachers (of all subjects) making language teaching explicit in their lessons. I argued that an improvement in language enables pupils to better access the curriculum and broaden their cultural capital. I shared three practical, easy-to-implement strategies to help teachers incorporate the teaching of language into their lesson: sharing … Continue reading The Limits of My World (Part II)
The Limits of My World
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." - Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 - 1951) To successfully enable pupils to access as much of the world as possible, teachers have a responsibility to broaden the cultural capital of their students. Most necessary for this is the development of language skills; language is the medium by which … Continue reading The Limits of My World
5 Steps for Effective Revision + Activity Ideas
Revision, revision and more revision.... with exams around the corner, teachers are busy planning and innovating revision activities. Meanwhile, pupils are busy revising (at least, in theory; some are definitely actually-understanding-for-the-first-time) before the daunting and the anticipating become the done and dusted. My understanding of learning and the examination process obtained through experience and research of … Continue reading 5 Steps for Effective Revision + Activity Ideas
Developing autonomy: taking a step back
"I aspire for my pupils to develop their independence." I've said this to myself constantly since I began teaching, but when I ruminate on the details, I realise that my understanding of independence has changed, and so have the behaviours and words I expect to observe in 'independent pupils'. To begin with, my vision of my pupils being independent … Continue reading Developing autonomy: taking a step back
Speaking Frames: How to elicit formal talk
"So basically, yeah, we said that you can use this so get rid of that, but its better innit to use this for the sand." Hmm. Not quite what I wanted my Year 7 to say when explaining how to separate a mixture of sand, salt and water. How many times have you asked pupils from your class … Continue reading Speaking Frames: How to elicit formal talk
Planning curriculum for linear GCSEs
The new GCSE specifications are arriving with waves of reform. New syllabus, new examination structure and timing, new grading system, new emphasis on skills, absence of coursework, different emphasis on practical skills and literacy... you'd be forgiven for complaining that there is too much change in one go, with little time to prepare. Ofqual are … Continue reading Planning curriculum for linear GCSEs
Bunsen Blue 