tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51686596135417943972024-03-13T07:40:17.150+00:00The Narrowing the Gaps Pedagogy ProjectInclusive teaching and learning ideas. For all teachers. For all learners.jakemansellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04585297999516632814noreply@blogger.comBlogger1914tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168659613541794397.post-27761761829981258152017-04-25T14:31:00.000+01:002017-04-25T14:32:49.558+01:00Dice Rolls and Learning GridsIn their highly recommended book "Outstanding Teaching: Engaging Learners", Mark Burns and Andy Griffith set out a number of techniques for tapping into the holy grail of engagement: intrinsic motivation.<br>
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Using foam dice (they do need to be foam or the activity quickly becomes too noisy) and a 6 x 6 grid of stimuli, a random element is introduced to the way learners interact with content. It can be particularly helpful with writing / creativity.<br>
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<a href="https://d1uvxqwmcz8fl1.cloudfront.net/tes/resources/6344633/5e6a15d8-59f7-4dcb-b497-8f140a0c601c/image?width=1000&height=190&version=1376582332000" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://d1uvxqwmcz8fl1.cloudfront.net/tes/resources/6344633/5e6a15d8-59f7-4dcb-b497-8f140a0c601c/image?width=1000&height=190&version=1376582332000"></a></div>
<a href="https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gothic-horror-story-writing-grid-6344633" target="_blank">This example</a> (encouraging learners to explore writing in the Gothic Horror genre) is fairly typical. Learners use dice to land on squares in the grid such as "Lost!" or an image of an egg timer, then attempt to write a sentence inspired by / including the content of the grid square. Learners work in pairs and swapping the pen after each sentence.<br>
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<a href="http://www.narrowingthegaps.org/2017/04/dice-rolls-and-learning-grids.html#more">Read more »</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Narrowing the Gaps Ltd is a school improvement consultancy. We specialise in supporting schools, teachers, local authorities and academy chains to address attainment inequalities between different groups of learners.
If you want to find out if we can help please visit http://www.narrowingthegaps.co.uk/contact-us
If you want to subscribe to these emails please complete the "Follow by email" box at www.narrowingthegaps.org
Thank you!</div>Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021862992561415810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168659613541794397.post-42262853979375501082016-04-14T12:09:00.001+01:002016-04-14T12:09:41.405+01:00One way to narrow the gaps? Get rid of your Low Ability learners.<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Surely, you can't be serious!" I hear you cry, dear reader.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually, I am.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And whilst you are about it, get rid of your High Ability, Middle Ability, More Able and Gifted & Talented learners too.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"But there'll be no one left to teach!" you retort. Yes, there will: and they will be learners who are - every single one of them - growing in confidence in your classroom.</span><br>
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<a href="http://www.narrowingthegaps.org/2016/04/one-way-to-narrow-gaps-get-rid-of-your.html#more">Read more »</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Narrowing the Gaps Ltd is a school improvement consultancy. We specialise in supporting schools, teachers, local authorities and academy chains to address attainment inequalities between different groups of learners.
If you want to find out if we can help please visit http://www.narrowingthegaps.co.uk/contact-us
If you want to subscribe to these emails please complete the "Follow by email" box at www.narrowingthegaps.org
Thank you!</div>Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021862992561415810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168659613541794397.post-4862545178509725872011-09-22T13:09:00.004+01:002021-07-21T15:57:43.209+01:00The Questioning Funnel<br>
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This is a questioning technique that seems so obvious when you understand it that you might find yourself using it every day for the rest of your teaching career.</div>
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<a href="http://productfunnels.com/images/blue_funnel_300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://productfunnels.com/images/blue_funnel_300.jpg" width="200"></a></div>
Let's say I am leading a discussion on a poem that we have just read, an oil refinery we have just visited, a dance move we have just choreographed, an experiment we have just carried out, a match we have just lost, a mathematical technique we have just tried...anything at all.<br>
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What is the point of this discussion? Well, there are probably at least two things I want to happen:-<br>
1) I gather the thoughts and ideas of my learners, helping me to assess their understanding and giving me a chance to probe and develop their thinking.<br>
2) I want to make sure they are aware of and understand some specific, important points.<br>
<a href="http://www.narrowingthegaps.org/2011/09/questioning-funnel.html#more">Read more »</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Narrowing the Gaps Ltd is a school improvement consultancy. We specialise in supporting schools, teachers, local authorities and academy chains to address attainment inequalities between different groups of learners.
If you want to find out if we can help please visit http://www.narrowingthegaps.co.uk/contact-us
If you want to subscribe to these emails please complete the "Follow by email" box at www.narrowingthegaps.org
Thank you!</div>Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021862992561415810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5168659613541794397.post-78241828259894701972011-05-05T16:00:00.008+01:002016-09-14T14:05:14.553+01:00Link Four Cards<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dw9B-WHLBYs/TcK8DMxMlPI/AAAAAAAAABk/CvuSSJrsXAQ/s1600/link4cards.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603247649555518706" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dw9B-WHLBYs/TcK8DMxMlPI/AAAAAAAAABk/CvuSSJrsXAQ/s200/link4cards.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;"></a>To produce this activity you need do nothing more than type a list of key words (and maybe a few pictures) in separate text boxes on the interactive whiteboard (paper cards with blu-tac on the back are also fine). Despite its simplicity, this is one of the most powerful techniques for probing understanding and revealing misconceptions that I have come across.<br>
<a href="http://www.narrowingthegaps.org/2011/05/link-four-cards.html#more">Read more »</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Narrowing the Gaps Ltd is a school improvement consultancy. We specialise in supporting schools, teachers, local authorities and academy chains to address attainment inequalities between different groups of learners.
If you want to find out if we can help please visit http://www.narrowingthegaps.co.uk/contact-us
If you want to subscribe to these emails please complete the "Follow by email" box at www.narrowingthegaps.org
Thank you!</div>Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021862992561415810noreply@blogger.com6