Teach to the Top


Book Description

Teach to the Top is a research-informed guide to aspirational teaching, focusing on how embedding higher-level knowledge in the classroom empowers students to succeed and to enjoy learning. Questioning existing orthodoxies around ability, Teach to the Top sets out a vision for an education system in which pupils of all attainment levels are enabled to make fantastic progress by being exposed to sophisticated concepts, and afforded opportunities to think deeply and grapple with stimulating ideas. Making a convincing case for the centrality of subject knowledge, the book also shows how affording teachers the professional autonomy to participate in continual development of their own knowledge benefits both teachers and students. As well as engaging critically with a wealth of educational research, Teach to the Top outlines a plethora of research-informed strategies for teaching to the top. Topics include embedding advanced knowledge in curriculum planning, approaches to challenging classroom talk, the fundamental importance of increasing learners' confidence, the dangers of differentiation and grade-focused feedback, and the value of an adaptable approach to planning. Both thoughtful and practical, Teach to the Top develops a persuasive justification for the entitlement of every child to higher-level knowledge, alongside providing teachers with a range of practical suggestions and questions for reflection to enable the application of this philosophy to their own classrooms.




Teach to the Top: Aiming High for Every Learner


Book Description

Teach to the Top is a research-informed guide to aspirational teaching, focusing on how embedding higher-level knowledge in the classroom empowers students to succeed and to enjoy learning. Questioning existing orthodoxies around ability, Teach to the Top sets out a vision for an education system in which pupils of all attainment levels are enabled to make fantastic progress by being exposed to sophisticated concepts, and afforded opportunities to think deeply and grapple with stimulating ideas. Making a convincing case for the centrality of subject knowledge, the book also shows how affording teachers the professional autonomy to participate in continual development of their own knowledge benefits both teachers and students. As well as engaging critically with a wealth of educational research, Teach to the Top outlines a plethora of research-informed strategies for teaching to the top. Topics include embedding advanced knowledge in curriculum planning, approaches to challenging classroom talk, the fundamental importance of increasing learners’ confidence, the dangers of differentiation and grade-focused feedback, and the value of an adaptable approach to planning. Both thoughtful and practical, Teach to the Top develops a persuasive justification for the entitlement of every child to higher-level knowledge, alongside providing teachers with a range of practical suggestions and questions for reflection to enable the application of this philosophy to their own classrooms.




Boys Don't Try? Rethinking Masculinity in Schools


Book Description

There is a significant problem in our schools: too many boys are struggling. The list of things to concern teachers is long. Disappointing academic results, a lack of interest in studying, higher exclusion rates, increasing mental health issues, sexist attitudes, an inability to express emotions.... Traditional ideas about masculinity are having a negative impact, not only on males, but females too. In this ground-breaking book, Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts argue that schools must rethink their efforts to get boys back on track. Boys Don’t Try? examines the research around key topics such as anxiety and achievement, behaviour and bullying, schoolwork and self-esteem. It encourages the reader to reflect on how they define masculinity and consider what we want for boys in our schools. Offering practical quick wins, as well as long-term strategies to help boys become happier and achieve greater academic success, the book: offers ways to avoid problematic behaviour by boys and tips to help teachers address poor behaviour when it happens highlights key areas of pastoral care that need to be recognised by schools exposes how popular approaches to "engaging" boys are actually misguided and damaging details how issues like disadvantage, relationships, violence, peer pressure, and pornography affect boys’ perceptions of masculinity and how teachers can challenge these. With an easy-to-navigate three-part structure for each chapter, setting out the stories, key research, and practical solutions, this is essential reading for all classroom teachers and school leaders who are keen to ensure male students enjoy the same success as girls.




Flip Your Classroom


Book Description

Learn what a flipped classroom is and why it works, and get the information you need to flip a classroom. You’ll also learn the flipped mastery model, where students learn at their own pace, furthering opportunities for personalized education. This simple concept is easily replicable in any classroom, doesn’t cost much to implement, and helps foster self-directed learning. Once you flip, you won’t want to go back!




Expert Teaching


Book Description

This book is aimed at teachers who wish to improve their professional practice and will help them to think about current practice, not only in terms of skills and competences to be developed, but also areas of knowledge to be enriched. The model of knowledge bases presented is a valuable framework for reflecting on practice and for analyzing professional development needs. The book is therefore an ideal text for teachers taking courses that may lead towards an advanced qualification in teaching or who are undertaking in-service training and action research programs. Teachers approaching 'threshold assessment' will find the book useful in reflecting on the quality of their teaching.




The Pedagogy of Confidence


Book Description

In her new book, prominent professional developer Yvette Jackson focuses on students' strengths, rather than their weaknesses, To reinvigorate educators to inspire learning and high intellectual performance. Through the lens of educational psychology and historical reforms, Jackson responds To The faltering motivation and confidence of educators in terms of its effects on closing the achievement gap. The author seeks to "rekindle the belief in the vast capacity of underachieving urban students," and offers strategies to help educators inspire intellectual performance. Jackson proposes that a paradigm shift towards a focus on strengths will reinvigorate educators' passion for teaching and belief in their ability to raise the intellectual achievement of their students. Jackson addresses how educators can systematically support the development of motivation, reflective and cognitive skills, and high performance when standards and assessments are predisposed to non-conceptual methods. Furthermore, she examines challenges and offers strategies for dealing with cultural disconnects, The influence of new technologies, and language preferences of students.




Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary EnglishPitching high and including all


Book Description

Together with Leah Crawford, Angela Jenkins and Julie Sargent, Bob Cox has compiled this rich resource, complete with vivid illustrations by Victoria Cox, to help teachers enhance their learners' engagement with challenging texts and develop their writing skills as budding wordsmiths.Working in association with the Opening Doors network of schools, the authors address the vital concept of pitching high but including all pupils and how this approach can be delivered in practice. Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary Englishexplains and models top quality ways of thinking, planning and teaching. Theresources, case studies andauthors' innovative ideas on theorywill help you to make primary English vibrant, creative and challenging in your school. It alsoprovides frameworks and principlesfor any school wishing to be more ambitious in developing pupils' speaking, listening, reading, writing and thinking witha greater sense of curiosity and more originality. Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary Englishcontains chapter by chapter explanations of how English in primary schools can be developed in ambitious ways. Supported by research references, examples of pupils' work and illuminating case studies, the book provides teachers with a toolkit of strategies which schools can adapt and apply to their own contexts. The book is supported by the Opening Doors series of books which contain units of work based around selected texts. The authors hope this book will act as a starting block from which to develop an Opening Doors approach to English, and havesuggested key concepts around which the curriculum can be built, with the units providing examples to work from. Suitable for teachers and curriculum leads in primary settings.




Introduction to Primary School Teaching


Book Description

This book gives primary student teachers the professional knowledge required to succeed in the classroom and an understanding of how to develop their teaching skills throughout their teacher training course. Taking the key themes of the ITT Core Content Framework, this comprehensive book covers every major aspect of contemporary teaching and supports new teachers in reflecting on what good pedagogic practice looks like and how to develop this through observing and learning from expert colleagues. Case studies, based on real examples provided by headteachers and other experts, offer the chance to explore day-to-day teaching issues in real life. Critical tasks and question guides challenge readers to deepen their practical knowledge. This is essential reading for all students on primary initial teacher education courses including university-based (PGCE, BEd, BA with QTS) and school-based (School Direct, SCITT, Teach First) routes into teaching.




What is History Teaching, Now? A practical handbook for all history teachers and educators


Book Description

What is History Teaching, Now? is a research-informed handbook designed to provide practical guidance for history teachers and educators with differing levels of experience. Drawing upon the classroom practice and experience of a range of practitioners, the book focuses upon key areas such as curriculum and assessment, pedagogy, communicating history and resources that support effective teaching and learning. This book also provides practical ways to approach teaching topics such as diverse histories, the British Empire, world history and environmental history. Practical strategies are woven within the book, alongside questions for reflection and suggestions for further research and reading.




Teaching Hacks: Fixing Everyday Classroom Issues with Metacognition


Book Description

This book is a practical guide offering new ways to fix many typical day-to-day issues in schools using metacognition to offer effective and efficient solutions. Discover new ways to enhance your own teaching with metacognition and how to apply it to many common aspects of teaching and learning. Every chapter is written by a different education expert and takes a solution-focused approach exploring metacognitive strategies and ideas for the classroom. Key topics include: Smart revision strategies Nuanced and effective feedback The power of modelling answers Student motivation and resilience Supporting struggling writers Integrating metacognition across the curriculum And much more!