What constitutes an effective lesson?
My teacher listened to my ideas and used them in the lesson
We completed a wide variety of tasks
We played games which helped us understand and remember a challenging topic
My teacher asked for my opinion
My teacher treated me as an intellectual equal
My teacher was aware that I already had an interest in and knew quite a lot about the topic we were studying and set me a different task to the rest of the group
I was allowed to research the topic in depth
I worked with resources/equipment that we don't usually work with
I worked with someone I don't usually work with
I was encouraged to choose how I presented what I had learned about the topic
I was encouraged to challenge my teacher
We had real discussion
The task(s) we had to do were really challenging
I made a model
The task seemed impossible but my teacher, by careful questioning and encouragement helped me see that it was achievable
We only wrote things down that were absolutely necessary
We were given clear targets by the teacher who explained clearly how we might go about reaching them
I was involved in a role play
We had a quiz
I was given something different and interesting to do because I finished early
We were given a task where we really had to think
We were given problem solving activities
The task was open-ended
I was allowed to work at my own pace
My teacher made the lesson a fun experience
We were given an interesting homework to do which was based on the lesson
Less Effective/Less Stimulating Lessons involve
Copying from the board, worksheet or book
Cutting and sticking masses of information into files/books
Writing for the sake of writing
Over-explanation by teachers
Teachers who set a task and then simply leave the class to it
Covering work/information that students know already
'Dead Time' - fast workers/early finishers having to sit and wait for
others to catch up
Undifferentiated punishments e.g. the whole class having to stay
behind, copy out work or being shouted at when only one or two
pupils are off-task, uninterested or disrupting others
Colouring-in
Low level tasks (e.g. 'filling in the missing word' activities etc.)
Too much time to complete tasks - students slow their own pace of
working to fit the time available
Lockstep teaching (Le. every student doing exactly the same task at
exactly the same pace)
Teachers who talk all lesson
Teachers' lack of sympathy, advice and support when highly able pupils
encounter barriers to learning instead of making comments like "You
should be able to do that"
Lack of variety in tasks set - the same thing every lesson (e.g.
colouring in, copying notes etc)
Not being given the bigger picture - studying information in minute
detail without seeing the whole first then working back
Under explanation on the part of teachers - teachers assuming that because they are able, they will automatically know what to do
Gifted & Talented Pupils
Like ... VARIETY!!
Real discussion (not just someone talking through the teacher)
Time-limited tasks
Teachers who treat you as an intellectual equal
The chance to have FUN in a lesson
Teachers who get the whole class involve
Working with different people
Teachers who set clear targets and explain clearly how they can go about reaching them
Practical work
Thinking activities Investigations
Problem-solving
Group work
Drama and role play in ordinary lessons
Teachers who 'break-up' activities
Teachers who are consistent
Alternative forms of recording (e.g. attribute webs, KWL grids, mind maps, mnemonics, concept maps etc)
Working beyond the syllabus/SOW to consolidate arid reinforce learning
Study skills and revision techniques taught THROUGH subjects not in isolation
Teachers who enjoy learning themselves
Teachers who team teach
Teachers who have a good sense of humour and make learning FUN
Structure to tasks
Choosing their own activities sometimes
Quizzes
Competitions
Opportunities to work at their own pace
Being allowed to have an 'off day'
Learning from mistakes in a supportive environment
Being given something different and interesting to do if they finish early
Opportunities to study something at great depth
Independent research
Applying knowledge to real problem events
Gifted & Talented Pupils
Dislike:
Being made to feel 'different'
Acting as an unpaid teacher
Too much independent activity - they welcome direct teaching and interaction with the teacher
Insufficient structure to lessons - they like to know where the lesson is heading
Their requests for help being ignored
Over-emphasis on writing - 'Writing for the sake of it'
Dictation
Time-filling activities such as colouring-in
Low level tasks (e.g. simple recall)
Teachers assuming that they know what to do
Teachers who 'go on and on'
Having to remain silent for long periods (excluding tests, exams etc)
Teachers who have no sympathy for them when they encounter barriers to learning
Being told to 'work it out for yourself when they genuinely are unable to undertake a task
Lack of variety in homework - always just finishing of what they have begun in class
Lack of variety in c1asswork - in the teacher's restricted range of teaching approaches
Always being given more of the same when they finish work early
Not being told what the lesson objectives are
Having to work at the same pace as everyone else (usually far slower)
'Waiting around' for the next task/the teacher's attention
Sexist teachers
Condescending teachers
Not being allowed to have an 'off day'
Not receiving praise or recognition for doing well
Being seen as a 'trophy' by the school not as a person
Lack of consistency among teachers
Unfair awards - lack of differentiation
Work which is far too hard or far too easy
Not being given any choice in how to present work
Being criticised by teachers for not getting 100% all the time
Working with the same people all the time
Being left to just 'get on'
Always having to help people who find the work difficult or who simply don't want to learn
Constant pressure to do well and be involved in everything
Unrealistic deadlines
Repeating work
Teachers who over explain
Having to wait until the whole class understands what to do before they can begin work
Unhelpful marking (e.g. a simple tick or cross or 'good', instead of reasons why something was good or incorrect with suggestions as to how it might be improved
Provision for Gifted & Talented Pupils –
Some Ideas
Publicise departmental events on the G & T notice board in the staffroom
Build up a portfolio of work produced in the department including G & T pupils work in a separate section
Hold Competitions in School
Enter pupils for Regional and National competitions – e.g. Xcalibre regularly.
Provide a range of extra-curricular activities e.g. clubs, societies, groups
Compile a Talent Pool of local experts who may be willing to offer advice or to work collaboratively with teachers
Hold regular 'Hobbies Days'
Set quiz questions, problems or puzzles for the week for the whole school and/or at individual class level
Provide real life problem-solving activities
Devise simulations - e.g. Court Room/Board Room, Crime Scene etc
Establish a school newspaper, newsletter or magazine
Establish a Questions Board or Questions Box
Offer a Menu approach to tasks on occasion
Involve pupils in the planning and organization of school/class trips
Organize pupil Focus Groups and Consult them on a regular basis
Utilise ICT both as a learning tool and a medium to convey knowledge,
understanding and ideas
Suspend the Timetable and have an activities day or week or a Thinking Day or Thinking Week
