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The importance of “why?”
The question “why?” is vital for us as teachers. For students to ask teachers. I try to keep this in the back of my mind at all times – if a child was to ask me “why are we doing this?” I should have a...
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Personalised versus collaborative learning
There seems to be a bit of tension between personalising learning and encouraging collaboration in the classroom. I would like to argue that, to ensure our students are successful learners, we need to...
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Trialing no bells in Room 3
At the very beginning of the year, I suggested that we did without bells – that we just went to lunch when we were hungry or needed a break. This suggestion was met with outrage! The students hated the...
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Clarifying My-learning
I’ve found it difficult to portray the intricacies of My-learning to fellow educators. People tend to pick up on the self directed part of My-learning only, which is really a relatively small part of...
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No bells trial update – One week down.
The one week trial of ignoring the bells in our class has concluded, with mixed success. On the first day, the freedom went to their heads and I was really surprised with the lack of maturity and focus...
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Questioning
Teachers often talk about the difficulty they have with getting children to ask decent questions. After a session with the community constable today, I wonder if we are attacking the problem in the...
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Who controls the learning in Room 3?
Try this activity with a class you know. Ask them all to point an index finger at the ceiling. Tell them that you are going to ask them a question, and when they have come up with their answer to the...
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‘In Your Element’ Afternoons.
Throughout the year, the class have been teaching others in a formal and informal manner. They take ‘opt-in’ meetings for students on topics to do with what we are learning at school. They tutor their...
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The process behind changing the pedagogy in Room 3.
I gave an “Ignite” talk a couple of weeks ago on how I have developed, and am continuing to develop, the pedagogy in my classroom. How My-learning came to be, if you like. If you are interested in...
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First week of “In Your Element Afternoons”
We started talking more about being ‘in your element’ (see previous blog post on this) in my class recently, which as been really successful. Here’s what we’ve done so far. On the first day of term:...
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