tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64113798837391881092024-02-08T09:35:49.670-08:00Learning Walks at CooperMrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-79021617576043292812012-05-31T08:15:00.000-07:002012-05-31T08:15:03.604-07:00Learning Walks Feedback 31st May 2012<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Starters and Plenaries & Challenge and Pace</span></strong></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Strengths </span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Bell work’ continues to be used with much success in all Languages lessons with simple revision tasks to get the students immediately focused before the lesson gets started. This is not necessarily the ‘starter’ to the main content of the lesson so much as a ‘brain teaser’ to get them thinking. Activities tend to include cloze exercises, word searches etc. With more challenging classes, they are also extremely beneficial in getting the students immediately focussed on something constructive.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A new ‘spin’ on mini plenaries in the form of ‘Egg Heads’ is also proving extremely popular in Business Studies with students producing their own questions and answers to assess learning – they’ve even got some nifty ‘Egg Heads’ question cards made up!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As we’ve come to expect at Cooper, the ‘challenge’ and ‘pace’ of lessons is consistently strong. In one particular Food Technology lesson, the year 10 students achieved an incredible amount in one hour as </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt;">the support and care given by class teacher lead to high levels of confidence and focus. Even the numerous BESD students worked diligently throughout the lesson: thoroughly engaged and motivated – largely due to the infectious enthusiasm from the class teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt;">My thanks as always to everyone who has participated in the Learning Walks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt;">Have a relaxing break!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 11pt;">Jayne</span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-62385312463600277422012-05-03T08:26:00.000-07:002012-05-03T08:26:16.133-07:00Learning Walk 13 - Behaviour for learning<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Areas of strength </span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Most feedback celebrated the high levels of engagement demonstrated by pupils as a direct result of the stimulating teaching. Comments such as ‘great learning atmosphere’; ‘students eager to participate’ and ‘very good interaction between students and staff’ featured in the feedback. Unsurprisingly engagement and the resulting excellent behaviour was most evident in lessons where students were clearly enjoying the learning and were able to work independently on research, planning, designing and creating, whether individually or in self selected or designated groups. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The focus for Learning Walks fortnight beginning 7<sup>th</sup> May is Starters and Plenaries.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jayne</span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-87025072830165009742012-04-19T08:01:00.000-07:002012-04-19T08:01:59.061-07:00Learning Walks 12<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Use of Technologies 2</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As we’ve come to expect, the use of ICT was prevalent in almost every lesson observed, with teachers often using Ppt to guide the direction of the lesson, remind students of success criteria and lesson objectives and highlight key areas of learning. In order to facilitate further development of our creativity and ingenuity, Alistair Surrell is running sessions on </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">interactive projectors and Google Docs as well as anything else you might want to develop:</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Blogs, Prezi, Movie Making, Wix for example – Don’t forget to sign up!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Many thanks as always to all those who have participated in the Learning Walks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">The focus for the next 2 weeks is Behaviour for learning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Jayne</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div></span>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-37066679446333001862012-03-15T09:41:00.001-07:002012-03-15T09:45:58.717-07:00Learning Walk Feedback 11 (27th Feb to 9th March 2012)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 117%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Differentiation 2</span></strong></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 117%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We've seen some great examples of differentiation including two very engaging lessons with students self selecting differentiation by their choice of roles in which they would work as a group to produce a shop style exhibition selling cakes (which students brought in and had the opportunity to taste!) Groups had a range of abilities including those who took on leadership responsibilities, and group members worked collaboratively to support and encourage those experiencing more difficulty. </span></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; line-height: 117%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In another lesson the previous work that had been done with target setting really helped students to recognise what they needed to do in order to work towards their target grade. This meant that, when working independently, students worked with a clear purpose and focus. Many of them could articulate personal strategies for improvement which was in itself a form of effective differentiation.</span> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small; line-height: 117%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Some possible suggestions to think about are outlined below:</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 117%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Clear differentiated learning intentions for students, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">s</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">uccess criteria (for target) understood by students</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">questions targeted to particular students, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">use of blooms taxonomy evident re questions, learning outcomes, materials</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">differentiated activities/resources, teacher support is differentiated e.g. questions, additional material</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">graduated tasks – increase of complexity</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">differentiation for time allocation, student grouping provides support for other students</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">students buddy up e.g work partners to support each other’s learning</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">students take responsibility for own learning, teacher gives oral formative feedback targeted to individual or groups of students, evidence of comments that advance learning (can be written)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">students self assess (with relevant criteria made explicit!) and set their own targets</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">teaching adjusted after data collection. </span></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_t201" o:spt="201" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><path fillok="f" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f" shadowok="f" strokeok="f"></path><lock shapetype="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape id="_x0000_s1026" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" stroked="f" style="height: 451.8pt; margin-left: -8254.5pt; margin-top: -8378.25pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute; width: 287.3pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t201"><span style="color: black;"><stroke><left v:ext="view" weight="0"></left><top v:ext="view" weight="0"></top><right v:ext="view" weight="0"></right><bottom v:ext="view" weight="0"></bottom></stroke><shadow color="#eeece1"></shadow><textbox inset="0,0,0,0"></textbox></span></shape><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 117%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">As always, many thanks to all who have participated in this Learning Walk. The current focus (until 23<sup>rd</sup> March) is AFL followed by Use of Technologies week beginning 23<sup>rd</sup> March.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; line-height: 117%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jayne</span> </span></em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 1pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 117%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-91472500889479706292012-03-01T07:11:00.000-08:002012-03-01T07:11:38.683-08:00Learning Walks Feedback Walk 10 – Active Learning (2) Feb 2012<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="ListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There have been some creative ways in which teachers have encouraged students’ active involvement in the lesson and given ownership of the learning to students. Some of these include asking students to decide on the learning objectives for themselves after the starter; giving students responsibility for leading parts of the lesson and using investigation and discussion to encourage participation. New technologies are also being used very creatively in some lessons to motivate and enthuse students to work independently – several examples of blogging and chroma key, as well as preparing Skype conversations were seen to be very effective in ‘immersing’ students in their learning.</span></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="ListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Thanks again to everybody who has participated in this Learning Walk. The current focus is differentiation.</span></div><div class="ListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jayne</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-30382660876172130302012-02-09T05:03:00.000-08:002012-02-09T05:03:10.479-08:00Learning Walks Feedback Student Engagement – Jan-Feb 2012<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Two Areas of Strength</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
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Teachers used many interesting ways of engaging students with the starter activities often hooking students into the learning immediately. In the same way, teachers often used interesting and entertaining methods to engage and motivate. In one particularly engaging activity students sat back to back with one drawing what the other described.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This lesson then developed into one in which all students were actively and enthusiastically engaged, eager to show what they had learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Another particularly engaging lesson was described as a ‘hive of activity’ in which the students were able to give clear, confident explanations about the effects of packaging on global warming. One of the key strengths in many lessons was the timely intervention of teachers during independent learning, using intervention well to ensure that students remained focused and on task. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The ‘high levels of passion for their subject’ was noted during a visit to MFL with a range of interactive resources used to inspire and motivate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Questioning was also used to engage: In questioning whole classes, some teachers drew less confident students into discussions by highlighting that they were going to be asked a question next, therefore giving students time to think and prepare for their participation. Full responses were also encouraged, with most students keen to justify their thoughts.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">An Area for Development</span></strong><br />
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As we see often, students often learn best from one another and when they can work collaboratively. One of our challenges – and this leads on to the learning walk focus for this week – is to implement more opportunities for students to work actively within different learning scenarios. A further challenge is to monitor the effectiveness of group work to ensure that students are always on task and focused during these times.</span><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></u></div><br />
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As always, thanks to all those who have participated. The current learning walk focus is Active Learning.<br />
JayneMrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-20567870761516497642012-01-26T08:20:00.000-08:002012-01-26T08:20:21.024-08:00Learning Walks Feedback Progress - January 2012<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Learning Walks Feedback</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Progress</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">January 2012</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As always feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with particular praise of positive working atmospheres, good use of questioning to gauge understanding, differentiated support materials and c</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">arrousels of differentiated activities to extend students’ independent learning.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the most successful lessons in terms of progress, there was explicit use of target grades and strategies for improvement. Students were clearly aware of what they needed to achieve and how. In these lessons, the students’ progress was very apparent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the first part of many lessons reference was made to what had been learned in the previous lesson. This ensured an understanding of the ‘bigger picture’ and areas for development. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My thanks to everyone who participated in this Learning Walk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jayne</span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-32558327747268202152012-01-12T05:42:00.000-08:002012-01-12T05:42:11.128-08:00Learning Walks Feedback Challenge and Pace January 2012<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Learning Walks Feedback</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Challenge and Pace </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">January 2012</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">My thanks to everyone who participated in this Learning Walk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Areas of Strength</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The January ‘blues’ do not appear to be affecting learning in Cooper as, once again, enthusiasm and engagement were a common feature in this learning walk. In the most effective lessons, activities were well timed to ensure pace and challenge. Students were welcomed with short, sharp and focused tasks at the beginning of the lesson but given adequate time to think and reflect on what was being learned. Teachers also worked hard during independent time to keep students focused and challenged.<br />
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Lessons starters were generally prompt and engaging while effective quick-fire questioning was used well to engage and motivate. Well established learning routines were also a feature. Students were generally enthusiastic in discussing content as a whole class, sharing ideas in pairs and then reflecting individually and in silence. In the most effective lessons, these routines were clearly practiced as students moved seamlessly from one task into another.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">The learning Walk focus beginning January 16<sup>th</sup> is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Progress</b>.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-15711136579364125972011-12-14T02:47:00.000-08:002011-12-14T02:47:23.963-08:00Learning Walk 6 - Starters and Plenaries (5.12.11-16.12.11)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In addition to the lively and engaging starters, it was brilliant to see so many excellent examples of plenaries and mini plenaries. It was clear that the idea of reflection and consolidation throughout the lesson is firmly embedded in our lesson planning. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Group and paired work in many lessons helped to consolidate learning with teachers pairing students in creative ways - such as mixing gifted and talented students with lower ability or by similar target levels - so that the students took control of the learning. In one excellent example, students were asked to review one another’s work in relation to KS3 criteria, explain what needed to be done to move on to the next level and then set individual targets for the next piece of work. It was clear in this example that such routines had been in place for some time and students responded well to this reflection activity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many thanks again to all those who participated in the Learning Walks. Have a very happy (and restful!) Christmas and New Year. The Learning walk for the 2 weeks beginning in January will be focussed on challenge and pace.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jayne</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></i></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-84381825745153816542011-12-14T02:45:00.001-08:002011-12-14T02:45:41.781-08:00Learning Walk 5 - Behaviour for learning (21.11.11 - 2.12.11)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Areas of strength </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Unsurprisingly, a ‘calm purposeful learning environment’ featured in the majority of the lessons visited. As is becoming a regular feature of Cooper School Learning walks, feedback celebrated the high levels of engagement demonstrated by pupils as a direct result of the stimulating teaching and commented particularly on the high levels of independence as students focussed on research, planning, designing and creating, whether individually or in self selected or designated groups. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The great relationship between students and teachers is always strength of learning walks and the excellent</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> use of praise to positively manage behaviour was a regular feature of the lessons seen. </span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-83230298623559354352011-11-22T08:51:00.000-08:002011-11-22T08:54:14.130-08:00Learning Walk 4 - Use of New Technologies - 7th – 18th November<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many thanks as always to everyone involved in the Learning Walk.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Areas of Strength:</span></strong><b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To some extent,<b> t</b></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">he use of ICT (although not specifically ‘new’ technology) was evident in most lessons observed, with teachers often using ppt to focus on lesson objectives, guide the direction of the lesson and remind students of success criteria. Some lessons had a more student centered use of technology where students researched information and presented their ideas or where students were encouraged to participate by coming up to the SMARTboard to add comments or draw attention to key points. In these lessons students, especially boys, were instantly engaged through the use of ICT. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">The use of ‘new’ technologies was less evident in this learning walk although the use of MATHLETICS in which year 9 students were ‘gripped’ by their enthusiasm to compete with students across the world testing their </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD";">mental maths ability against the clock in order to collect points to decorate their avatar. This worked brilliantly for the ‘gaming’ generation as well as developing key skills. The lessons generated a ‘</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">genuine buzz’</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD";"> and parents at ‘Parentvoice’ were talking about it as well!</span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-14441459518338912822011-11-10T07:58:00.000-08:002011-11-10T07:58:01.209-08:00Learning Walk 3 October - November 2011 - AFL<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As always, a key attribute of many of the lessons visited was the engagement and enthusiasm of the students as a result of the challenging and stimulating teaching they enjoyed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In lessons where the learning objectives were specific and focused, this enabled students to competently build on their skills and demonstrate progress. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In one lesson, students were given a variety of images at the beginning of the lesson and asked to predict the main focus of the lesson. They then went on to create their own success criteria based on their target grades and previous learning, thus ensuring that learning was personalised and focused for each student. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In another lesson, a longer piece of extended writing had the first section of the work assessed in detail and students were then asked to review what they had written in the rest of the piece. This meant that –as this formed part of part of a lesson – it was an instant indicator of assessment aiding progress and ensured that students were an integral part of the assessment process.</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><strong> </strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Many thanks to all those who participated in the learning walks.</strong></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jayne</span></strong></div></div></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Areas of Strength:</span></strong>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-19581812375732637702011-10-20T03:48:00.000-07:002011-10-20T03:48:00.700-07:00Learning Walks Feedback Walk 2 – Differentiation October 2011<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></u></div><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></u><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many thanks to all those who were part of the Learning Walks this week.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Areas of Strength</span></strong><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The levels of enthusiasm demonstrated by pupils as well as the calm, purposeful atmosphere in lessons continues to be a great strength. Teaching is consistently focused and stimulating.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">In many lessons the teachers had ensured that resources were discretely differentiated to allow less able students access to the task whereas in others tasks were targeted towards different level / grade boundaries to ensure that learning was appropriately pitched. <br />
In some GCSE lessons exam criteria was reinforced to ensure that all students were suitably prepared and fully understood the requirements for their respective target grades. In one lesson technology </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Maiandra GD";">(MAC) was used very effectively to support less able in composing music and there was much supportive collaboration between more and less able. The students worked both independently & diligently.</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The focus this week and the week beginning 1<sup>st</sup> November is AFL</span>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6411379883739188109.post-87381131207658167872011-10-13T02:41:00.001-07:002011-10-13T02:44:03.114-07:00Learning Walks 1 September-October 2011<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Learning Walk 1 - Active and Independent Learning</span></u><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Arial Narrow";"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In September of this year, in order to share and develop good practice, we set up 'Learning Walks' at Cooper. Learning Walks are about 'taking the temperature' of what is happening in school; being aware of strengths in L+T and also aware of our own targets as a school. I have outlined below some of the strengths that we have seen in lessons around the school. </span><br />
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</div><div class="listparagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There some brilliant examples of dynamic and ‘pacey’ lessons with activities leading students through different learning situations and experiences. In some lessons observed one of the greatest strengths was the way in which students were encouraged to take the initiative in many of the activities set. This meant that teachers had to be more flexible with planning but that the learning became the focus of the lesson as opposed to the teaching.</span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Arial Narrow";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="listparagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Furthermore, these lessons were characterised by much </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">enthusiasm and engagement from the students who clearly enjoyed what they were doing. It was also great to see teachers extending the learning of the most able with additional challenges during independent time. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Classes worked enthusiastically in a wide variety of contexts and this enthusiasm was clearly supporting them in their learning. Teachers were creating positive and supportive environments through their interventions and used time prompts to enhance pace and rigour.</span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Arial Narrow";"></span></div><div class="listparagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="listparagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In all lessons learning objectives were clear and in many these were supported by very clear and appropriately accessible differentiated success criteria. </span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Arial Narrow";"></span></div><div class="listparagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="listparagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On a personal note, I really enjoyed getting out and about, seeing the fantastic learning at <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Cooper</placename> <placename w:st="on">School</placename></place>! Thanks everybody!</span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Arial Narrow";"></span></div><div class="listparagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jayne</span><span style="color: #333399; font-family: "Arial Narrow";"></span></div>Mrs Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462247297413310178noreply@blogger.com0