Ollie Lovell, a frequent guest and co-author of the Explicit Mathematics program, joins the conversation to dive deep into innovative teaching strategies. They discuss the 'Do Now' segment, emphasizing its critical role in checking student understanding. The duo shares effective techniques like using mini whiteboards and engaging students through peer assessment. They also reflect on classroom management with latecomers and the importance of clear communication. Plus, hear about their exciting upcoming tour across Australia!
The podcast underscores the significance of 'Do Now' activities in activating prior knowledge and fostering student engagement from the lesson's outset.
A key strategy discussed is the 'book to board' method using mini whiteboards for real-time checking of student understanding during 'Do Now' tasks.
The hosts address challenges with latecomers by suggesting flexible strategies that enable all students to participate effectively, regardless of arrival time.
Deep dives
The Role of 'Do Now' Activities
The podcast emphasizes the significance of 'Do Now' activities as a means to engage students at the beginning of lessons. These activities are intended to activate prior knowledge and set a positive tone for the learning environment. The hosts discuss the need for a structure that not only holds students accountable but also encourages them to think critically right from the start. They argue that effective 'Do Now' routines can lead to a smoother transition into the main lesson while enhancing student motivation.
Innovative Checking for Understanding
A central focus of the discussion revolves around checking for understanding during 'Do Now' activities. The hosts propose a method of checking answers that moves away from traditional self-assessment, which often leads to students merely copying answers. Instead, they advocate for a 'book to board' method, where students write their final answer on mini whiteboards, allowing teachers to gauge understanding in real-time. This technique not only provides immediate feedback but also keeps all students engaged during the process.
Challenges of Latecomers and Disruptive Behavior
The conversation highlights the difficulties teachers face with latecomers and disruptive students during the 'Do Now' segment. The hosts suggest adopting a more flexible approach, allowing late students to quickly catch up by transferring their answers to mini whiteboards. By incorporating this strategy, teachers can ensure that all students remain involved regardless of when they arrive. They also acknowledge that addressing the behavior of consistently late students may require further individual discussions and strategies for improvement.
Shortening the 'Do Now' through Incremental Questions
To combat disengagement, particularly in more challenging classes, the podcast recommends presenting 'Do Now' questions incrementally rather than all at once. This approach breaks down the activity into smaller, manageable parts, which may enhance focus and participation. The strategy encourages a quicker, more dynamic pace in the classroom, allowing teachers to reinforce concepts before students become overwhelmed. Implementing strict time limits while celebrating student engagement can foster a better learning atmosphere.
The Importance of Responsive Teaching
The podcast also delves into the relationship between gathering feedback and delivering effective responses based on that data. It emphasizes that simply collecting information from students without adapting teaching methods is ineffective. The hosts discuss how thoughtful responses to student input can significantly impact learning outcomes. By exploring various strategies to respond in real-time to student understanding, teachers can refine their approaches and ensure they are meeting the needs of their learners.
In this engaging conversation, Craig Barton and Ollie Lovell discuss various teaching strategies, focusing on the 'Do Now' structure in classrooms. They explore the importance of checking for understanding, the effectiveness of mini whiteboards, and how to manage latecomers. The discussion also touches on their upcoming Aussie tour, providing insights into their teaching philosophies and practical classroom management techniques. In this conversation, Craig and Ollie delve into the intricacies of teaching strategies, focusing on the importance of establishing effective routines, gathering and responding to feedback, and optimizing communication in the classroom. They discuss the complexities of teaching, the necessity of splitting up gathering and responding to feedback, and reflect on the ongoing podcast series, emphasizing the depth of discussion required to improve teaching practices. You can access the show notes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/lesson-structure-4
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