#193 Tools and Tips for Teachers: Episode 14 (with Ollie Lovell)
Jul 11, 2024
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In this conversation, Ollie Lovell, a talented educator and podcaster, joins Craig Barton to discuss innovative strategies for teaching and professional development. They dive into the creation of instructional playbooks, balancing student discovery with managing misconceptions. The duo emphasizes the transformative power of writing in classrooms for deeper engagement and reflection. They also highlight the complexities of educational communication, stressing the need for sustained professional development and actionable takeaways for teachers.
The podcast highlights the importance of using manipulatives to enrich student understanding and engagement in mathematical concepts.
Co-constructing teaching and learning playbooks is valuable, with emphasis on the development process being crucial for their effectiveness.
Effective CPD should focus on fostering new habits and practical applications for teachers rather than solely imparting knowledge.
Writing is presented as a vital tool for classroom participation, enabling students to refine their thinking through visible and iterative drafts.
Deep dives
The Power of Manipulatives in Teaching
Using manipulatives such as counters, cubes, and other tools is highlighted as an effective way to enhance students' understanding of basic mathematical concepts. These tools make learning interactive and enjoyable, especially for younger learners, as seen in the speaker's experience with colorful cubes to create shapes and patterns. The speaker emphasizes the significance of hands-on learning and how these manipulatives can aid in grasping fundamental mathematical principles. The excitement fostered through this type of learning is contagious, indicating the overall effectiveness of manipulatives in education.
Co-Constructing Teaching Playbooks
The podcast delves into the idea of co-constructing teaching and learning playbooks within schools, discussing whether this collaborative approach is essential. While ownership of these playbooks by staff is deemed beneficial, it's argued that the process through which playbooks are developed may carry more weight than their initial construction. The speaker reflects on personal experiences and the importance of continuous updates to ensure relevance among staff. Ultimately, the focus should be on supporting teachers in revisiting and consolidating these instructional practices over time.
The Role of CPD in Teacher Development
Attending continuing professional development (CPD) sessions is framed as crucial for enhancing teaching practice, with emphasis on the opportunity to reflect on the effectiveness of training. The speaker shares their experience attending sessions led by influential figures and reflects on the need for follow-up through intentional reflection and peer feedback. Developing habits through CPD is also underscored, as shifting teachers from knowledge to actionable practice aligns with effective training outcomes. Overall, the goal is to cultivate overarching principles that drive long-term improvements.
Effective Training Should Focus on Habit Formation
The conversation emphasizes that effective training should prioritize the formation of new habits rather than merely imparting knowledge. It’s suggested that any CPD should culminate in clear, actionable habits that teacher participants can apply in their classrooms. This perspective shifts the approach to how training is delivered, highlighting the necessity to plan beyond the immediate session. The focus is also on ensuring that the changes made during training are sustainable and integrated into daily teaching practice.
Importance of Writing in Classroom Engagement
The speaker discusses how writing serves as a powerful tool for engaging students in the classroom, offering a method for universal participation. The idea of making student writing visible is emphasized in order to facilitate discussion and feedback, thus enhancing understanding and retention. Notably, students benefit from the opportunity to refine their thinking through multiple drafts, leading to greater preparedness for classroom discussions. This approach shifts perceptions of writing from mere documentation to an active component of learning.
Transforming CPD Delivery with Model Use
Models, both examples and non-examples, play a critical role in the effectiveness of CPD, providing clarity and relatability for teachers. However, presenting models without guidance may lead attendees to focus on surface features rather than the underlying principles meant to be conveyed. There's an emphasis on the necessity to instruct attendees on what to observe within the model to maintain focus on key concepts. This highlights the need for presenters to strike a balance between providing illustrative models and ensuring clear direction during discussions.
Engaging in Higher-Level Conversations
The podcast discusses the idea of pushing conversations to a higher level, particularly when faced with disagreements or challenges. Engaging deeply with the underlying beliefs or assumptions of discussion participants can lead to more productive dialogues and resolutions. Acknowledging possible mismatches in understanding can clarify the conversation and promote effective communication. This approach not only aids in navigating difficult discussions but also applies to fostering an environment conducive to professional development.
In this conversation, Craig Barton and Ollie Lovell discuss various topics related to teaching and professional development. They touch on the importance of aligning pedagogy in schools and the potential benefits and drawbacks of co-constructing instructional practices. They also discuss effective strategies for delivering CPD, including cold calling participants and switching partners during activities. Craig shares his takeaways from attending CPD sessions by Doug Lemov and from Ollie's conversation with Harry Fletcher-Wood. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of thoughtful and intentional approaches to teaching and professional development. In this part of the conversation, Craig and Ollie discuss the importance of effective training and the role of habits in learning. They also explore the power of writing as a tool for participation and reflection. They highlight the need for visible writing to facilitate discussion and the benefits of rewriting to deepen understanding. They also discuss the importance of pushing conversations to a higher level to uncover underlying beliefs and assumptions. Finally, they reflect on the challenges of one-off PD sessions and the value of distilling wisdom into actionable takeaways. You can view the shownotes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/tools-and-tips-for-teachers-14
Time-stamps:
Should school teaching and learning playbooks be constructed? (07:54)
Reflections on Doug Lemov CPD (29:17)
Effective training focusses on developing habits (44:08)
The power of writing (59:01)
During tricky conversations, push to a higher level (1:08:43)
The importance (and perils) of models during CPD (1:22:04)
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