| Suggestions
for implementing the strategy |
| Plenary
Sessions |
One
good way of reinforcing students understanding of
Key Words is to play hangman during Plenary sessions.
This will reinforce the students spelling and can
act as a prompt to other questions and explanations
that will summarise the main focus of the lesson.
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|
|
| Vocabulary
Books |
Students
will understand words better if they have investigated
their meaning and been offered an opportunity to
place the words in context. Creating a history Dictionary,
or vocabulary book allows them to define words themselves,
illustrate the words to ensure clarity and can lead
successfully into further activities. Useful as
a Homework activity. |
| 'Wipe
boards' |
Several
manufactuers make small white boards (A4 size).
As the student/ teacher reads through passages that
describe scenes, events or actions, the students
can draw these out on the board. This allows lower
attaining students to visually present their understanding
of a source. The confidnce they gain from this then
leads to improved written descriptions of the events/
place. |
|
|
| 'Wipe
Boards' in practice |
Example:
I used this idea when teaching about the Ancient
City of Baghdad. The class were looking at a source
that described the city. As I read through the source
and asked questions about it, the students drew
out what they read about. The results were a very
accurate set of drawings that accurately placed
each part of the defences and administration. Students
written answers were much more precise than usual
as a result of this: the ability group above them,
having been taught using the 'old fashioned' read
and question it approach misinterpretated many aspects
of the source. |
| Support
assistants |
Rather
obvious but liase closely with support staff and
dvelop ways of using them more effectively within
lessons. These are the people who know the child
best: and who know what targets they are being set
in Literacy/ English lessons. Working in small groups
annotating text/ pictures is effective. |
| Observe
lessons |
Go
watch a Literacy lesson in action. A well taught
one will provide excellent examples of how to improve
the students ability to read source material, understand
questions and develop reasoned answers. |
|
|
| Display
of Key Words |
Most
teachers display Key Words in their classroom. asking
students to create the display, adding illustrations
and definitions gives the relevant class a sense
of ownership of the display and makes it much more
relevant to them. With some groups it is possible
to use the right to 'be displayed' as a reward which
can lead to improved attitude (I have seen this
work particularly well with several low attaining
groups). |
| NC
Levels |
Familiarise
yourself with the criteria that a student must meet
to be assessed at level 4 in English. Refer to this
when modelling work with them. (This fits in very
nicely with the history key Element relating to
Organisation and Structure of work). |
