Improving Practice TLRP – serie

Improving Primary Mathematics provides primary teachers with practical ideas about how to bring these two worlds closer to improve children’s mathematics learning. Using a number of fascinating case studies focusing on children’s experiences of mathematics both inside and outside the classroom, the book asks: How do children use mathematics in their everyday lives? How can teachers use this knowledge to improve children’s learning in school? What activities can teachers use with parents to help share the ways that schools teach mathematics? What can parents do to support their children’s learning of mathematics?Tried-and-tested practical suggestions for activities to support and encourage children’s learning of mathematics include: making videos to share teaching methods; children taking photos to show how they use mathematics at home; inviting parents into school to share in mathematics learning; and numeracy-based activities for children and their parents to do together at home. All those involved in planning, teaching and supporting primary mathematics will benefit from new insights into how learning at home and at school can be brought together to strengthen and improve children’s learning of mathematics.

Parents can play an immensely important role in supporting their children's literacy learning at home, but how can primary teachers enlist the support of parents in helping children learn literacy?With a focus on improving children's literacy skills, this book provides practical answers to key questions that are directly relevant to all primary teachers and to many parents. It presents new ways of linking learning in home and school through a range of activities that can be used to share knowledge between children, parents and teachers. Activities include:teachers and children making videos to show parents how children learn literacy in schoolparents and children taking photos of the 'everyday' literacy they use outside schoolparents and teachers exchanging information through Home-School folders and diaries.Particular attention is given to ways of working with parents from a diverse range of family backgrounds reflecting the multi-ethnic nature of many schools today.The practical activities can easily be fitted into the day-to-day activities of busy classrooms and can provide crucial new ways of improving children's learning of literacy skills.

Learning how to learn is an essential preparation for lifelong learning. This book offers a set of in-service resources to help teachers develop new classroom practices informed by sound research. It builds on previous work associated with ‘formative assessment’ or ‘assessment for learning’. However, it adds an important new dimension by taking account of the conditions within schools that are conducive to the promotion, in classrooms, of learning how to learn as an extension of assessment for learning. Among the materials included you will find:an introductory in-service session self-evaluation questionnaires an action planning activity workshops tools for school development a network mapping activity guidance about different ways of using the resources teachers descriptions of ways they have used of adapted them references to further information and advice. In addition, there is a support website and examples of how individual schools have used or adapted these materials to maximize their benefits.

Learning how to learn is an essential preparation for lifelong learning. This book offers a set of in-service resources to help teachers develop new classroom practices informed by sound research. It builds on previous work associated with ‘formative assessment’ or ‘assessment for learning’. However, it adds an important new dimension by taking account of the conditions within schools that are conducive to the promotion, in classrooms, of learning how to learn as an extension of assessment for learning. Among the materials included you will find:an introductory in-service session self-evaluation questionnaires an action planning activity workshops tools for school development a network mapping activity guidance about different ways of using the resources teachers descriptions of ways they have used of adapted them references to further information and advice. In addition, there is a support website and examples of how individual schools have used or adapted these materials to maximize their benefits.

Improving Primary Mathematics provides primary teachers with practical ideas about how to bring these two worlds closer to improve children’s mathematics learning. Using a number of fascinating case studies focusing on children’s experiences of mathematics both inside and outside the classroom, the book asks: How do children use mathematics in their everyday lives? How can teachers use this knowledge to improve children’s learning in school? What activities can teachers use with parents to help share the ways that schools teach mathematics? What can parents do to support their children’s learning of mathematics?Tried-and-tested practical suggestions for activities to support and encourage children’s learning of mathematics include: making videos to share teaching methods; children taking photos to show how they use mathematics at home; inviting parents into school to share in mathematics learning; and numeracy-based activities for children and their parents to do together at home. All those involved in planning, teaching and supporting primary mathematics will benefit from new insights into how learning at home and at school can be brought together to strengthen and improve children’s learning of mathematics.

Promoting Effective Group Work in the Primary Classroom, 2nd ed. is designed to enhance teachers’ and teaching assistants’ confidence in engaging their children in effective group work, allowing for more active participation, more on-task focus and higher levels of achievement.This accessible second edition is packed full of valuable strategies for teachers and fun activities for children, offering guidance on how to create an inclusive and supportive classroom by developing the social, communicative and group working skills of all pupils. It has been thoroughly updated and includes new material on whole school approaches to group work, the risks and challenges involved, and how to involve Teaching Assistants and other support staff in undertaking inclusive and effective group work in classrooms. A tried-and-tested, step-by-step approach encourages both children and their teachers to develop supportive relationships that have been found to facilitate academic performance, positive social behaviour and motivation. Since the first edition the authors have found that this handbook can be used successfully in many different countries around the world.With ideas to help resolve problems that might arise and suggested training activities to support pupils, this text is a one-stop resource to ensure effective group work in the classroom. It is an essential guide for both trainee and practising teachers, as well as TAs and support staff, and a valuable basis for school action.