Unlocking Series – serie

Assessment is inextricably linked with learning and teaching, and its profile in British schools has never been higher. Recently the value and importance of formative assessment in supporting learning and teaching has also become widely recognised.Although assessment is a prime concern of anyone involved in education it remains a highly complex field where much controversy and misunderstanding abounds. This book explores the values, principles, research and theories that underpin our understanding and practice of assessment. It also provides practical suggestions and examples, and addresses some key points about the future development of assessment. The book makes accessible complex but crucial ideas and issues, so that teachers can be more confident and proactive in shaping assessment in their classrooms, in ways that support learning and avoid unintentional harmful consequences.

Assessment is inextricably linked with learning and teaching, and its profile in British schools has never been higher. Recently the value and importance of formative assessment in supporting learning and teaching has also become widely recognised.Although assessment is a prime concern of anyone involved in education it remains a highly complex field where much controversy and misunderstanding abounds. This book explores the values, principles, research and theories that underpin our understanding and practice of assessment. It also provides practical suggestions and examples, and addresses some key points about the future development of assessment. The book makes accessible complex but crucial ideas and issues, so that teachers can be more confident and proactive in shaping assessment in their classrooms, in ways that support learning and avoid unintentional harmful consequences.

First Published in 2005. Promoting creativity can be a powerful way of engaging children in their learning. Showing how creativity can be developed across the curriculum, this book offers advice on how to: Develop children's capacity for creative thinking and achievement; use creativity to increase levels of motivation and self-esteem; teach the creative skills pupils need for success in learning and life. Combining the latest research with practical ideas and tasks, this multi-dimensional book is a must for teachers, students and educators who wish to know more about creativity in teaching and learning.

An edited collection describing key issues in supporting literacy development, this book helps to 'unlock' the mysteries behind helping children learn to read, write, speak and listen. It explores ways to help children develop their skills in literacy, thinking and learning, and shows how literacy teaching can be used creatively and imaginatively with children of all ages and abilities. The new edition of this well-known text: reflects the importance of creativity and the new Primary Strategyoffers approaches to teaching literacy that accord with and beyond the literacy hourincludes coverage of the Foundation Stage curriculum in every chaptercovers the inclusion agenda and supporting EAL pupilshighlights the importance of popular culture and visual literacy in children's lives.Interweaving pedagogy with theory and practical suggestions, this book is firmly based in classroom and academic research to support both trainee and practising teacher in the realities of teaching and learning in literacy.

By clearly identifying the barriers that can still exist to the successful integration of ICT in schools this book aims to suggest ways in which these barriers may be overcome. Current and past policy and practice is examined and where barriers are identified, the book: provides suggested strategies for the removal of these barriersrecommends how to avoid the obstacles in the first placeincludes action points and ideas to provide ways forwarduses case studies and vignettes to focus on the positive benefits of ICT.Optimistic and forward-looking, the book also explores how ICT, when effectively used, can help children learn and achieve to the best of their abilities. It is relevant for trainee and practising teachers, ICT co-ordinators and school managers in all key stages.

The underpinning theme of this book is how children develop as writers and how self-awareness raises achievement. It offers creative approaches to increasing pupil motivation and performance by involving, amongst other things, Drama and ICT. The contributors offer practical advice on ways to meet the needs of boys, able children, SEN pupils and those learning English as an additional language; how to plan effective lessons; how to be flexible within the framework of the NLS; and the role of assessment and how it contributes to self-understanding. Central to all classroom practitioners and students, this innovative book improves general understanding of the process related to composition and transcription and helps to raise the standards of writing in all classrooms.

Spoken Language is a key component of the primary national curriculum and is fundamental to children’s language development and learning. The need for teachers to develop talk in its own right and also use talk as a means of learning is central to effective primary practice. In the past, Initial Teacher Education and CPD have focused on literacy (reading and writing) to the detriment of speaking and listening. However, research strongly supports talk as fundamental to learning and teaching. It has also been identified as an area where teachers feel less confident. This fully updated third edition of Unlocking Speaking and Listening tackles key issues surrounding spoken language with rigour, depth and a strong focus on research, providing education professionals with clear, practical strategies for engaging in purposeful talk, while also celebrating children’s implicit understanding and love of the spoken word.Drawing on recent classroom research, Unlocking Speaking and Listening considers what children and teachers need to know in order to develop as effective speakers and listeners. The book addresses: Planning and assessing talk Drama and storytelling Working with EAL children Developing talk in Science and Mathematics Special educational needs Using technology to enhance children’s communicationTwo new chapters on the importance of talk to underpin children’s reading development are also included.With contributions from experts in the field, this vital and fully updated resource will help both trainee and practising primary teachers understand and promote the importance of speaking and listening as an effective tool for learning across the primary curriculum.

Spoken Language is a key component of the primary national curriculum and is fundamental to children’s language development and learning. The need for teachers to develop talk in its own right and also use talk as a means of learning is central to effective primary practice. In the past, Initial Teacher Education and CPD have focused on literacy (reading and writing) to the detriment of speaking and listening. However, research strongly supports talk as fundamental to learning and teaching. It has also been identified as an area where teachers feel less confident. This fully updated third edition of Unlocking Speaking and Listening tackles key issues surrounding spoken language with rigour, depth and a strong focus on research, providing education professionals with clear, practical strategies for engaging in purposeful talk, while also celebrating children’s implicit understanding and love of the spoken word.Drawing on recent classroom research, Unlocking Speaking and Listening considers what children and teachers need to know in order to develop as effective speakers and listeners. The book addresses: Planning and assessing talk Drama and storytelling Working with EAL children Developing talk in Science and Mathematics Special educational needs Using technology to enhance children’s communicationTwo new chapters on the importance of talk to underpin children’s reading development are also included.With contributions from experts in the field, this vital and fully updated resource will help both trainee and practising primary teachers understand and promote the importance of speaking and listening as an effective tool for learning across the primary curriculum.

First Published in 2005. Promoting creativity can be a powerful way of engaging children in their learning. Showing how creativity can be developed across the curriculum, this book offers advice on how to: Develop children's capacity for creative thinking and achievement; use creativity to increase levels of motivation and self-esteem; teach the creative skills pupils need for success in learning and life. Combining the latest research with practical ideas and tasks, this multi-dimensional book is a must for teachers, students and educators who wish to know more about creativity in teaching and learning.

By clearly identifying the barriers that can still exist to the successful integration of ICT in schools this book aims to suggest ways in which these barriers may be overcome. Current and past policy and practice is examined and where barriers are identified, the book: provides suggested strategies for the removal of these barriersrecommends how to avoid the obstacles in the first placeincludes action points and ideas to provide ways forwarduses case studies and vignettes to focus on the positive benefits of ICT.Optimistic and forward-looking, the book also explores how ICT, when effectively used, can help children learn and achieve to the best of their abilities. It is relevant for trainee and practising teachers, ICT co-ordinators and school managers in all key stages.

An edited collection describing key issues in supporting literacy development, this book helps to 'unlock' the mysteries behind helping children learn to read, write, speak and listen. It explores ways to help children develop their skills in literacy, thinking and learning, and shows how literacy teaching can be used creatively and imaginatively with children of all ages and abilities. The new edition of this well-known text: reflects the importance of creativity and the new Primary Strategyoffers approaches to teaching literacy that accord with and beyond the literacy hourincludes coverage of the Foundation Stage curriculum in every chaptercovers the inclusion agenda and supporting EAL pupilshighlights the importance of popular culture and visual literacy in children's lives.Interweaving pedagogy with theory and practical suggestions, this book is firmly based in classroom and academic research to support both trainee and practising teacher in the realities of teaching and learning in literacy.