Tip Of The Day

Every day we will add a new teaching tip. As time goes by, this will build into a useful "quick reference" of easy-to-use ideas to improve your teaching skills.

Today's Tip

Measure improvement, not just results

There's been a test. Some pupils did well. Some, not so. In order for the ones to feel that their efforts meant success there is an implication of failure for the others. At the very least their success has not was as good. 1/10 however dressed up cannot be as good as 10/10 even when one takes into account all mitigating factors. However instead of seeing this as failure simply see it as step one towards improvement. There is a high chance that the next assessment will be better and thus this pupil will have a steeper 'improvement' curve. The pupil is not a failure - it is the work that has failed. The important thing is to find out 'why'.

Recent tips

(If you Register, you can view the Previous Tip Archive, which shows all other tips which have previously appeared on the site.)

Use Online Handouts. Where are the handouts you have given to the class? Just photocopied and handed round? Why not store them on the school intranet? Oh, you haven't got one. OK then why not offer to email the handouts out to web-based email addresses (egg Gmail, Yahoo etc). Then pupils may download at will and amend/update as necessary. It also makes it easier for you to update the materials.
Special handouts for pupils who miss lessons A pupil has missed a lesson. What do you do - give him/her a handout? Well, maybe - but is it the same handout you gave everyone in class? If so then they are NOT the same as the class have handouts with their comments on whereas the pupil who missed the lesson just has the 'pre-lesson' handout. Prepare special handouts for pupils who may miss lessons - perhaps a handout with your own notes on. This handout may then be a revision aid.
Practical work Some pupils will work fast when the task is practical - and these may not always be the ones you thought were 'clever'. Unlike theoretical work it is not going to be a case of 'copy the notes up later' or 'read this handout'. The experiments have to be experienced. Make sure you are talking to the class as the practical work develops. Every so often stop all activity and assess where everyone has progressed to. If someone is left behind it will be difficult to replicate the lesson - plus the pupil(s) may become bored - and there is dangerous equipment lying around.
Plan Ahead for Practical Lessons The practical lesson is going well - but you have now run out of materials. There are no alternative materials. It's your fault. Why didn't you plan ahead and make sure there was enough - and some spare? Oh, you did. In which case you should have had the pupils working in pairs or threes so there was always a little material left over for those who destroy, corrupt or even lose the material. The key is to make sure all pupils are involved. If working in too large a group someone somewhere will be left out.

Use Online Handouts.

Where are the handouts you have given to the class? Just photocopied and handed round? Why not store them on the school intranet? Oh, you haven't got one. OK then why not offer to email the handouts out to web-based email addresses (egg Gmail, Yahoo etc). Then pupils may download at will and amend/update as necessary. It also makes it easier for you to update the materials.

Special handouts for pupils who miss lessons

A pupil has missed a lesson. What do you do - give him/her a handout? Well, maybe - but is it the same handout you gave everyone in class? If so then they are NOT the same as the class have handouts with their comments on whereas the pupil who missed the lesson just has the 'pre-lesson' handout. Prepare special handouts for pupils who may miss lessons - perhaps a handout with your own notes on. This handout may then be a revision aid.

Practical work

Some pupils will work fast when the task is practical - and these may not always be the ones you thought were 'clever'. Unlike theoretical work it is not going to be a case of 'copy the notes up later' or 'read this handout'. The experiments have to be experienced. Make sure you are talking to the class as the practical work develops. Every so often stop all activity and assess where everyone has progressed to. If someone is left behind it will be difficult to replicate the lesson - plus the pupil(s) may become bored - and there is dangerous equipment lying around.

Plan Ahead for Practical Lessons

The practical lesson is going well - but you have now run out of materials. There are no alternative materials. It's your fault. Why didn't you plan ahead and make sure there was enough - and some spare? Oh, you did. In which case you should have had the pupils working in pairs or threes so there was always a little material left over for those who destroy, corrupt or even lose the material. The key is to make sure all pupils are involved. If working in too large a group someone somewhere will be left out.