I get into a lot of classrooms and see a lot of good lessons. There are many things that effective teachers do as part of their everyday work that become so natural, that we forget how good they are.

I’m starting a section called ‘It works for others’ – IWFO-INFO. These are well tried and tested strategies and I’m not claiming that they are new. But they work.

You might find some useful:

• If you use a ‘learning wall’ keep referring back to it. This works well if children have forgotten key learning points. Make a drama out of it. Get them to come out and point to important features
• Use previous work as a model. This works best with a visualiser and some find it a lot better than just getting them to read something out. Exploit this further with the ‘When I was marking you books… ‘ comment. This is a good tactic when being observed. It proves that your marking is informing your teaching
• Use a ‘guided group’ for anyone who is having problems with a particular topic. This is going out of fashion, but is highly effective.
• Have an ‘enthusiastic presence’. This doesn’t have to be dramatic over-acting, but can be the choice of words and tone of voice. Show your surprise at better than expected work or your disappointment with poor behaviour.
• If you talk about ‘up-levelling’ your work, ask them what this higher level will actually look like
• When doing a prediction activity (e.g. what do you think is the heaviest?) throw in a curve ball for the more able. This could be empty/ full tins of paint… something to keep them guessing
• Link behaviour management strategies to the learning. E.g. if you are doing the 3 times table, get them to repeat back “3, 6, 9” until everyone is ready. Or Henry VIII’s wives. Or three connectives…
• Use the plenary to encourage curiosity. “Tomorrow we’ll be looking at column subtraction, but sometimes it won’t be the best method…” (Thank you James)

In the future, the plan is to ask for your contributions. We want to build a community and hope you can be part of it.