Teachers are often faced with pupils who are very reluctant to participate in lessons. Two major reasons for this can be apathy and a lack of confidence. How can teachers tackle these? Pritesh and Neena explore, with the use of 'I Say You Say'.

'I Say You Say' is a where the entire class repeats a word the teacher says. It sounds like a simple strategy but there are so many nuances that Pritesh and Neena unpack. What do you do if a pupil doesn't join in? What if some pupils use a silly voice? Why would you use repetition when it doesn't involve much thinking?

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One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Pritesh and Neena explore 5 powerful strategies for teachers to secure and sustain 100% attention. From using your body, eyes, and silence, to giving simple instructions that prevent the loss of attention in the first place, this episode packed with practical practices.

They also mention Paul Kirschner & Paddington Bear. Make of that what you will.

Timestamps:

0:07 Conference Buzz and Attention Strategies
1:36 Five Ways to Secure Attention
3:02 Be Seen Looking
5:09 Scan the Room Clearly
10:47 Positive Praise After Scanning
12:55 Countdown Pace and Urgency
21:50 Quiet Counts for Writing Time
26:15 Tuck Chairs In
29:55 Silent Self-Interrupt
34:58 Five Attention Tips Recapped
35:51 Next Episode: Participation Culture

Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:
One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

You've never met a class before. They start to arrive at your door. Pritesh and Neena discuss precisely how they would get the class in and into a seating plan, and share mistakes they've experienced to avoid.

Seating a new class can be quite tricky because it is so out-of-routine. But it is perhaps the most important thing to get right, especially as it forms the first five minutes of a lesson with a new class. And we know how much first impressions count.

Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:
One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

So many schools have a system where pupils can trade points they earn for rewards. Is this genuinely improving pupil culture and winning hearts? Or are there unintended consequences? Are there alternatives? Pritesh and Neena discuss!

Swap 5 points for a pen. Trade 10 points for a chocolate bar. 50 points might get you a voucher for a high street retailer, or a raffle for a bigger prize! We discuss the difference between reward points as a currency, and emblems like badges and certificates. But before we even get into that discussion, are the fundamentals of praise points in place? Hopefully, listening to Episode double-0 seven will help schools and teachers Bond with their pupils better... [it had to be done!]

Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:
One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

How can we safeguard against pedagogical fads? Is 'engagement' pupils getting up, having experiences and teaching each other? Or does 'engagement' describe pupils enthralled through teacher exposition and questioning, and engaging in lots of practice? Pritesh and Neena explore.

Timestamps:

0:10 Seduced by Teaching Ideas
2:27 Blu Tack Lesson Reflections
5:08 Ofsted Panic and Teacher Talk
7:54 Activities Versus Content
12:28 Building the Knowledge Web
17:51 Rehearsal, Feedback, and Practice
22:48 Engaging Explanations Matter
26:15 Voice, Pause, and Story
30:43 Intentional Teaching Delivery
37:26 Thinking Hard to Learn
41:21 Next Episode’s Reward Debate

Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:
One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Silent debates, video lessons for bottom sets, poster lessons for cover, market place activities, posters around the room... Pritesh and Neena take a trip down memory lane, recalling classroom practices we were all seduced by earlier in our careers, but have abandoned now.

Timestamps:

0:04 Seduced by Fun Lessons
4:02 Macbeth Witches Activity
7:32 Silent Debate Setup
12:26 Photosynthesis By Experience
18:09 Posters and Peer Teaching
24:07 Winning Minds, Winning Hearts

Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:
One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Whilst Pritesh exemplifies each element of a classroom exit routine this week, Neena leans into her alliteration addiction: 'pack up and praise'; 'authority and anticipation'; 'power of pause'. Somebody stop her, please.

Teachers often rush their exit routine. The bell goes. The teacher abruptly ends the lesson. Kids fly out of the door in a mad rush. Pritesh and Neena explore strategies to change the rush at the end of lessons into not only something calmer, but also something that builds a joyful sense of team in the class. 'Culture building never stops, never sleeps'.

Timestamps

0:02 Best Classroom Gifts You Have Ever Received
4:40 Scenario: How Can We Not Rush an Exit Routine?
6:04 Setting Alarms
7:54 Narrating the Story of the Lesson
11:49 Instruction Sandwich
19:14 Goldilocks Countdowns
21:52 Model Instruction Sandwich
25:48 Scenario for Next Week: Seductive Ideas

Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:
One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

The loudest pupils can often take up most of a teacher's attention. What can we do in the classroom to ensure that no pupils are overlooked, whilst maintaining a high bar? Pritesh and Neena explain their suggestions.

Timetstamps:

0:22 First Lesson Disaster
5:34 Optimising Seating Plans for Attention
11:26 Is it Mean to Separate Friends?
14:01 Tick Sheets in Action
18:41 How to Notice Quieter Pupils
19:59 Crowning the Shining Star of the Lesson
26:35 Scenario for next time... Exit Routines?

Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:
One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.

bunsenblue.com/briefing

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

For high quality CPD (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe, coaching with groups of teachers) from Pritesh, visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd