Beginning Teachers PL Day

Beginning Teachers PL Day

by Peta Ellis

Poll

How are you feeling today?

Open Ended

Think about your favourite teacher at school. What was it about them that made them your favourite?

Open Ended

Now think about your favourite lesson at school. What was it about that lesson that made it your favourite?

​Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

​Today we will explore the What Works Best publication, differentiation strategies and reflect on our practice so far in 2021.

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​To be successful, I will engage with the reflection activities, discuss my ideas with my peers and develop a lesson/resources embedding my newly developed ideas.

​What Works Best

This paper is an update of the 2014 publication. The 2020 update outlines eight quality teaching practices that are known to support school improvement and enhance the learning outcomes of our students. The themes are not an exhaustive list of effective practices, but are a useful framework for teachers and school leaders to consider when deciding how to tackle student improvement.

Multiple Select

Which of the following do you think will be listed in the eight themes? In other words, what you think think the research found works best? (HINT: There are two correct answers)

• Engaging Learning Activities

• Effective Feedback

• School Funding and Resources

• Explicit Teaching

​The Eight Themes

• ​High Expectations

• ​Explicit Teaching

• ​Effective Feedback

• ​Use of Data to Inform Practice

• ​Assessment

• ​Classroom Management

• ​Wellbeing

• ​Collaboration

​1. High Expectations

​Teachers’ beliefs about their students influence how they teach and interact with them. High expectations are linked with higher performance for all students. The reverse can also be true. Students may achieve less than their full potential if expectations of their ability are low.

​2. Explicit Teaching

​Explicit teaching practices involve teachers clearly showing students what to do and how to do it, rather than having students discover that information themselves. Students who experience explicit teaching practices make greater learning gains than students who do not experience these practices.

Open Ended

What are some current school practices can you think of that would demonstrate explicit teaching?

​3. Effective Feedback

​Effective feedback provides students with relevant, explicit, ongoing, constructive and actionable information about their performance against learning outcomes from the syllabus.

​4. Use of Data to Inform Practice

​Teachers use data to check and understand where their students are in their learning and to plan what to do next. Effective analysis of student data helps teachers identify areas where students’ learning needs may require additional attention and development.

​5. Assessment

​High quality student assessment helps us know that learning is taking place. Assessment is most effective when it is an integral part of teaching and learning programs.

​6. Classroom Management

​Classroom management is important for creating the conditions for learning. Effective classroom management minimises and addresses all levels of disengagement and disruptive behaviours.

​7. Wellbeing

​At school, the practices that support student wellbeing involve creating a safe environment; ensuring connectedness; engaging students in their learning; and promoting social and emotional skills.

​8. Collaboration

​Professional collaboration allows best practice to be identified and shared across classrooms. Effective collaboration explicitly aims to improve teacher practices and student outcomes.

Poll

How confident do you feel about being able to address all 8 themes in your daily practice?

• Not confident at all

• Maybe I could do it with some support

• Somewhat Confident

• Very Confident

​Silent Card Shuffle

• ​Split into 2 groups - move into breakout rooms

• ​Group 1 - Sarah C., Eloise, Byron, Neneh, Oliver, Chris, Sarah K.

• ​Group 2 - Cheslea, Rowan, Dinatra, Bettina, Charlotte, Mimi​

Open Ended

Now that you've read through some of the themes in actual practice, what do you think we are doing at CPAHS that fits into these theme?

​Individual Reflection Time

​You are now going to spend some time reflecting on your current individual practice and complete a reflection document with two key questions:

​1. How do you currently do this?

​2. What do you need to strengthen, cadopt, adapt, discontinue?

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​BE WARNED: You will be going into small groups after this to discuss your reflections.