Primary teachers have always been required to master a wealth of knowledge and professional skills and recent debate has led to pressure for ever higher levels of competence. Ted Wragg's book aims to provide a comprehensive guide to the skills needed by today's primary teachers. Separate chapters cover such central demands of the job as explaining new topics, asking stimulating questions and settling down with a new class, and one chapter is devoted to the particular problems of supply teachers. Based on extensive research in classrooms over a number of years, "Primary Teaching Skills" is designed for both student and novice teachers, as well as their more experienced colleagues at any stage of their professional development.

At The MTPT Project we know that teaching can be a sustainable career choice for parents, and in this essential handbook, we show you how. Supported by case studies celebrating the best that the family friendly schools and happy teachers in our community have to offer, this book is a lifeline for both educators aspiring to combine their passion for teaching with becoming a parent, and the school leader who wants to empower them. However you become a parent, or choose to grow your family and your career, this handbook will provide you with the guidance and cheerleading that you need to fulfil your personal and professional aspirations. The book is divided into nine chapters, guiding readers from the first considerations of family planning, all the way through to the reality that some teachers and leaders may choose to leave classrooms for good. Each chapter includes: the latest research on working families legalities associated with different stages of working parenthood (including discrimination and how to avoid it as an employer and address it as an employee) case studies from our community suggestions for individuals and schools recommended further reading. Each chapter will help you to navigate the journey from planning a family, to stepping in and out of teaching to suit your parenting needs, to creating family friendly working environments, whatever your role in school. With its mixture of research-informed solutions, hints and tips, this text is perfect for colleagues embarking on their parenting journey and school leaders who want to take practical steps to retain and empower valued colleagues.

The new National Curriculum emphasises the importance of composition but also 'transcription' i.e. spelling and 'fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy handwriting.' Our exciting new 'Let's Do Handwriting' titles provide all the help that children need to write fluently and legibly. Through guided practice in letter structure and the correct formation of joins, the children are encouraged to develop a clear, attractive style to use with fluency and speed in their everyday writing. The extensive handwritten practice of a wide range of words also helps to broaden vocabulary and spelling skills. As with every title in the Andrew Brodie Basics range, parents can ensure that their children's efforts are well rewarded. Each book features regular progress checks as well as a wide variety of attractive reward stickers. To help the children along, Marjorie the Meercat gives lots of useful tips!

The inclusion of technology in subjects taught to primary school students presents teachers with an exciting and somewhat daunting challenge. "Design and Technology in the Primary School" aims to provide teachers with a definition and exploration of design and technology activities through a project approach. The book includes case studies which illustrate how teachers with little or no previous experience can draw on their existing knowledge of materials, processes, and local authority support, to develop successful projects linking areas of the curriculum with design and technology.
Guidance is also offered on topic planning with design and technology activities either central to the topic being studies, or as a development of a topic from another curriculum area.
This book offers a strong practical approach to embarking on design and technology activities through projects, topic designs, and case studies. It will encourage not only student teachers but their more experienced colleagues in developing existing skills and talents in teaching technology and design through the use of familiar topics.

Group work is generally accepted as part of the educational ideology of today's primary classrooms. It can, however, mean almost anything from group seating as a technique of classroom management to fully collaborative learning. The authors start from the position that getting children to work together is time-consuming and not easy and that teachers need some assurance that it is worthwhile. Drawing on the work of Vygotsky they look at the importance of collaboration in the development of higher mental functions and also discuss the social and emotional advantages that children can derive from working together. Also using case studies derived from the ORACLE II group work project at Leicester, the authors also take into account the advances made in collaborative group work in other countries. The result is a set of guidelines from which individual teachers can derive policies suitable for the circumstances in their own schools. This book should be of interest to undergraduates and academics in primary education and also to primary school teachers.

This volume centers on the words and experiences of teachers and students who used QUILL -- a software package developed by the authors to aid in writing instruction. It looks in detail at the stories of these early users and considers questions relevant for other teachers, students, researchers, and developers of educational innovations. Questions posed include:
* What does it mean to develop an environment for literacy in an actual classroom?
* How can a teacher create an environment in which students work together toward meaningful goals?
* How can a teacher promote the rich communication so necessary for developing language?
* What is the role of technology in the practice and development of literacy?
The examination of the QUILL experiences provides a fuller and more revealing account of what it meant to use QUILL than would have been possible through standard evaluation techniques. At the same time, the focus on the particulars also finds analogues in analyses of similar pieces of open-ended software or educational innovations in general.

This engaging book offers an in-depth introduction to teaching mathematics through problem-solving, providing lessons and techniques that can be used in classrooms for both primary and lower secondary grades. Based on the innovative and successful Japanese approaches of Teaching Through Problem-solving (TTP) and Collaborative Lesson Research (CLR), renowned mathematics education scholar Akihiko Takahashi demonstrates how these teaching methods can be successfully adapted in schools outside of Japan. TTP encourages students to try and solve a problem independently, rather than relying on the format of lectures and walkthroughs provided in classrooms across the world. Teaching Mathematics Through Problem-Solving gives educators the tools to restructure their lesson and curriculum design to make creative and adaptive problem-solving the main way students learn new procedures. Takahashi showcases TTP lessons for elementary and secondary classrooms, showing how teachers can create their own TTP lessons and units using techniques adapted from Japanese educators through CLR. Examples are discussed in relation to the Common Core State Standards, though the methods and lessons offered can be used in any country. Teaching Mathematics Through Problem-Solving offers an innovative new approach to teaching mathematics written by a leading expert in Japanese mathematics education, suitable for pre-service and in-service primary and secondary math educators.

When the original Visible Learning published in 2008 it instantly became a publishing sensation. Interest in the book was unparalleled; it sold out in days and was described by the TES as revealing 'teaching's Holy Grail'. Now John Hattie returns to this ground-breaking work. The research underlying this book is now informed by more than 2,100 meta-analyses (more than double that of the original), drawn from more than 130,000 studies and involving more than 400 million students from all around the world. But this is more than just a new edition. This book is a sequel that highlights the major story, taking in the big picture to reflect on the implementation in schools of Visible Learning, how it has been understood - and at times misunderstood - and what future directions research should take. Visible Learning: The Sequel reiterates the author's desire to move beyond claiming "what works" to "what works best" by asking crucial questions such as: Why is the current 'grammar of schooling', so embedded in so many classrooms and can we improve it? Why is the learning curve for teachers after the first few years so flat? How can we develop teacher mind-frames to focus more on learning and listening? How can we incorporate research evidence as part of the discussions within schools? Areas covered include: * The evidence base and reactions to Visible Learning * The Visible Learning model * The intentional alignment of learning and teaching strategies * The influence of home, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, learning and curriculum on achievement * The impact of technology Building upon the success of original, this highly anticipated sequel expands Hattie's model of teaching and learning based on evidence of impact and is essential reading for anyone involved in the field of education either as a researcher, teacher, student, school leader, teacher trainer or policy maker.

This is a practical guide for school leaders and teachers who have responsibility for designing and delivering a sequenced, knowledge-rich and skills-focused primary curriculum. It considers the elements that underpin a high-quality curriculum and how to create a sequential learning experience for pupils across the primary phase. It explores a range of practical tools and techniques that can support staff to build a cohesive curriculum where pupils build on their learning from year to year with high-quality outcomes for all learners, whatever their starting point. Key topics include: How to create a whole school curriculum strategy that builds on prior learning and ensures knowledge and skills across a range of subjects Creating opportunities for pupils to make connections across their learning How learning is sequenced from early years to the end of Year 6 Identifying opportunities for pupils to deepen their competence in English, mathematics and across all the foundation subjects Glynis Frater is the founder and a director of Learning Cultures. She has taught across both the primary and secondary phases of education and has led professional development on planning and delivering the primary curriculum.

Hardbound. The papers appearing in this volume reflect current thinking about the contexts of our thought, methodology, the nature of experience while teaching and program improvement, and how we conceptualize play in the curriculum.

The Education Reform Act of 1988 has caused a revolution in the educational system of England and Wales. The educational tradition and practice of more than 100 years was swept away and schools found that the system of which they were part and which had been one of the most decentralized in Europe was now one of the most centralized. A National Curriculum emerged with profile components, attainment targets, programmes of study and statements of attainment along with a requirement for formal assessment at the end of four key stages in a pupil's educational career. Within these new requirements were embedded a number of concerns for clearly identified skills, knowledge and understanding, for development and progression.

Current trends in education suggest that pupils should have more responsibility for their own learning, but how can they if they don't understand the what, the why and the how? This practical guide explores the idea that a metacognitive approach enables pupils to develop skills for lifelong learning. If pupils can identify the what, the why, and the how of their learning, they can begin to formulate strategies for overcoming challenges and for continuous improvement. In this book, the authors truly engage with research into the link between metacognition and learning, and the idea that if you can effectively articulate your thoughts and strategies regarding how you learn, you might then be in a better position to take actions in order to improve and to be able to learn best. An appendix of useful resources is also included, which offers a range of activities surrounding the language of learning, reflection and metacognition, as well essential advice on how to develop metacognition in the early years (4-8), middle years (8-10), and upper years (10-13). Metacognition in the Primary Classroom demonstrates how important it is for children to be well-enough informed to play an active role in learning better. Having the language skills to talk about your learning, and the opportunity to share ideas and strategies with others, enables all concerned to explore and develop approaches in order to learn better. This book is a crucial read for anyone interested in ensuring that pupils take an active role in their own learning.

* Provides practical strategies and approaches to help you run your existing learning activities in new and more effective ways * User-friendly, accessible layout with each strategy presented on a double page spread alongside illustrations * Includes guidance on how to implement the strategy and potential pitfalls. * Draws on examples from a wide range of education fields and applicable to different environments and age ranges.

* Aimed at anyone involved or thinking about being involved in teaching and learning mathematics at school * Packed full of practical and fun lesson ideas and activities. * Explores the broader goals and issues of mathematics education challenging some of the stereotypical misunderstandings. * Each chapter focuses on My lesson and how it works, What happens and why it matters, and How could it be different? * Lessons and activities are informally differentiated for age under three main headings - older primary, younger secondary and more advanced.

Researchers examining children's mathematics acquisition are now questioning the belief that children learn mathematics principally through formalized, in-school mathematics education. There is increasing evidence that children gain mathematical understanding through their participation in out-of-school cultural practices and that their mathematics only occasionally resembles what they learn in the classroom. Culture and Cognitive Development presents the latest research by Dr. Geoffrey Saxe on this issue. In examinations of the mathematical understandings of child candy sellers in an urban center in northeastern Brazil, Dr. Saxe finds sharp contrasts between mathematics as practiced in school and in real-world settings. In this unique research project he presents a penetrating conceptual treatment of the interplay between culture and cognitive development, filling a void in current research literature. Subjects examined include: the interplay between sociocultural and cognitive developmental processes the differences between math knowledge learned in and out of the classroom the ways math learning in the classroom is modified by children's out-of-school mathematics and, correspondingly, how practical out-of-school mathematics use is modified by formal education

The perfect guide to help you embed metacognitive approaches to your teaching. What is metacognition and how can you use it in your teaching? Metacognition - being aware of our own ways of thinking - is popular in education, but it is not always obvious how it links to teaching practice and how to teach it explicitly. This book translates meaningful concepts from research literature not only into practical strategies to try in your classroom but also gives you the opportunity to reflect on metacognitive strategies that you already use. Key topics include: Metacognitive strategies in a range of subjects, including English and mathematics Dismantling metacognitive misconceptions How to use metacognition to improve test performance The importance of developing a growth mindset How to develop self-regulation in the classroom

Eminent scholars from around the globe gathered to discuss how educational systems would change if the prevailing principles of constructivism were applied to three major aspects of those systems -- knowledge and learning, communication, and environment. This volume provides documentation of the proceedings of this important meeting - - the Early Childhood Action Group of the Sixth International Congress on Mathematics Education.
This international assembly, representing such diverse disciplines as mathematics and math education, epistemology, philosophy, cognitive science, psycholinguistics, and science education, is the first to examine early childhood mathematics education from constructivist and international perspectives in addition to formulating recommendations for future work in the field.

Accessible and engaging, this methods textbook provides a roadmap for improving reading instruction. Leland, Lewison, and Harste explain why certain ineffective or debunked literacy techniques prevail in the classroom, identify the problematic assumptions that underly these popular myths, and offer better alternatives for literacy teaching. Grounded in a mantra that promotes critical thinking and agency-Enjoy! Dig Deeply! Take Action!-this book presents a clear framework, methods, and easy applications for designing and implementing effective literacy instruction. Numerous teaching strategies, classroom examples, teacher vignettes, and recommendations for using children's and adolescent literature found in this book make it an ideal text for preservice teachers in elementary and middle school reading, and English language arts methods courses as well as a practical resource for professional in-service workshops and teachers. Key features include: Instructional engagements for supporting students as they read picture books, chapter books, and news articles, and interact with social media and participate in the arts and everyday life; Voices from the field that challenge mythical thinking and offer realworld examples of what effective reading and language arts instruction looks like in practice; Owl statements that alert readers to key ideas for use when planning reading and language arts instruction.

For thousands of years, religion has been a key element of human societies. Whenever we, as educators, exclude or minimize religion's vast role in society, we leave out a large part of our world's shared history. This is a serious act of educational omission, even neglect, on the part of our nation's public middle and secondary schools, particularly when adolescents are so ready to engage in meaningful conversation about the world that surrounds them. Our book's central purpose is to provide middle-level and high school teachers with the necessary background knowledge and pedagogical skills necessary to help adolescents become religiously literate learners and citizens. Currently, there is no text like ours on the market that both covers a number of world religions, and presents concrete recommendations for teaching and learning this material. Our book is meant to educate the following audiences: teacher educators, middle-level and high school teachers in all content areas, administrators, school boards, and parents. For us, educating for religious literacy is all about bringing adolescents into the 21st century of teeming religious and spiritual diversity - a long-neglected component of the multicultural curriculum in public schools. In a post-9/11 world, religious literacy requires that students understand the whats and whys of differing religious beliefs, both in their own country and elsewhere. It means looking for commonalities, as well as differences, between and among the great wisdom traditions - both nationally and internationally. It is about understanding how all of us might live peacefully in a religiously diverse world. Our book accomplishes these goals by being informative, practical, experiential, case-based, and, above all, accessible to beginners.

Closing the Attainment Gap in Schools explores the experience and history of teachers who have a determined, no-nonsense approach to providing an excellent standard of education to all young people from differing backgrounds. Using professional conversations, voices are given to schools and teachers striving successfully to address this important issue through evidence-based practices. Linked with the Ad Astra Primary Partnership, what these teachers do with their schoolchildren will resonate with all schools in any location. From Superstar Assemblies to encourage their dreams and aspirations; to Munch 'n Mingle sessions to encourage healthy eating; to Marvellous Me software to encourage the use of open-ended questions and parent-child conversations at home; and through to the use of skilled specialists to develop their handwriting skills, this book: explores the rich complexity of teacher learning; contains numerous case studies and examples of success; reflects upon and considers evidence-based pedagogy, practical wisdom, teacher-research, self-improving school systems and social justice; proposes a rich array of approaches and suggests ways forward. Offering first-hand, invaluable and practical advice this wide-ranging book will encourage and enable any teacher to develop their own practical wisdom and a 'can do' approach whilst never shying away from the very real issues within education.

* Examines the impact of COVID-19 on our education and training systems and what the long-term ramifications might be for the pedagogy and purpose of education. * Includes case studies to show how teachers, pupils and schools have adapted to online teaching and learning * Looks at the new pedagogies that have developed in areas such as curriculum modelling, parental engagement, assessment, home learning, and on-line and blended learning and how these might be used in the longer term to create a more personalised approach to education that is inclusive of a far wider range of learners

How can ideas and concepts from psychology be applied smartly to the classroom to meet the needs of different learners? Supported by research and an awareness of the factors underpinning high-quality teaching, this book encourages teachers, and those training to teach, to examine their own methods in order to develop as confident, evidence-informed professionals. This third edition includes: * A new chapter on the psychology of elearning * A new discussion of applied cognitive theories in the classroom * The use of internationally friendly terminology throughout the book * Some streamlining of content to offer a more cohesive reading experience

The combined impact of linguistic, cultural, educational and cognitive factors on mathematics learning is considered in this unique book. By uniting the diverse research models and perspectives of these fields, the contributors describe how language and cognitive factors can influence mathematical learning, thinking and problem solving. The authors contend that cognitive skills are heavily dependent upon linguistic skills and both are critical to the representational knowledge intimately linked to school achievement in mathematics.