Primary education is in a period of transition. The whole question of what constitutes 'good practice' is being vigorously debated. This reader looks at primary practice in the light of this debate, examining it in the context of continuing efforts to understand and improve the learning opportunities offered to children in school. It offers a range of research into how classrooms work and the development of specific curriculum areas: science, technology, mathematics, the arts, humanities and language. The final section takes a closer look at life in the primary classroom from the perspectives of the children and their teachers.

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.

* Early Years/Key stage 1 version of bestselling 'classic' Descriptosaurus * Tried and tested formula for stimulating creative writing and overcoming 'blank page syndrome' * Hugely respected and well known brand * Model created based on extensive feedback from children, teachers and educational professionals * Trialled in numerous schools and other settings

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.

When Michael's father loses his job, he buys a boat and convinces Michael and his mother to sail around the world. It's an ideal trip - even Michael's sheepdog can come along. It starts out as the perfect family adventure - until Michael is swept overboard. He's washed up on an island, where he struggles to survive. Then he discovers that he's not alone. His fellow-castaway, Kensuke, is wary of him. But when Michael's life is threatened, Kensuke slowly lets the boy into his world. The two develop a close understanding in this remote place, but the question of rescue continues to divide them.

* Shares the successes and the problems that were solved by a diverse group of UK and international educators during the global pandemic. * Will help and inspire any teacher develop skills to support blended learning in whatever teaching situation they find themselves. * Introduces new ways of working and pedagogical approaches appropriate for developing global skills. * Encourages teachers to build on new skills developed during and post COVID-19 including distance and blended learning, use of technology and new ways of relating to students.

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.

When peer-on-peer sexual abuse becomes commonplace in schools, society has a problem. The toxic attitudes and behaviour some boys display towards girls and women begin with the way those boys relate to each other, especially in school. This book offers an in-depth analysis of the problems facing boys, and gives teachers the tools to help boys create relational cultures that are mutually respectful. Part One of the book looks at how boys relate to each other and how that affects the way they relate to girls and women. The second section outlines a programme that can be delivered, lesson by lesson, to pupils aged 9 to 18. The programme covers specific lesson topics that can be adapted for different age groups, including: * Anger * Banter * Fear of humiliation * Boy hierarchies * Jostling and consent * Crying and emotional expression * Lifestyle choices Working with Boys is a whole-school, iterative programme of study that uses guided reflection to empower boys to self-regulate their attitudes and behaviour. This book is essential reading for school leaders and teachers who want to promote a school environment in which boys are consistently principled, honourable, noble, trustworthy, upright and dignified.

This textbook is a comprehensive resource for teaching multicultural children's literature. Providing foundational information on how and why to integrate diverse children's literature into the classroom, this book presents a necessary historical perspective on cultural groups in the United States and context for how to teach children's literature in a way that reflects and sustains students' rich cultural backgrounds. The historical insights and context on diverse cultural groups at the heart of the book allow readers to deepen their understanding of why teaching about cultural diversity is necessary for effective and inclusive education. Part I offers foundational information on how to teach children's literature in a diverse society, and Part II overviews pedagogy, resources, and guidance for teaching specific culturally and linguistically marginalized groups. Each chapter contains book recommendations, discussion questions, and additional resources for teachers. With authentic strategies and crucial background knowledge embedded in each chapter, this text is essential reading for pre-service and in-service teachers and is ideal for courses in literature instruction, multicultural education, and English methods.

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.

The ultimate companion to teaching history in primary schools. With instant access to genuine historical sources that can be downloaded from a companion website, accompanied by exciting lesson plans, activities and photocopiable worksheets for both Key Stages 1 and 2, The National Archives History Toolkit for Primary Schools is the essential manual for teaching history in the primary classroom. Teaching history using original sources is crucial to developing pupils' critical thinking skills and understanding of what history is all about. Each lesson in this go-to guide is based on an original historical source from The National Archives that has never seen the light of day in standard school history textbooks. This enables a unique enquiry-based approach to teaching history that will fascinate and inspire pupils and develop their historical knowledge. The historical sources can be previewed in the book and downloaded from a companion website, allowing them to be flexible teaching tools. Covering themes across the National Curriculum, including events of national importance, the lives of significant individuals, the changing power of monarchs, aspects of social history from past to present and significant turning points, this toolkit makes it possible for all primary teachers to bring history to life throughout Key Stages 1 and 2.

This book explores what writing for pleasure means, and how it can be realised as a much-needed pedagogy whose aim is to develop children, young people, and their teachers as extraordinary and life-long writers. The approach described is grounded in what global research has long been telling us are the most effective ways of teaching writing and contains a description of the authors' own research project into what exceptional teachers of writing do that makes the difference. The authors describe ways of building communities of committed and successful writers who write with purpose, power, and pleasure, and they underline the importance of the affective aspects of writing teaching, including promoting in apprentice writers a sense of self-efficacy, agency, self-regulation, volition, motivation, and writer-identity. They define and discuss 14 research-informed principles which constitute a Writing for Pleasure pedagogy and show how they are applied by teachers in classroom practice. Case studies of outstanding teachers across the globe further illustrate what world-class writing teaching is. This ground-breaking text is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about the current status and nature of writing teaching in schools. The rich Writing for Pleasure pedagogy presented here is a radical new conception of what it means to teach young writers effectively today.

This book shines a light on the best research into learning and the brain development that makes it all possible. Written by two distinguished education journalists, it provides an invaluable guide to the latest information for teachers and parents seeking to help children to make the best use of their potential and steer a true course through an often confused, noisy and crowded learning landscape where ideas compete and nothing can seem clear. Summarising the most up to date and significant research in a jargon-free and understandable way, this book provides readers with simple and clear access to knowledge and information about what really helps children learn and flourish. Whether you're a teacher who wants to encourage the right kind of parental support or a parent who wants to do the best for your child, this is an essential read. Drawing on expert analysis, interviews and example studies, the chapters tackle common misconceptions and myths, and explore crucial topics including: The use of neuroscience in education; The role of parents and how all parents can help their children learn; What works in the classroom and the best ways of teaching a child. The first of its kind, this seminal text is a unique resource for parents, carers, primary and secondary teachers, student teachers, policymakers and anyone interested in the development of children and how they learn.

How to Teach Fiction Writing is a practical manual to help teachers of junior classes to focus on the key aspects of developing children's storywriting. The book presents a series of essential writing workshops full of creative ideas and fun activities. It also offers a range of advice including how to set up and run an effective workshop and how to monitor NLS links. Workshops focus on capturing stories, characterization, creating settings, skilful paragraphing, writing in a variety of genres from myths and fables to adventures and science fiction, and writing style.

Teachers are virtually never taught how learners make decisions about studying, concentration and participation, and are not able to find this in educational literature. The Behavioural Learning Classroom breaks new ground, allowing teachers to harness their students' traits and quirks to produce a more effective and compassionate classroom. Important lessons from behavioural science Optimising lesson design Effective (home)work Marking and feedback Rewards and sanctions The physical environment of the classroom Pupil behaviour Designing behavioural experiments and analysing data Supported by fundamental findings in behavioural science, this book provides practical, accessible, tried and tested techniques to improve the mental wellbeing of pupils and teachers alike. It is an enjoyable and accessible read for any teacher or school leader who wants to enhance their pupils' experience of learning.

The second edition of Mark Wolfmeyer's award-winning primer offers future and current math teachers an introduction to the connections that exist between mathematics and a critical orientation to education, one that accounts for race, social class, gender, sexuality, language diversity, and ability. Expanded and updated from the first edition, this book demonstrates how elements of human diversity and intersectionality have real effects in the mathematics classroom, and prepares teachers with a more critical math education that increases accessibility and equity for all students. By refocusing math learning toward the goals of democracy and social and environmental crises, the book also introduces readers to broader contemporary school policy and reform debates and struggles, especially in light of Covid-19 and the ongoing struggle for racial equity. Featuring concrete strategies and examples in both formal and informal educational settings, as well as discussion questions for teachers and students, text boxes with examples of critical education in practice, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading, Mark Wolfmeyer shows how critical mathematics education can be put into practice, relevant for undergraduate and graduate students in education, current teachers, and teacher educators.

* Outlines ten different ways in which drama can both stimulate and provide contexts, audience and purpose for writing. * Provides step by step guidance on how to use drama to facilitate the teaching of writing * Offers a wide range of ideas from simple classroom strategies to more complex units of work * Suitable for all teachers, including those with limited experience in using drama as a learning medium. * Includes definitions of the drama strategies and advice on how to set up and manage the drama process. lesson

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.

* Technology has led to the increasing visualisation of how children receive, manipulate and process information * This book takes visualisation as a starting point uses for introducing and developing a range of thinking skills and strategies for learning * It will help students improve and develop observational skills, assimilate visual information, increase inferential thinking, boost vocabulary, develop metacognitive abilities and much more...

* Offers guidance and practical ideas for teaching William Shakespeare's plays across Key Stage 1 and 2 * Focuses on whole-school literacy and offers children of all ages the opportunity to enjoy and engage with their literary heritage * Written in line with the objectives of the 2014 National Curriculum for England * Includes resources for teachers of any experience who want to teach creative, engaging and memorable lessons

The second edition of this core text from Learning Matters asks: What is teaching? Does curriculum really matter? Does behaviour need 'managing'? What is a learning environment today? Does my classroom reflect the identities of all of my learners? How can I bring the theme of sustainability to my teaching? Discussing these and many more, it covers the contents of professional studies modules and goes beyond to support trainees on placements and in their learning on the course. Five new chapters are added for this edition discussing themes of sustainability, teacher self care, diversity in the curriculum, sex and relationships education and our new understanding of learning environments. Learning features throughout have been designed to help students develop their understanding, broaden their perspectives, think more critically and apply theory to practice. These include: Case Studies to apply learning to real-life school contexts. Key Readings to encourage wider reading, broaden perspectives and offer practical ideas for the classroom. Key Theory features introduce and summarise big ideas, theories and research. Critical Questions direct reflection, help students engage with what their reading and encourage critical responses. Classroom Links highlight good practice, provide practical ideas and show how to implement these in the classroom. Assignment features offer helpful points to consider and practical advice for writing assignments on chapter topics, which act as great starting points.

This book provides a rationale for teaching inclusive teamwork and for understanding communication as a collective endeavour. It shows how teamwork can be taught within schools and emphasises the role that classmates have in facilitating good communication, particularly in the face of difficulty. Grounded in evidence from hours of therapy and analysis of children's accounts of communication and children's interactions with their peers, the book explores the components of teamwork by looking carefully at the way schoolchildren really interact. It draws on research from the fields of education, psychology and speech and language therapy to propose the framework for a programme suitable for children aged 7 to 14 years, designed to include pupils with speech, language and communication needs. The programme includes activities, a set of criteria to use as an outcome measure and examples of the way that children and young people have responded in practice. In using the inclusive teamwork programme outlined in this book, teachers have the potential to support all children in developing rapport, effective communication and problem-solving skills. Providing a framework designed to meet the needs of all learners, this book will be highly relevant reading for students of education, speech and language therapy and educational psychology, as well as speech and language therapists and practitioners in the field of education.