Spring 1 2021 Teaching and Learning Newsletter

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Book Review: LEGACY How to Teach English By Charlie Duckett @xris32 This year, the English department are focusing their PLD around the text ‘How to Teach English’ by Chris Curtis. The book is split into ten chapters, each focusing on a different key element of the English curriculum however, Curtis acknowledges that teachers rarely have time to sit and read so, with this in mind, he has kept his explanations concise, provided a wealth of practical strategies that can be implemented immediately and focused on the importance of collaboration and sharing to make a better work-life balance. Throughout the text, Curtis focuses on the importance of engaging with students intellectually (leave the gimmicks at the door!) and the need for teachers to reflect on “whether commonly used practices are as effective as we think” – something that this text certainly makes you do! On 1 st December, I ran a department meeting focusing on the ideas and strategies discussed in Chapter 1: How to Teach Poetry. Poetry has always been an element of literature that I have studied and taught with some trepidation but reading this chapter has not only helped me to understand the power of poetry but also ignited a passion for this form of literature that I thought would never be there! Reading this chapter has completely shifted my perception of poetry and made me realise poems are simply “a feeling bottled” and “an emotional journey” and it is this emotional and personal connection which needs to be at the forefront of students’ exploration, not ‘spot the technique’! Within the meeting, we reflected on our own experiences and opinions of poetry and how we currently teach this form of literature to our students. I then highlighted my favourite elements from Chapter 1 and we discussed how we can implement these approaches into our current curriculum planning and our upcoming teaching of poetry at GCSE. Even though this text is called ‘How to Teach English’, any teacher who has to teach writing would find the chapters on essay writing, analysing texts and teaching accuracy worth a read. Curtis’ knowledge and understanding of the ‘real’ life of a teacher shines through as well as his absolute passion and enthusiasm for his subject.
Book Review into Action: How to Teach English By Charlie Duckett Charlie’s work is a good example of the impact of evidence and research-informed practice. As a result of reading Chris Curtis’ ‘How to Teach English’, Charlie Duckett led a CPD session based on Chapter 1 ‘Poetry’ to disseminate the key findings from the book in order to improve poetry within the English department and to review current provision at Key Stage 3. Here are some of the highlights from the CPD session.
Page 1 and 2: Teaching, Learning and Research INS
Page 3 and 4: Feedback is the breakfast of champi
Page 5: Online Learning and the return to f
Page 9 and 10: NQT Pathway By Helen Taylor In the
Page 11 and 12: Change By Mica Coleman Jones Increa
Page 13 and 14: Novel Change Study at the Beech Aca
Page 15 and 16: Empathy Accentuated By Deborah Wrig
Page 17 and 18: Engaging children with rewards duri
Page 19: Remote Teaching: Apps and Links Cre

Spring 1 2021 Teaching and Learning Newsletter

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