Second on what will hopefully be a series of ‘echoed’ posts, based on the weekly emails I’ve been asked to produce in my setting. Still my own, rather than based on suggestions from colleagues, so regular readers will probably recognize ideas and links.
Three quick links about effective revision this morning; it seems appropriate given what many of our students are up to.
Five out of Three/Teach, Do, Review from David Fawcett: a useful framework for structuring a revision lesson, so students don’t spend an hour flicking through textbooks and chatting about Eastenders.
Some similar ideas, explained rather more briefly, are available through Student Toolkit. Some are printable so can be given to students as they walk in the door, and are intended to be used individually.
If you’re using computers, the free site bubbl.us lets students generate mind maps without too much of a learning curve. I find it useful to ask them to organize clear information from another source, eg Bitesize or S-Cool, in a graphical format. This way they can focus on links rather than making excuses for forgetting an odd fact. It’s easy for them to test themselves, just by covering up a section and challenging each other to fill in the ‘gaps’.
We’d be really interested in feedback or suggestions about these or any other classroom resources…
What should I share with colleagues? What would be your recommendations, of themes or individual ideas/links, that are most likely to increase involvement?
(Sounds like a teacher choosing lesson activities for an able but unmotivated class, doesn’t it…)