Group 3 - Student Engaged and Interactive Instructional Time

I'm sure all of you would agree that lesson time is precious thus the need to maximise every second.

Think about the issues below.

Do we do them?

Why not?

Do we even try?

Find out if anyone else has tried but the outcome is different from yours.

(c)

- Yes, it is carried out but not simulataneously. It is carried out during different lessons to cater to different section of students. Also dependent on concepts being taught.

- When we give them classwork and they are required to internalise the questions.

- Yes. Examples: having another student to answer a student's question; peer marking through answers written on the whiteboard; discussions on why a certain student's answer is incorrect.

- Dependent on ratio. 1:40 sometimes, there will be strayers. however, things are better when there are 2 teachers in the class.

- no. Weaker students need more breaks in between to keep them engaged. One way is to assigned 3 pages of homework. however, students are only required to finish page 1. However, students who are faster can proceed to pages 2 and 3.

- Yes. By peeping at their notes. Or when students ask intelligent questions that stemmed off from the activity.

- Most of the time. However, sometimes it is inevitable especially so we need to catch the students before their last period with banded classes etc.

Task 2

- discuss on the issues assigned to your group

- after which, your group may choose to discuss on the other issues

a) Minimising Non-instructional (Administrative) Time and Developing Efficient Management Systems

Housekeeping matters (attendance, forms, announcements)

• What are the routines and procedures in your class?

• Are students given responsibilities to do some of these management tasks?

• Is there a reward system for efficiency?

• Are learning (kept in school) materials conveniently stored and easily available to students?

• Is time allocated for transitions? Do you stop at the chime or the bell?

• How do you manage discipline issues while teaching?

b) Pacing and Rhythm During Instructional Time

• Do students know what is going to happen next during the lesson?

• Should the activities in the opening and closing minutes meaningful or administrative?

• Should most of your lesson structures similar?

• Is the time given for tasks appropriate?

• Is there sufficient time for students to process and make meaning? What are some example of such activities? How do we structure the lesson to accommodate this time?

• Is wait time conscientiously practised?

• Is there sufficient time for different stages of learning? (processing, making meaning, clarification, reinforcement, mental break)

• Principles of Learning (Cognitive, Attention and Engagement, Motivational, Technical)

c) Maximise Engaged and Academic Learning Time

• Is there variety of engagement for different style of learners?

• Is there ‘quiet’ individual time for students?

• Do the students get to be the teacher?

• Is there sufficient ‘walk about’ time by teacher to monitor individuals?

• Can all the students (weakest to strongest) be engaged for the same duration?

• Do we have a good idea if all or most students are meaningfully engaged in the lesson? (Do students say ‘wah, lesson so fast over? Double period some more’ or ‘huh, only 10 minutes have passed…’)

• Do we protect instructional time? Of other teachers as well?

d) School level (for KPs)

• Besides guidelines from HQ, what are other considerations when allocating the duration for each subject?

• Was there consideration to protect instructional time when the duration of each period is reduced?

• What are some support that the school can provide to reduce non-instructional time and making housekeeping matter more efficient?

• Are the supports monitored and reviewed? or just assumed to be in place and working?

e) Feel free to add in more issues that are not listed but worth discussing :)