Inclusion and Increasing Engagement / Resources
Consider resources carefully - Will the children have access to to these resources at home? What options could I give them?
Resources children may not have access to at home:
technology
wifi
art supplies
books
stationary equipment like ruler, pencils, worksheets
Make sure not exclude anyone at home or in school and adapt the learning to be inclusive - e.g. ruler - teaching children to use their hand span if they don't have a ruler or tape measure
The most popular lessons are the simple ones - e.g. toilet roll projector
Sock Olympics - Sports Day - 70 children at school, 130 at home, easily differentiated activities. Inclusion - everyone at home should be able to take part, 8 activities using a pair of socks
Open-ended tasks - Outcomes can be presented in a variety of ways
Cross Curricular Engagement
For teacher confidence
Which subjects engage children? Use them! E.g. teaching French through PE activities
Engagement - Creating a Hook!
Make children excited about home learning
Add gimmicks and easter eggs for the children to spot
Make pupils enthusiastic to log onto online learning - lots of distractions and worries for children at home
Some examples:
News reported sketch
Songs or raps
Secret words or tasks
Apps to Record Home Learning
Loom - talking over a PowerPoint
InShot - practical lessons
Tasks involved in lesson - children have to pay attention to recording, with ability to rewind for recapping. Word banks / sentence starters act as scaffolding to those children not as confident. More challenging tasks for higher ability children - differentiation
Engagement - Routines
Repeating daily activities - popular with parents to motivate children and maintain normality, helps with home learning
15 mins TimeTable Rock Stars
20 mins reading / Accelerated Reader
Spelling Shed Task
Mad Minutes of Maths
Can track and monitor this engagement, see how children are coping with the tasks
Feedback
Communicate with parents and children of how they're doing - praise and rewards, guidance, support, reassurance
Rewards
Certificates
Chocolate
Star of the Week
Positive celebratory approach encouraging students and generate a good learning culture
No pressure on parents - lots of things going on at home
Getting children to send work in; each lesson, each day, things they're proud of, things they're struggling with
Live Wellbeing Sessions
Supporting the wellbeing of families are huge part of school's duty of care
Letting children know they're not alone - perseverance and resilience drops when children can't see their friends
Registration Questions - an opportunity to talk to each child, e.g. would you rather
Activity / Game
Sharing a story
Scavenger hunt
Quiz
A chance to chat and see friends
Emotional Register - how they feel on a scale of 1-10
Other Wellbeing Approaches
Wellbeing will continue to be a huge priority after COVID is over
Friday Feeling - mindfulness strategies
5 4 3 2 1 - things you can see, feel, hear, etc.
Calligraphy, Positive affirmations - Decider Skills
Smiling Mind
What have you learned that you will take back to the 'normal' classroom?
Teachers are incredible - adaptable, creative, amazing
Developing strong home-school links, communication and teaching
Reflecting on my own practice
Lots of resources online
#TeachLikeAChumpion