Monthly Archives: October 2014

Quality Improvement, Teaching Pedagogy

Marking for Progress

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Jennifer McKenna – Biology/Science Teacher

2.1 Learners’ experiences: The extent to which learners are motivated and actively involved in their own learning and development

To ensure that pupils are actively engaging with their work, this method of marking is easy to do and monitor. It also encourages pupils to demonstrate self-awareness as to where there strengths are and what they need to improve on for a particular piece of work or assessment.

The simple code that the pupils need to be familiar with is:

WWW– What Went Well

EBI– Even Better If

IOW– Improve our work (Improvements highlighted in yellow)

I use it towards the end of a topic to highlight the areas for improvement before sitting an end of unit test. However it is also a nice easy plenary where the pupils peer- assess their work from the lesson.  I encourage pupils to be aware of Blooms Taxonomy key words such as describe, explain, suggest, so that their improvement is always linked to progress.

Literacy, Responsibility of All, Staff Book Club

Staff Book Club – The Color Purple

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The aim of the staff book club is to allow members of staff to get together and discuss texts that interest us all. It will also be a platform to develop critical thinking skills as well as to open up discussion about literacy across the curriculum. Reading for enjoyment is an effective way to relax and can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing of those who wish to take part.

Author: Alice Walker  Published: 1982

Interdisciplinary learning, Literacy, Responsibility of All, Self-Reflection, Skills, Teaching Pedagogy

Vocabulary Working Group

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Brooke Gordon – English Teacher and Literacy Development Officer

2.1 Learners’ Experiences

5.1 The Curriculum, 5.3 Meeting Learning Needs and 5.9 Improvements Through Self-Evaluation

I’ve recently taken on the post of Literacy Development Officer. As part of my post I decided to focus on improving and supporting the learning and teaching of vocabulary across the curriculum. My aim is to encourage different approaches to the teaching of, and rich learning of, new vocabulary (see my Prezzi which can be accessed by clicking the above picture). With support from Laura Compton, I have created a learning group on GLOW which acts as a discussion board for myself and some colleagues to share and try new ideas, as well as reflect upon the effectiveness of different strategies.

Using this platform has been a huge learning curve for all of us, but I feel it is an effective way to support one another as we move through our own enhanced pedagogy. We are able to share resources as well as ask questions and advice as we devise and develop our ideas throughout the year.

The research I carried out regarding the learning of vocabulary was very interesting and and I have found that working with colleagues from Murrayfield Language Centre has also helped me to channel my ideas. I then linked these ideas to the Literacy Framework and Pathways and presented this project to a handful of colleagues from across the authority. Moving forward, we hope to continue supporting one another and offering advice as the year progresses.

Skills, Teaching Pedagogy, Uncategorized, Vision and Leadership

Ukulele in the Classroom

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Siobhan Cardow – Music Teacher

2.1  Learners’ Experiences

5.1 The Curriculum and 5.9 Improvement Through Self-Evaluation

With changes in SQA, the ukulele is now an approved instrument at National level.  This is a new and exciting instrument which pupils enjoy playing and was introduced into schools across Scotland in August 2013.  In the last year, I have attended a ukulele workshop at the Fringe Festival and expanded on my knowledge of SQA requirements whilst building upon my skills on this instrument at Scottish Association for Mucis Education (SAME) conferences and other CPD events, in order to effectively teach this instrument.  The music department ordered a class set as part of the S1 and S2 Music courses and this has led to pupils performing on the ukulele at National 4/5 levels.  It has become so popular in the department that the ukulele club is also running for the second year in a row.  It provides pupils with the challenge and enjoyment of learning an instrument as well as the opportunity to become a further part of the school, meet young people from various year groups and work with others.