Picture
If you know the learning objective system that differentiates on 3 levels, based on the minimum learning needed ("All students MUST"), the "all students SHOULD" and "All students COULD", then perhaps a more dynamic student-friendly way of presenting this could be using "Warm" (Must), "Hot" (Should) and "Scorching" (Could). 

Students then start by challenging themselves with "Warm", and love the challenge of rising to be "Scorching"!

Find an example of Warm-Hot-Scorching here: 

differentating_tasks.png
File Size: 132 kb
File Type: png
Download File

 
Picture
Triptico is "a simple desktop application, packed full of innovative resources to enable you to quickly create engaging interactive learning."

Triptico is an collection of engaging, adaptable, interactive resources for educators.

Designed and created by David Riley for use in  the classroom, the resources give you the power to add interactivity to your teaching and can be customised with ease to suit any subject, age range (from pre-school to university) and level of learning.

There is a free version of the software, which downloads rapidly onto your desktop. You then open up the software and have access to some fantastic interactive elements such as a programme that chooses students groups for you, flip clocks, quizzes, magnets, ordering exercises, etc.

Download Triptico here: http://www.triptico.co.uk/download

Here is a short video explaining it:

 
Picture












(from http://bulmershetoolkit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/roll-plenary.html)

If we remember the first Upper School AFL Session in May, we were working on a 6x6 grid that allowed students a choice of activities. In the session, we used the grid to discuss AFL strategies. Here we have a plenary grid which can be adapted and used to provide various strategies at the end of a lesson to check progress.

How It Works 
- Print the grid out- laminate it- A4? A3? or have a grid permanently stuck into the students books?
- Then give students a dice to roll twice. Once to count along and once to count across.
- Whatever box the student randomly lands on is the task they must complete.
- Remember you can differentiate the grids based on student levels/grades- include blooms stems/higher order thinking skills etc.
- Please note the grid could be personalised to your subject. However, the above could be a generic grid for all subjects.


Download the full colour Word version here: 

plenary_review_grid.doc
File Size: 38 kb
File Type: doc
Download File

 
Is this the future of learning? In a recent LAHC conference in Mexico, Martin Skelton (Twitter: @martlearning )  explained the importance of the teacher's role in developing and practising more challenging skills with the students, rather than focusing on just "providing knowledge" to the students in class. The idea being that knowledge provision should be as swift as possible, allowing more time in the classroom for the teacher to work with students on developing skills such as analysis and critical thinking. 
The flipped classroom supports this idea and is fast becoming a favourite of forward thinking teachers. However, would it work in our school? Would our students be willing to spend time at home learning about theory prior to arriving at class?

Here is a link that explains that defines and explains the flipped classroom:
http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/the-flipped-classroom-model-a-full-picture/

Various resources compiled on the flipped classroom:
http://www.scoop.it/t/the-flipped-classroom

Another video link for teachers preparing to "flip their classes"!
http://youtu.be/WEMGzbAyRj8


 
Picture
FROM: http://www.sparkyteaching.com/resources/motivational/mindsatwork.php

 Caution! Minds at work' is a way of helping you reinforce the motivational messages you use every day in your classroom. Like the fact that in your classroom humour is a valued part of the day, that respect is a two-way thing and that mistakes are not as terrible as they're cracked up to be - in fact they're positively welcomed.Using a healthy mix of these positive messages and subtle humour (although the poster on the right may be too subtle first thing on a Monday morning...) 'Caution! Minds at work' is about nurturing the sorts of attitudes that'll help your learners fly...It's Health and Safety for brains.Who knows? One day we may get them made into actual posters. In the meantime, you're welcome to download the PDF (7.17 MB) and enjoy.