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Strategic Learning Networks case studies
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Verb games, cards and dice in The English Martyrs SLN
October 2007
Lead Teacher and Lead School
Lesley Welsh, The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Hartlepool
Main objectives of the network
The underlying theme is using the Framework of Objectives to enhance progression for our learners in KS3.
The specific areas on which we want to concentrate are creativity and AfL.
How many schools are involved in the network?
Six secondary schools.
Description of how the network was launched:
We decided to hold an afternoon launch for our network and we used part of our funding to pay for cover for all schools to ensure that we would be able to send two colleagues from each department in order to help dissemination across schools.
The afternoon was split into various sessions, each looking at different strands we were focusing on and setting up both the rationale for the KS3 relaunch and the future plans for our SLN.
In session 1, we invited our Regional Trainer Steve Mulgrew to talk to colleagues about the rationale behind the Framework and the reason for the relaunch. This excellent session gave colleagues an insight into CILT and the secondary strategy and reinforced that this was a national CPD opportunity and not simply another meeting.
In session 2, our Lead Professional Christine Robertson talked colleagues through SLN objectives and looked at the reasons for choosing these, reminding colleagues that they had emphasised them in their 'request for information' forms and showing how we could make progress with these in our work. She then presented the ‘nuggets’ and looked particularly at Assessment for Learning. Colleagues were asked to write down their definition of AfL then see if it changed after looking at the nugget in more detail. Colleagues were keen to discuss their ideas and Christine used some of the video clips in the AfL nugget to stimulate this discussion which carried on over coffee!
In the third session, I introduced one of the other main strands of our action plan – creativity. There was a short presentation on creativity in which the reasons for using creativity were discussed. Using ideas from the creativity nugget and referring to creativity as a way of improving challenge to pupils, increasing motivation and eventually increasing KS4 uptake.
I demonstrated a creative activity, previously used with a top set in Year 9 and which could be used at varying levels with all KS3 pupils. When you visit Le Générateur de Mots d'Amour and enter a few simple details and terms, you can create a poem with a few clicks! I explained that I had used this to good effect with Year 9, who were able to understand the gist of the poem they had created even though it contained some language with which they were clearly unfamiliar.
Then I showed how pupils could create an acrostic in exactly the same way and this was something which pupils are then able to create themselves – using the language they know plus dictionaries to be more creative! I showed some real examples created by my class which varied in style and level of language attempted, but all demonstrated pupils experimenting and enjoying using simple terms in a different way.
I developed the theme of creativity using free gifts! From our network budget we had decided to invest in some ‘creative’ resources for our colleagues and purchased a ‘Vital Verb Kit’, extra dice and a copy of the book ‘Soapland’ (MLG Publishing) for each school in the SLN. Susan from MLG had kindly provided us with a list of fun activities to show colleagues how rich these resources could be as a stimulus for creativity in the classroom. Colleagues proceeded to play quick flash verb games, verb games with pronoun dice, colour games with verb cards, matching pairs with food and drink cards, mind maps for describing a soap character and much more! By this stage of the meeting colleagues were ready to have some hands-on activities and they enjoyed both the opportunity to play and the chance to explore these resources in more depth. Much fun was had by all!
In the final session our other Lead Teacher, Louise Tempest, spoke about coaching, showing colleagues how the plans for the network would be carried out through two coaching cycles. She gave reasons why coaching would work for the SLN. This made it clear that colleagues were not going to be expected to join in with a multitude of twilights which might not have the desired impact on their classroom practice.
Finally colleagues had the opportunity to compare timetables with the two Lead Teachers and we were able to make first appointments for the planning meetings in the schools in which we would be supporting teachers.
Any advice you may give to others looking to set up a network:
Give colleagues a reason to attend the meetings! Have a really clear purpose as colleagues will undoubtedly attend lots of meetings and will enjoy those which have an impact on their classroom practice.
Using a variety of hands-on and more theoretical sessions will keep colleagues interested.
Ask colleagues themselves what they would be interested in and if you do not get a response, give them a proforma where they can rate ideas you have for further network events.
Briefly, what are the future plans of the network?
A colleague from each of the six departments will be involved in two coaching cycles with one of our Lead Teachers over the next six months. Progress will be assessed at our termly Leading Edge meetings in order to ensure that colleagues in the SLN are happy with the way the programme is running. We have already invited a speaker (Steven Fawkes) to our network meeting in January as we feel that he will give us a post-Christmas boost and reinvigorate our work as we approach the March deadline to fulfil the plans of the network.
Download the powerpoint presentation used at this meeting (ppt, 1.4MB)
CILT wishes to thank Lesley Welsh for writing this case study.
