Teaching Powerpoints by @evenbetterif

Name: Kate McCabe
Twitter: @evenbetterif
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: English and Media
Position: KS4 Lead and Head of Media
5 Bits of Advice About: Teaching powerpoints

1. Keep it Clean. Keep it simple. Students cannot process too much information in one slide. Keep it to the absolute essentials.
2. Make it Visual. A visual image is memorable, thought provoking, creates clear link between ideas and text and best of all makes students work harder to make that link.
3. Make it Clear. Your instruction or task command should be clearly stated so that students are in no doubt of what you want them to do.
4. Keep it Consistent. Embed clear routines in your resources that students can learn to expect. It creates that safe, positive environment you are trying to establish.
5. Model Don’t forget to include the text for modelling of your annotation even though students have it on paper. Alternatively, ‘live’ write your model straight onto the slide.

Online Resources by @splozza

Name: Lorie Dickson
Twitter: @splozza
Sector:  Primary
Subject: All subjects
Position: Associate School Leader
5 Bits of Advice About: Online resources

1. http://www.literacyshed.com – brilliant story starters/videos.
2. http://www.topmarks.co.uk – great collection of interactive whiteboard resources.
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/education – updated site full of resources for all subjects.
4. http://hwb.wales.gov.uk/Resources – Cymru Grid for Learning is packed with resources/lesson,plans each including an interactive starter/main/plenary.
5. http://www.reachoutcpd.com/international/ – develop your science subject knowledge (free trial).

Resources by Jemma Sherwood

Name: Jemma Sherwood
Twitter: None given
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: SLE
5 Bits of Advice About: Resources

1. Don’t reinvent the wheel – use books and websites to get as much as you can.
2. Do make your own resources when you can (in contrast to #1) – it forces you to think more about them.
3. Always question the purpose, quality and potential usage of resource; only use what fits what you want to achieve with the group.
4. Share what you make, so that others don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We’re all in this together.
5. Don’t be afraid of textbooks, they are not the devil – but don’t be chained to them either.

Classroom Organisation by @mrs_standing

Name: Stephanie Standing
Twitter: @mrs_standing
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: MFL
Position: Teacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Classroom organisation

1. Have a box of tissues to hand.
2. Use the walls for posters with key words and things you want students to use in their own work. Work by the students can be displayed in the coridoor.
3. Use magazine boxes stacked on their side to keep photocopies for classes organised.
4. Make sure the pens you give out to forgetful students are so unattractive/uncool (mine have pink feathers on them) that the students are unlikely to walk off with yours.
5. When dismissing classes, make sure it is well managed, so that students can return any borrowed items to you. It’s a pain clearing up after them.

Resources by @mathsjem

Name: Jo Morgan
Twitter: @mathsjem
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Lead Practitioner
5 Bits of Advice About:  Resources

1. Ask your colleagues for ideas: “Do you have anything good for this topic?”
2. Organise your files well. Save all lessons in a sensible folder structure (class > topic > numbered lessons) so you can easily find resources next year.
3. Identify useful websites for your subject – where can you find banks of high quality resources? You might find Twitter helpful too.
4. Think about practicalities, budgets and preparation time – can your chosen resource be shrunk down and printed in black and white? Does it need laminating and cutting?
5. If you have a very specific resource in mind it might be quicker to make it yourself. Make sure you check it thoroughly and work out the answers before you use it in a lesson.