Teaching Isn't Complicated - It's Just 8 Simple Things

Great teaching is a lot like great cooking. It is done with love and care by people who really know what they are doing and who understand the ingredients. Just like cooking, however,  it is often overcomplicated by the people who write and talk about it. They often surround it with unneccesary jargon; suggest that there is one right way to teach - which is nonsense - and tell us all about the latest theories in way more depth than we need. Don't misunderstand - it's important to understand the psychology of teaching and a grasp of cognitive load can really help in designing effective lessons, but some blogs and posts are badly in need of a TLDR.

Sometimes the experts promote unhealthy habits - like too much salt and butter or fancy schmancy bells and whistles lessons. What is presented as "every day" practice  is seldom sustainable - we don't have that sort of time and energy and neither do the kids.

For new colleagues it can all be a bit overwhelming, so here's my antidote: 8 Simple Things.

1. Know and enforce the rules of the institution you work in. If lining up in silence is expected, then have your kids do it. If uniform is a hot issue in the school then make it one in your classroom too. Why? Because kids like consistency of expecations - it makes them feel secure - and in doing so you are supporting your colleagues.
2. Have clear ans simple classroom routines and expectations. It doesn't matter so much what they are as that they are dictated by you and you are consistent about them. Displaying them prominently is a good idea. Why? Because it sends a clear message that you  - the adult - are in charge, not them. Again, it's about making kids feel secure. They should not be in doubt as to what is ok and what is not.
3. Know your learners. Use their names and be aware of any barriers to learning they may have. Keep those barriers in mind as you prepare lessons and resources which lighten the cognitive load so they can process the important stuff.
4. Be clear in your own mind what you want your learners to learn each lesson. Always start wth that. Then decide what success is going to look like and finally design the activities. Never start with the activity - you will end up with "busy work" which might give you a quiet classroom but it won't give you progress.
5. Test knowledge regulary. There's good evidence that regular knowledge testing promotes good learning. Make it part of your routine and it will not take long: 20 spellings, 10 facts about an writer, 8 key quotations or whatever. There's lots of ways to do this - online quiz apps, Plickers, Kahootit or just a pen and piece of paper. Take your pick!
6. Give regular, focused feedback. Finding ways to do this which are low effort/high impact is the key to survival in modern teaching. Starting with clear success criteria makes life easier because they can be used as a tick list. Whatever method you choose, make sure that feedback is specific and helps learners to progress towards a goal that they understand.
7. Use positive language. Creating a positive atmosphere can be a wee bit of a challenge sometimes, but there is nothing so destructuve to the teacher/learner relationship that getting negative with them. Cut out the DON'T and replace with DO. Instead of saying "don't call out/swing on your chair/scribble in your neat book" say "wait your turn please/keep yourself safe by sitting properly/take pride in your presentation". It might seem trivial but it makes a big difference.
8. Make home contact.  It takes time to make calls, but most parents these days are happy to have an email if it means a quicker response. I have made a promise to myself for September to make at least one positive call each week and call immediately if I think there's a problem of any kind. When parents evening comes round, there should be no surprises for any parent or child.