Talk:Session 1

Advice that works at all levels!

The lesson journey: View your lessons as a journey in which the destination is a place where new knowledge or understanding has been gained.
Map the lesson: Start your lesson with a statement of aims, telling the students ‘This is what we are going to achieve today’. Map out the direction of the lesson, giving your students an overview of all the places (activities) they will visit.
Use short tasks: With short activities, there is less opportunity for the students to get bored, and they are more likely to stay on task. Using short tasks allows you to: set a clear time limit to focus the class; give a target to aim for; and offer a reward for achieving that target.
Use a variety of tasks: By using a range of tasks you will allow students with different learning styles to succeed. This range might include: writing; speaking; listening; drawing; hands-on, practical work; and active, ‘get-up-and-do’ work.
You be teacher: Think about ways in which you can hand over the learning to the students whenever possible. This helps give them a sense of ‘ownership’ of the learning, and will also give you a rest from teacher-led work.