09/10/2021
Hopefully outlining my approach to conducting a lesson will be helpful:
My main focus is always to help students feel confident while in class, so I always start each lesson by asking what their current topic is and checking whether help is needed or not. [I never just accept their ‘No’, but probe with a few questions…...]
If there is nothing, or we do it quickly, I then focus on algebra, particularly equations, as that is embedded in almost every other topic. A brief re-visit every few weeks of what has already been covered helps to keep it alive.
Another key focus is helping each student to actually read questions and develop appropriate approaches to problem solving, but rather than teach this as a separate topic I try to integrate it via the topics that we cover. If we uncover any trip points we work on those, too.
I also try to build on what each individual student tends to be good at. E.g. If Geometry is a strength for a GCSE student, that can be pushed to level 9 work to give both confidence and extra marks come the exam. If a topic is a real block, we will chip away at it but there is no point in pushing it to a high level.
So the plan is generic, but the ex*****on of it is very specific to what each student needs and to what I uncover as we go along.
