This book is a guide for all teachers in the FE and Skills Sector, regardless of their discipline. It explores how FE teachers can address the mathematics and English needs of all learners, to redress the skills gap that is a current focus. The text explores what works in the sector, examining the barriers to learning and how all learners can be included. It takes a focused look at what works for the vocational learners who have not succeeded in a school setting, and helps tackle the problem of low motivation in learners. The text goes beyond simply providing strategies to follow and includes background theory and detailed case studies to enhance your understanding of different approaches.
Improving Maths and English in Further Education provides a strategic, practical and easily applied toolkit for teachers and leaders as they work with students to gain core skills. The book highlights the unique challenges that are faced within the sector and the value of embedding college-wide literacy and numeracy for success, providing a range of strategies to resolve challenges. Structured to make sure that there is always an alternative approach, method or suggestion, the book allows the reader to choose the steps that suit their context best. Each chapter looks at the key priorities: •Identifies a range of potential solutions to a challenge faced in FE •Acknowledges potential implementation pitfalls and remedies •Suggests practical takeaways, key considerations and next steps Teachers and staff within further and Post-16 education will find this an essential resource for supporting students studying maths and English. "Teachers and leaders from curriculum areas across the sector will find scenarios and anecdotes that resonate in this book; timetabling, accountability, motivation… a must read." Catherine Sezen, Senior Policy Manager – FE "This is an interesting and engaging read from Jonny, who has produced a book that brings together contemporary educational literature, with a personal and honest take on leading and teaching English and Maths in FE." Steven Wallis, Executive Director Quality, NCG "This book caters for the many different voices, people and characters in FE - it does exactly what it says on the tin... It will give you all the tools for a great job with an evidence base to boot." Julia Smith, @tessmaths Jonathan Kay has managed and led English and maths departments in Further Education since 2017, as well as working as consultant for the Association of Colleges and Lead English Expert and examiner for a leading exam board. Jonathan has also previously worked as an English teacher, 2nd in Department and Head of English in a range of Secondary schools.
FE and other post-16 tutors are increasingly being asked to embed and develop English and maths skills in their lessons, and the revised common inspection framework from Ofsted places an increased emphasis on this. You may lack confidence or the required background knowledge to do this, or be struggling to find ideas that will engage and motivate your learners. Specifically written for use within vocational contexts, this text provides you with a theoretical understanding of the issues involved, including barriers to learning and how to overcome these. In addition it offers a range of practical strategies and ideas to get you started and build confidence and competence in your students. Each activity is accompanied by detailed notes that highlight key learning points, the development of vocational skills and extension opportunities.
This book is a guide for all teachers in the FE and Skills Sector, regardless of their discipline. It explores how FE teachers can address the mathematics and English needs of all learners, to redress the skills gap that is a current focus. The text explores what works in the sector, examining the barriers to learning and how all learners can be included. It takes a focused look at what works for the vocational learners who have not succeeded in a school setting, and helps tackle the problem of low motivation in learners. The text goes beyond simply providing strategies to follow and includes background theory and detailed case studies to enhance your understanding of different approaches.
In Making Every Maths Lesson Count: Six principles to support great maths teaching, experienced maths teacher and lecturer Emma McCrea takes away the guesswork as she sums up the key components of effective maths teaching. Maths classrooms are incredibly complex places. At any given time, the factors influencing the effectiveness of your teaching are boundless and this can lead to relying on intuition as to what might work best. This book aims to signpost a route through this complexity. Writing in the practical, engaging style of the award-winning Making Every Lesson Count, Emma McCrea helps teachers to move beyond trial and error by sharing evidence-informed tips and suggestions on how they can nudge the impact of their teaching in the right direction. Making Every Maths Lesson Count is underpinned by six pedagogical principles challenge, explanation, modelling, practice, feedback and questioning and presents 52 high-impact strategies designed to streamline teacher workload and ramp up the level of challenge in the maths classroom. The book draws out the key findings from the latest research on memory, learning and motivation and each chapter features numerous worked examples to demonstrate the theory in action, together with a concluding series of questions that will help maths practitioners relate the content to their own classroom practice. Furthermore, Emma's writing offers clarity around the language of maths teaching and learning, and also delves into the finer points of how to identify and address any misconceptions that students may hold. Written for new and experienced practitioners alike, this gimmick-free guide provides sensible solutions to perennial problems and inspires a rich, challenging and evidence-based approach to the teaching of maths. Suitable for maths teachers of students aged 11 to 18 years, and for primary school maths specialists.
Further education colleges now deliver education and training to more students than any other institutions in the post-compulsory sector. Presenting a practical guide to teaching and learning within the context of the changing FE environment, this book addresses the diverse nature of the curriculum and of the student body for which it is designed. This new edition looks at recent developments in policy, legislation, the organisation of the FE sector, student profiles and other contextual factors, which have an impact on the everyday life of colleges. Topics in this third edition include: 14-16 year olds in college and the impact of the Increased Flexibility Programme marginal groups in college, including second language learners and asylum seekers workplace learning, college/workplace links, e-learning and individualised learning developments in e-assessment, and personal records of achievement Full of practical activities and case study examples, Teaching and Learning in Further Education helps the reader to consider differing student needs and how these might best be served. It is essential reading for lecturers, tutors and teaching assistants in higher and further education.
Written by bestselling author Ann Gravells, this is the complete go-to guide for anyone wanting to be (or working as) a teacher or trainer in the further education and skills sector, in the UK and beyond. It has all the information you need to work towards a qualification such as the Award, Certificate or Diploma in Education and Training. It is also relevant to anyone taking a Train the Trainer course, or an international teaching qualification. The book takes you through all the information you need to know, opening up the topic for learning in an easily accessible way. Interactive activities are included throughout, along with real examples of teaching and training in practice. The book also includes examples of completed teaching documents. This is a comprehensive text, covering: The role of a teacher/trainer Factors contributing to learning Planning and facilitating learning for groups and individuals Using technology and resources to support learning Assessing learning Quality assurance Evaluation, reflection, and continuing professional development (CPD) Preparing for a micro-teach session and teaching/observed practice
The Government's plans for replacing GCSEs with new English Baccalaureate Certificates in some subjects is trying to do too much, too fast. Introducing several fundamental changes at the same time and to a tight timetable will jeopardise the quality of the reforms and may threaten the stability of the wider exam system. GCSEs need "significant improvements" in order to restore public confidence in the exam system, but the Government still needs to make the case that the GCSE brand is so discredited that it is beyond repair. MPs are also concerned about the impact of the changes on subjects outside the English Baccalaureate, where students will be taking GCSEs for some time to come, according to the Government's plans. The report also questions how well the Government's proposals will serve lower attaining pupils, who are often the most disadvantaged. There is no evidence that the proposed changes will help to tackle under-achievement or narrow the attainment gap between the richest and poorest students any more effectively than GCSEs. The Government is also called upon to re-think its plans for a Statement of Achievement specifically for lower attaining pupils. MPs agree that changes are needed to the way in which exams are run, but they raise serious concerns about franchising subjects to exam boards. The report is critical of the Government's decision to abolish some GCSEs before publishing the outcomes of the National Curriculum Review and its proposed changes to the school accountability system. MPs also note the wide-ranging stakeholder opposition to many of the Government's proposals.
The overriding issue for many Further Education teachers and trainees is learner disengagement, leading to behavioural issues and a lack of motivation in the classroom. Faced with unmotivated learners on a daily basis, teachers can soon begin to lose their own enthusiasm and confidence. Motivating Unwilling Learners in Further Education offers a range of practical strategies for engaging your learners and reigniting the spark of successful classroom teaching. Susan Wallace draws on her years of teaching and researching in Further Education to provide an up-to-date selection of strategies and scenarios for managing behaviour and motivating unwilling learners, including tips for supporting students and meeting curriculum requirements. This is a valuable toolkit of ideas and advice for ensuring that everyone you teach, from school leavers to mature students, reaches their full potential.
This book combines the unique and unlikely duo of popular TV shows and pedagogy to help teachers and trainers support their students' skills development. Aimed at post-16 teachers, educators, and trainers of all vocational and technical disciplines, it encourages readers to relate the examples from popular culture and TV to their teaching toolkit. It is aligned to the Occupational Areas 1-8 within the new Diploma in FE, and is also suitable for those doing the Apprenticeship in FE teaching The book uses examples from famous reality TV shows to reflect on how people learn practical skills such as baking, dancing, ice skating, sewing and pottery. Discussing everyday examples from TV with which readers may be familiar provides an innovative and engaging starting point to explore all aspects of teaching and learning a skill - including observation, demonstration, practice, feedback and assessment. It encourages readers to think about TV shows such as Masterchef, Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing from the point of view of the teacher. The unique mix of seemingly low-brow popular culture combined with serious pedagogy offers key insights for learning and teaching, including critical discussion of topics such as inclusion and the value of formative feedback. Teachers and trainers will develop their own knowledge and skills to support the practical skills development of their students.
