Dr Nathaniel Swain and Shane Pearson - From the big five to a coherent curriculum
Webinar Think Forward Educators Webinar Think Forward Educators

Dr Nathaniel Swain and Shane Pearson - From the big five to a coherent curriculum

At Brandon Park Primary School, we are building upon our low variance spelling and word reading curriculum, to make direct connections between spelling, reading, and writing instruction within English lessons and in every learning area. In this session we will describe how we are ensuring that in every subject, children are supported to read, write and discuss high-level academic concepts and ideas, and put their hard-won literacy skills to good use. This practical and research-informed presentation will detail how we have sought to make explicit and direct connections between what students are learning in English, and the vast knowledge bases in the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities. By using a knowledge-rich, coherent and cohesive curriculum map, and the thought-enriching techniques from the Writing Revolution, we are supporting our students to become informed, insightful, critical and independent readers, writers, and learners. Come hear how you could do the same!

Read More
Shane Pearson - Introducing PhOrMeS: A Free Foundation-Year 6 Word Reading & Spelling Curriculum
Webinar Think Forward Educators Webinar Think Forward Educators

Shane Pearson - Introducing PhOrMeS: A Free Foundation-Year 6 Word Reading & Spelling Curriculum

Standing for Phonology, Orthography, Morphology, Etymology and Semantics, PhOrMeS aims to equip teachers and schools with a ready-to-teach, comprehensive, whole-class curriculum which covers the skills outlined above. In this webinar, you will hear from the lead author, Shane Pearson. You will learn about the components of the PhOrMeS Word Reading & Spelling Curriculum and how they progress from Foundation to Year 6, learn how PhOrMeS uses the SoR and SoL to teach decoding and spelling, and see examples of slides and instructional sequences and much much more.

Read More
Implementing the science of learning when the rest of the school isn't - Brendan Lee
Webinar Think Forward Educators Webinar Think Forward Educators

Implementing the science of learning when the rest of the school isn't - Brendan Lee

Have ever you had the realisation that the way your school has been going about things is not evidence-informed? Have you also struggled with initiating the changes that are needed for school improvement? This talk is targeted at classroom teachers and middle leaders who are experiencing barriers in the implementation process. In this presentation, Brendan will discuss some of the strategies that teachers can use when approaching school leaders and what you need to understand before moving forward.

Read More
A crash course in pedagogy for surviving and thriving in the English classroom - Rebecca Birch
Webinar Think Forward Educators Webinar Think Forward Educators

A crash course in pedagogy for surviving and thriving in the English classroom - Rebecca Birch

Rebecca Birch hosts a crash course for early career English teachers on how to create cultures of writing and reading in the classroom. Drawing on evidence-based practice, Rebecca will share key strategies to support teachers in making writing routine, including the direct teaching of writing structures that enhance learning, and the modelling and scaffolding of responses. She will also present on how to support students in reading comprehension, while providing an appropriate level of challenge. Finally, she will present on the structures and resources that can support early career teachers in doing their job, for example effective use of aides, strategic programming and efficient whole class and individualised feedback.

Read More
The Great Teaching Toolkit - Prof Rob Coe
Webinar Think Forward Educators Webinar Think Forward Educators

The Great Teaching Toolkit - Prof Rob Coe

Helping teachers to become even more effective is mainly about teacher learning. Crucially, teacher learning is just like every other kind of learning, so clarifying the curriculum - what is worth learning to get better at - is fundamental.

The Great Teaching Toolkit: Evidence Review, published in June 2020, presents the latest and best available evidence about what great teachers do that makes a difference. Teacher learning also depends on feedback - rich, insightful, actionable feedback that helps teachers to focus on the things that matter, to see how well they are doing, what they are improving and what they can most usefully work on. In this talk, Rob will describe what the great Teaching Toolkit is, how it could support your teaching, and how you can get involved.

Read More
Designing a Low Variance Spelling & Reading Curriculum - Jenny Baker
Webinar Think Forward Educators Webinar Think Forward Educators

Designing a Low Variance Spelling & Reading Curriculum - Jenny Baker

A Low Variance Scope & Sequence is a document that outlines the “what” and the “when” of literacy teaching – particularly in relation to systematic synthetic phonics; it “prescribes” a “map” of the “route” for Tier 1 and Tier 2 teaching. In this webinar, Jenny will discuss how to select words to create the best possible entry into any sound system based on the properties that best discriminate between the chosen spellings.

Read More