Daily Archives: 24/09/2014

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A life saver for any teacher new to Politics

‘A life saver for any teacher new
to Politics…’

I wish this had been available when I started teaching Unit 1 – as a new teacher to Politics it would have made my life a lot easier. (L Peart, Politics Teacher, Head of Department and Independent Reviewer)

This comprehensive scheme of work for A Level Edexcel Unit 1 People and Politics guides you through over 50 lessons of key content to make sure your students’ first experience of Politics is engaging and fun. Plus it’s all directly relevant to the Edexcel specification; and tried and tested by an experienced Politics teacher, you can be confident your students won’t miss a thing!

  • This is one of the best sets of resources I have been lucky enough to review and also use. I am blown away by the detail and effort put into this; the creator has done a fantastic job. (D Taborda, Learning Manager and Independent Reviewer)
  • Absolutely brilliant… this will transform what I am delivering and really help students’ attainment, particularly at the upper end, to achieve better results. A really good resource – the best I’ve reviewed – well done! (S Sharpe-Foster, Teacher and Independent Reviewer)

For each lesson the resource consists of:

  1. Structured lesson plans including ideas for starters, mains and plenaries
  2. Supported by worksheets and activities that encourage structured note-taking
  3. Stimulating PowerPoints that are expertly designed and animated to keep your students’ interest

ZigZag resources are available as ‘copy masters’ or in editable format and come with a site licence, allowing you to pay once and copy as often as you need, or put on your server for multiple use.

The Edexcel Unit 1 People and Politics Schemes of Work are available per topic from as little as £44+VAT as photocopy masters with site licence. Also available for the whole of Unit 1 for £149+VAT, or get Word and PDF copies of all worksheets and lesson plans for £199+VAT.

Would I purchase this resource?… Definitely YES YES YES!
(S Sharpe-Foster, Teacher and Independent Reviewer)

Preview and order now at http://zzed.co.uk/WH60

ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol BS10 5PY
t: 0117 950 3199 | f: 0117 959 1695 | WH60@zigzageducation.co.uk

Give your promotional code WH60 to get free postage!

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The Maverick Theatre Company – Available Autumn 2014 – Spring 2015.

Arguably one of Shakespeare’s finest History Plays, this critically acclaimed, one-person adaptation features historical accuracy with much of Shakespeare’s original text. A spirited production combines an innovative recipe of one actor and a ‘supporting cast’ of lights, sound, special effects and an evocative and original live music score. The result is 70 minutes edge-of-the-seat excitement.Our Maverick Henry V workshop can accompany the show and delivers drama-based exercises relevant to National Curriculum KS3 and KS4 (content taught at an appropriate level to the pupils), with a focus on storytelling techniques, writing skills and teamwork. The most important focus for us at Maverick is to improve communication skills, confidence, co-ordination and understanding of key works of literature. All workshops will be led by either our Associate Director Katie Merritt, who achieved her MFA at East 15 Acting School, or actor Ed Morris, who has just finished a summer of school workshops with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In addition to this, we can also provide the Maverick Henry V Education Pack which serves as a guide to teachers to continue to explore and develop the play and relevant associated literature, through practical drama-based activities in the classroom with key references to National Curriculum specifications.

Show Only – £400

Show + Workshop – £500

Show + Workshop + Education Pack – £600

For further details, please email nick@mavericktheatre.co.uk.

“A towering, quicksilver show… quite brilliant.”
Stratford-upon-Avon Herald

“A Henry V to stir the imagination. A truly vivid theatrical experience, comic, ironic and deeply moving. The arrows hiss upwards and you chill inside… a miracle. The battle sequence at Agincourt is a tour de force.”
Birmingham Post.

“Hennegan’s Henry is an adventure story for today… this will surely exorcise the ghost of schoolroom Shakespeare for good. Theatre at its best. Cry God for Harry, Shakespeare and Nick Hennegan”
Birmingham Evening Mail

“A tremendous story… a truly superb theatrical experience – a tour de force”
Edinburgh Fringe News

Nick Hennegan M.A.
Artistic Director
Maverick
nick@mavericktheatre.co.uk
0208 090 5082.
0743 536 2424.
Twitter: @LiteraryPubs
www.facebook.com/LiteraryTour

Hear ‘Literary London’ every Friday evening at 7pm on Resolution 104.4 FM and online.

The London Literary Pub Crawl
Every week in the heart of London.
WINNER – Society of London Theatre Stage One Bursary.

NEW – Writers Urban Retreats – every last Sat. of the month in London.
www.LondonLiteraryPubCrawl.com
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Self-evaluation in the Mathematics Dept

What is the simplest (and most effective) approach to self-evaluation in the Mathematics Department?

Self-evaluation has two problems. One is that it can take up a lot of time and the other is that Ofsted often comments that self-evaluation forms can be a trifle vague. This is bad news because no one wants to spend time and finish up with statements that turn out to be hard to defend.

The good news is that we’ve built a unique self-evaluation system for use in Mathematics departments. It is quick to use and results in statements that can be presented with a certainty that they are completely accurate when questioned by senior leaders or an inspector. Look at how it works here: www.iabacus.co.uk/maths

Of course, the first thing to ensure with any system which claims to be easy to use is that it is possible to start using it within five minutes of turning it on. And that means no manual, no complex logging-in procedure, etc. – just instant access and instant use.

In the case of iAbacus, you go straight in and then, either on your own or with a colleague, you decide where your school stands for that area of work.

Thus you might decide your department is “good” in terms of “achievement of pupils” and “outstanding” in terms of “quality of teaching”; iAbacus then shows you what that means in Ofsted terms.

Now there’s a moment’s pause. Are you really sure that the department meets those criteria? Have you overplayed your hand a bit, or maybe done yourself down? Either alone or with a colleague or two, you can accept the setting in the light of the criteria or change it.

As you know, you’ll have to provide evidence to meet the judgement you’ve made and formulate an action plan for getting better. So that is what iAbacus helps you to do next.

The iAbacus approach to self-evaluation is having a huge impact on subject departments – especially when several colleagues get involved in the process. For it challenges everyone to justify their judgements, analyse what is going on, and plan to improve – and that is the most valuable step of all.

In no time you have a departmental evaluation and improvement plan, in PDF format or printed off, with visual displays of your judgements, evidence of where you are now, and detailed plans of how you are going to move forward.

As one colleague emailed, “Self evaluation at our school has been transformed by the use of iAbacus. Whole school, subject self-evaluation and improvement is now rooted in a system that is not only simple to use but also very visual.”

iAbacus costs just £100 for a one year, one-person licence. Our suggestion is that you try it out yourself and then show it to a couple of colleagues. If they like it too, just call us back for another licence.

To see the Mathematics iAbacus please visit www.iabacus.co.uk/maths and then see the other areas on which iAbacus focuses.