Mark Roberts Profile picture
Jun 18 11 tweets 2 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
All teachers think they have high expectations of their students. But these expectations are difficult to define. Far better, I think, to define signs of low expectations. A THREAD on what these look like... 1/n
1. Setting limits - Teachers saying things like "To get a grade 5, you need to...", which sets a ceiling for student aspirations... 2/n
2. Labelling students - words like "weak", "lazy", "apathetic" and phrases like "low ability" suggest that a) the problem is with the student b) it's fixed and c) nothing can be done to motivate them or improve their progress... 3/n
3. Giving them "busy work" - students can appear engaged by being kept occupied by activities that are only tenuously linked to what they're learning... 4/n
4. Opt-in extra work - differentiation by task that allows some students to avoid doing the challenging learning... 5/n
5. Over praising - students are congratulated for achieving the most basic of milestones, implying nothing difficult is expected of them... 6/n
6. Unproductivity is tolerated as long as they aren't disruptive - They can get away with minimal effort if they don't mess about... 7/n
7. Just happy that they've done homework - it's rushed and of a poor standard but the teacher is just glad to get something handed in 8/n
8. Only using hands up questioning - allowing only keen students to respond to questions, which allows others to hide and coast 9/n
9. Accepting basic or "don't know" answers - students are able to duck hard thinking... 10/n
10. They won't be able to cope with... - This is the biggy. The curriculum is watered down in advance because of the assumption that these students won't cope with challenging work... END of thread.

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More from @mr_englishteach

Sep 26, 2022
Ten classic errors teachers make when giving feedback...
1. Giving feedback for an audience other than the student. If your feedback is really designed for parents, SLT, Ofsted etc then it's unlikely to make sense to the student or motivate them to act on it.2
2. Feedback that is illegible. If they can't read it, they can't do anything with it. Think they'll ask you to clarify what they wrote? The research suggests otherwise...
Read 11 tweets
Sep 21, 2022
What can schools do to improve boys' attainment?

I've been writing and researching this for years, and here's a thread featuring 7 easy(!) steps schools can take to reduce gender gaps:
1. Raise teachers' expectations of what boys can achieve. Work on teachers' beliefs about ability, how this is communicated to boys, and tackle language that exposes lower expectations (e.g. "I've got a boy-heavy class")...
2. Develop an ambitious curriculum for all students. Abandon boys' engagement approaches. Teach to the top and support strugglers. Remove optional challenge, like extension tasks or differentiated learning outcomes...
Read 9 tweets
Aug 16, 2022
A little behaviour management thread on how reframing language will help teachers tackle issues in a calm, direct and effective way: (1/7)
1. 'If you do that again, you're getting a sanction' draws attention to a student and risks provoking a confrontation. Instead try 'I'm just going to remind everyone about my expectations... I don't want to have to start giving out sanctions' (2/7)
2. 'Don't raise your voice at me! - raises the stakes and increases the likelihood of further shouting. Instead, politely state 'I'm not shouting at you, so I'm not sure why you're raising your voice at me', which is far more likely to reduce the tension. (3/7)
Read 8 tweets
Feb 15, 2022
Some different retrieval activities for English (can be adapted for other subjects), which you might find useful:
1. Who am I? (Gradual reveal)

20 pts - I'm one of the good guys and I've got the name to prove it!
10 pts - I spend a lots of time dealing with hot-headed fools
5 pts - 'I do but keep the peace'
1 pt - I am Romeo's cousin
2. Odd one out (may be more than one correct answer)

A. you
B. I
C. we

A. Sheila
B. Mr Birling
C. Eric
Read 6 tweets
Dec 4, 2020
Ok, as promised, here's a thread of my top 15 non-verbal gestures for effective behaviour management:
1. A much neglected oldie, best used when only one or two pupils are still talking:
2. Wiggle that earlobe when you see a rogue off-tasker:
Read 18 tweets

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