1 Plenaries

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3 Objectives To develop an understanding of the value and significance of plenary sessions To promote the use of a range of plenary sessions as a vital and integral element of all lesson types Plenaries OHT 8.1

4 A typical lesson Start Main End How do we encourage pupils to focus on their learning within the first two minutes of walking through the door? How do we maintain pupil motivation and ensure that we keep pupils working upwards on the learning incline? How do we fix pupils learning and check what they have taken on board?

5 A typical lesson Engaging Pupils Maintaining Pupil Engagement Building in Challenge Consolidating/checking the learning.

6 Why use a plenary? Stop and reflect on the current methods you employ within your subject area which you consider to be plenaries.

7 Characteristics of plenaries Plenaries: draw together the whole group; summarise and take stock of learning so far; consolidate and extend the learning; direct pupils to the next phase of learning; occur at strategic moments in the teaching sequence; often occur at the end of lessons but can occur at other points in the lesson; highlight not only what pupils learn, but how they learn; help determine the next steps in learning. Plenaries OHT 8.2

8 Other uses of plenaries Plenaries can also help teachers as they seek to: develop and instil a habit of reflection about/on learning; stimulate interest, curiosity and anticipation about the next phase of learning; help pupils to change what they have learned into a form which they can communicate; draw out applications of what has been learned; highlight and change misconceptions which have developed; highlight progress made and revise personal or group targets; develop assessment for learning; help develop pupils’ perception of themselves as learners. Plenaries OHT 8.4

9 Questioning as a review tool Most effective Least effective On your table is a set of cards identifying some of the typical review questions encountered when teachers undertake a plenary.On your table is a set of cards identifying some of the typical review questions encountered when teachers undertake a plenary. Firstly diamond rank them, with the best review question at the top of theFirstly diamond rank them, with the best review question at the top of the diamond and the least effective review question at the bottom. Could you add to the list?

10 Practical classroom strategies Golden Rules Questions that promote pupil self review Ranking or prioritising Thumbs up and thumbs down Traffic lighting Peer marking against pupil friendly criteria

11 Sharing good practice: Using the plenary Discuss in pairs effective approaches that you employ when you use plenaries. Come up with three new approaches that you could try. Which starter activities did you identify at the beginning as being effective ways of conducting a plenary? Lucky dip!

12 Ready for more? Agree on five strategies that you will trial and introduce them over a four-week period. Consider how your use of the plenary could inform your assessment procedures. Discuss how each of those strategies can be used to maximise pupil progress. Share the pupil responses with colleagues in a further meeting. Plenaries OHT 8.6