Our Class Expectations Learning Hooks Contributed by Helen King All resources in the "Contributions" section of our resource bank have been submitted by delegates on our Taking Care of Behaviour Online course. For more information about this practical, self-paced course, please visit: This is a Powerpoint presentation on learning hooks. It gives examples of my favourite 4 learning hooks I have used in Maths lessons, which have helped to engage learners, which also improves behaviour.

Learning Hooks For my resource I have got examples of my favourite “learning hooks” I have used to engage learners. They have all been used in maths lessons. When learning hooks are embedded into lessons the pupils engage better, enjoy what they are doing and understand the relevance of what they are doing more. Better behaviour follows.

Hook 1 I have a box with a grey fluffy cat in ( it looks just like 1 of my cats). The students have 10 questions (yes / no answers) to find out what is in my box, they are usually successful or nearly there. I then reveal the cat. I also show a can of felix cat food to represent my other cat. The students then work out the age of my cats. I have done this algebraically (think of a number type question). I have also done this with them asking 10 questions using properties of numbers (square, prime, multiple, factor etc) depending what topic I was doing. It has been a successful starter that I have used a number of times to engage all ages from year 3 up to sixth formers (GCSE retakes). All have enjoyed and engaged well with the activity.

What is the age of my cats ?

Hook 2 To introduce quadratic graphs, I have linked them to life by showing things in real life that are the shape of quadratic graphs. It makes the maths more enjoyable, memorable and relevant. Pictures on next slide.

Quadratics in real life

Hook 3 When introducing polygons, I used a resource 4 pictures, 1 word. It helped students to engage and also helped them to remember key words, as the pictures help them remember. The pictures are shown on the next few slides. Answers: Quadrilateral Octagon Hexagon Pentagon Regular Irregular Interior Exterior Sum Degrees

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' U Can you define this word in a mathematical context? A P LA R T QES I L D R

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' R Can you define this word in a mathematical context? E T AP G OOPB N C

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' N Can you define this word in a mathematical context? P O X P A H GPE S O

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' O Can you define this word in a mathematical context? T H N G P A SEA N N

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' G Can you define this word in a mathematical context? P R U R E I JGP L A

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' Can you define this word in a mathematical context? G P R U R E I JRP L A

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' I Can you define this word in a mathematical context? X T NG O H ETI R R

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' I Can you define this word in a mathematical context? X T NG O H ETE R R = 360o

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' J Can you define this word in a mathematical context? O K D P N G USI M R

Mathematics - '4 pics 1 word' E Can you define this word in a mathematical context? I E S D E A EGR E O

Hook 4 Using “collective memories”. This helps to engage those who learn well by looking as they see pictures and also the artisitic is it involves reproducing the picture. I have used a number of collective memories and pupils have enjoyed them. Some are just to aid memory some also have mistakes (like the money one has and they have to find the mistake, the change for the teddy is 10p out). I used this with a year 6 group. Pupils look at the picture for 1 min, then have 2 mins to reproduce without seeing the picture, repeat this 3 times. Can be done individually or in small groups.

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