Matching materials with learners Wendy Arnold British Council supported by IATEFL YLT Sig Middle East series 20 th March – 3 rd April, 2010 matching learners needs

Bridging the gap Between what the learner understands through their own experience _______X_______X__________________________ And what they can do with the help with ‘more able’ others By matching the materials with learners needs

Overview What is mixed ability? Why does it happen? Why do we need to match materials with learners? Identifying activities which match the needs of different learners

Chinese proverb- Confucius "Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I might remember. Involve me and I will understand“

Mixed ability What does mixed ability mean to you? THINK-PAIR Work with a partner Defining mixed ability

What is mixed ability? OR SHOULD WE BE ASKING IN WHAT?

Is this a mixed ability gathering? Why do you think this? Identifying mixed ability

Seeing the same thing in different ways

Understanding the same thing in different ways

What do you see? Tell a partner

PERCEPTIONS Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! One man’s meat is another man’s poison! One size does NOT fit all! It takes all sorts! People are different!

How does mixed ability in a yeargroup happen? THINK-PAIR WE ALL LEARN DIFFERENTLY!

THINK-PAIR-SHARE Work in a group of 3 or 4 Name 3 REASONS why it is good to be here today Matching materials with learners

Matching materials with learners How do we go from this…….?

Matching materials with learners Or this…….?

Matching materials with learners and how do we get to this?

Matching materials with learners Or this…. ?

Personality and relationship Ability to lesson plan Be creative Make activities participatory Classroom management skills Course Book Matching materials with learners

The learning activities should match the language skills and knowledge being learnt Matching materials with learners

Working with individuals? Matching materials with learners

Working in groups?

Matching materials with learners Working in pairs?

Matching materials with learners Arts and craft activities aid memory

A creative environment increases motivation, self esteem and helps literacy Matching materials with learners

10.25 At the end of the lesson will they feel capable, successful and want to learn more? Matching materials with learners Or will they feel like this?

How ? When? Who? How? Who? What? People Context Materials Matching materials with learners Let’s review!

Classroom management – pairwork and groupwork – keep mixing! AUDITORY/VISUAL/KINESTHETIC Displaying learners work on walls/hanging across classroom on a washing line VISUAL Learners presenting their work in pairs, groups and whole class VISUAL/AUDITORY/KINESTHETIC Learners putting words into action e.g. total physical response TPR or Simon says, drama, role play VISUAL/AUDITORY/KINESTHETIC Learners don’t work at the same pace – accept it!

Time to reflect 3…2…1… 3 things I remember 2 ideas I could adapt 1 question I have Matching materials with learners

Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that You know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. We are all learners, doers, teachers. Illusions Richard Bach Matching materials with learners

Why we need to consider matching materials with learners. "If we keep doing what we're doing, we're going to keep getting what we're getting.“ (Covey 1989)

Thank you This powerpoint will be uploaded to the British Council website.