Keep Calm and Lead RE Julia Diamond-Conway, RE Adviser © RE Today Services
Reasons for leading RE – was a picture of pointing finger © RE Today Services
Helps pupils form and express opinions Can be so lively and taught in so many ways Superb for thinking skills Time to think about the really big issues, ideas and questions in life Fascinating to find out about ourselves and each other Learn how to agree and respectfully disagree Religion is real and has a real impact on the world What would things be like if we didn’t have RE? Helps pupils see things from other perspectives Can be creative in your organisation and teaching of it © RE Today Services
Diamond 9 Was a picture of a diamond 9 board © RE Today Services
RE Dos and Don’ts Do use imaginative, interactive teaching strategies – help pupils to enjoy RE! Do research topics that you know little about, but don’t expect that you will be able to learn everything. Do have high expectations of pupils’ achievement in RE. Do plan for RE to be cross-curricular where this would be beneficial, but don’t contrive tenuous cross- curricular links. Do ensure RE is high profile. RE work should be on display in classrooms. Don’t insist that all work is recorded in writing. Don’t be afraid to discuss difficult topics and questions with pupils even though you will not have all the answers. Don’t presume a child’s ability in RE is the same as their ability in literacy. Don’t show preference for one religion over another. Don’t do too much spoon-feeding of information. Pupils should be allowed to enquire and explore for themselves. © RE Today Services
The picture entitled ‘Khanda Car’ can be found in the gallery at © RE Today Services
‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39 ‘Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.’ Luke 6:37 ‘But I tell you, do not resist and evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.’ Matthew 5:39 ‘ “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” ‘ Matthew 26:52 © RE Today Services
Guided visualisation - overview 2 parts Stilling Guided visualisation © RE Today Services
Stilling Part where you are all relaxing Often in preparation for guided visualisation Start small What atmosphere do you need? Be confident – even in the silent bits! © RE Today Services
Guided Visualisation Linked to your scheme of work Try it out!! © RE Today Services
STEP 1: Generate/Choose a clear, exploratory RE relevant question STEP 2: Choose the religions you will focus on STEP 3: Identify learning objectives from the agreed syllabus STEP 4: Identify meaningful links to other subjects and to RE skills STEP 5: Choose learning experiences that will engage, excite, inform and develop © RE Today Services
Sounding Board - Dealing with difficult questions Affirm the importance of the child's contribution, even if you don’t agree with it, with phrases such as ‘I’ve often wondered about that too’ or ‘You’re not the only one that doesn’t know the answer to that’ Diversity of opinion and unanswerable questions are something we all have learn to live with Use sentence starters, such as ‘in my opinion’ or ‘some Muslims would say’ Range of answers or opinions e.g. ‘most Christians would probably say…, but some Hindus would think differently saying…’ © RE Today Services
Dealing with difficult questions Use an exploring together technique Affirm the use of people close to the child to discuss things with e.g. family, friends, faith community Personal disclosure may need comfort rather than discussion but it may need following up privately Throw back questions for further clarification Be honest without being ruthless Let discussion develop but have a reflective technique ready to provide a close to the discussion Don’t intrude into a child’s personal life Establish discussion ground rules © RE Today Services
Information Gatherer RE:online: watch out for their ‘specials’ in the ‘learning’ sectionwww.reonline.org.uk RE:quest: Educhurch: Engaging With Faith Communities: Hwb: search for Religious Education in the ‘find and use’ sectionhttp://hwb.wales.gov.uk RE Today: …and of course NATRE: please please please please use the films, free resources etcwww.natre.org.uk © RE Today Services
Take care of yourself You can get great ideas from: Local groups Hubs Subject organisations – in the case of RE, it’s NATRE Social media (Save RE on facebook, #rechatuk) Visiting other schools can be really helpful Ofsted examples of good practice But it’s more than just that… © RE Today Services