NDOW’S COMPREHENSIVE STAFF DEVELOPMENT WORK SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER, 2013 SCHEMES &RECORDS OF WORK BASRU MBENGA PRINCIPAL EDUCATION OFFICER RED 1

PRESENTATION OUTLINE INTRODUCTION SCHEMES OF WORK LESSON PLANS RECORDS OF WORK Why produce schemes of work and plan lessons? What is involved in lesson planning?

INTRODUCTION Every teacher has a scheme of work, but it may exist only inside her head, and it may be incomplete. Just as the curriculum is the answer to the learner's question, "Why do we have to learn this?" the scheme of work is the answer to the teacher's question, "What am I going to do?" Unfortunately the Scheme of Work has been devalued by its bureaucratisation and the belief of many teachers that it exists only to satisfy managers' and monitoring officers' craving for "evidence" of adequate practice. It needs to be rescued from this fate. It is the teacher's equivalent of the builder's plan and the engineer's blueprint. It is a working document. It is not immutable, just as building plans can be changed up to a point.

SCHEME OF WORK The syllabus is the overall work plan for a particular grade level. These can be found in the relevant teacher’s guides. From the syllabus, the scheme is extracted, and the lesson plan extracted from the scheme of work. A scheme of work is a periodic teaching framework/plan taken from the syllabus for a grade for a particular subject. It contains all units/topics a teacher intends to teach to a group of students within a given period Each teacher has an approved scheme of work Syllabus, LATs and teachers’ guides are referenced in the development of the schemes. The schemes are structured as prescribed in the QAF. They should always be available during lessons delivery. Monitoring of schemes by head teacher, the deputy head teacher, cluster monitor are documented.

SCHEME OF WORK Schemes of work are tools used to help teachers organise lessons. They help teachers make longer-term plans and goals for their classes. They cover long periods of time (from one week to two months or more) and broad subjects. The aims found in the scheme of work should be based on the Learning Achievement Targets (LATs) and objectives set forth by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. Many lesson notes or plans must be made to achieve all of the goals in a scheme of work. Lesson plans describe in detail exactly what the teacher will teach during a specific time on a specific date.

IMPORTANCE OF SCHEME OF WORK It evidently shows what a particular teacher has planned for a given period During a teacher’s absence, another teacher would know where to continue with the class It is an evidence of curriculum coverage and can be used by heads of department to judge whether a particular teacher is slow/fast in a particular subject and think of possible strategies to remedy an anomaly It can be used to compare his/her syllabus coverage with colleagues and over the years

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LESSON PLANS AND SCHEME OF WORK What's the difference? Simply one of scale: the Scheme sets out what you are planning weekly, fortnightly, monthly or termly, while the lesson plan is finer-grained and looks at what you are going to do within each lesson.

WHY PRODUCE SCHEMES OF WORK AND PLAN LESSONS? Teachers need to be clear about what they want to teach, when and how. All staff with a teaching commitment, including head teachers and senior teachers, should produce schemes of work and lesson plans, guided by the syllabus, teachers’ guides and LATs. The scheme of work will set out what they expect to teach over the period of time agreed within each school (often one or two weeks). The lesson plans will guide them through the lesson, ensuring that they are well organised and have thought about the teaching materials they need and methods they will use, as well as how the pupils’ learning will be assessed.

WHY PRODUCE SCHEMES OF WORK AND PLAN LESSONS? CONT’D The head teacher has overall responsibility for ensuring that lessons are properly planned, although in larger schools day-to-day guidance and monitoring may be delegated to a deputy head teacher or senior teacher. Schools might consider producing common formats for schemes of work and lesson planning, to ensure that all aspects are included. Sample scheme of work

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SCHEME OF WORK A standard scheme of work is made up of the following features: Gr. Subject Period Topic Content Objectives Activities Assessment Resources/ Materials Notes/ Remark 3 SES 17th to 23rd Mar 2010 The Earth and the solar system Planets Solar system Rotation & Revolution their effects Structure of the earth Shape of the earth Proofs to show its sphericity Internal structure of the earth E.g. By the end of the topic learners should be able to name the planets and show their relationship to the sun Describe the internal structure of the earth Can define rotation and revolution and state their effects Can describe the shape of the earth and state proves Discuss the solar system, size/shape of the earth Draw the solar system show the sun and the planets Discuss concentric layers that form the internal structure of the earth, their composition and depths Can learners name the planets and show how they relate to the sun? Can learners explain the concentric layers, Can learners demonstrate the effects of rotation and revolution Chart/diagram of the solar system, Inflated balloons or calabashes of various sizes tied to a string Globe, football/egg, Torchlight/candle light A4 paper cut-outs, knife/razor blade, Stickers, boiled egg

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN LESSON PLANNING? One lesson plan should be prepared for each lesson, every day. Teachers of Grades 1-6 should prepare lesson notes for English, science, SES and mathematics for each time these subjects appear on the timetable. Teachers of Grades 7-12 should prepare daily lesson notes for each different class that they are teaching (i.e. one note for Grade 7 General Science and one note for Grade 8 General Science). Before writing a lesson plan, teachers should carefully identify the objectives of the lesson, by asking themselves:

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN LESSON PLANNING? CONT’D What do I want the pupils to know or be able do at the end of the lesson? What do they already know about this topic? How can I show my pupils how to apply what they learn to their daily lives? How do I encourage my pupils to want to learn? Sample lesson

RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL HEADS Ensure that teachers know what the schedule of the school is (i.e. weekly, fortnightly, monthly, etc.) for the production of schemes of work and for lesson plans Agree with senior teachers arrangements for checking, commenting and signing schemes of work and lesson plans Lesson plans are consistent with the approved scheme of work Each lesson plan includes all the prescribed elements in the SMM Lesson plans are available during lesson delivery

RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL HEADS Carry out spot checks to ensure they are being checked and signed Ensure that the schemes of work and lesson plans are used by teachers in their teaching (assessed as part of routine lesson observations) Discuss the quality of the schemes of work and lesson plans with the senior teachers and the cluster monitors if necessary and plan and implement programmes of individual support for weak teachers or a workshop for the whole school, as appropriate Record persistent failure to complete schemes of work and lesson plans in the teacher’s file Ensure that teachers mark pupils’ work promptly and objectively, checking a sample of pupils’ books as they observe the lesson. Ensure that internal monitoring of lessons are documented

RECORD OF WORK Sample record of work

References: http://www.learningandteaching.info/teaching/schemes_of work.htm http://bhslearningandteaching.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/teacher-planner-record-of-work http://www.hadimrasoul.wordpress.com School Management Manual, May 2011