Myth Number 1 ‘Students should be sitting down within the first 2 minutes of the lesson’

“What comes first sets the tone – it must – and if you control that tone, all which follows will be so much easier. As a teacher, it is important you set the standards to which you want your students to rise.“ Mike Gershon writing in the Guardian (creator of the starter generator and educationalist who has written about the ‘growth mindset’) ‘Students should be sitting down within the first 2 minutes of the lesson’

Argument 1: TRUE “sets the tone” “set the standards” Good standards of behaviour Signals to students that break/lunch is over and they are in a learning environment. Maximises learning time Establishes consistent classroom routines and expectations. Ofsted grade descriptor for ‘Good’ Behaviour “Pupils are properly prepared for each lesson, bring the right equipment and are ready and eager to learn.”

‘Students should be sitting down within the first 2 minutes of the lesson’ Argument 1: TRUE Some strategies… (that we all probably use) Students enter in silence, stand behind desks, get equipment out before sitting down. There is an activity to be ‘getting on with’ when they come in. Student books are colour coded/grouped to make handing them out faster. Ofsted grade descriptor for ‘Good’ Behaviour “Pupils are properly prepared for each lesson, bring the right equipment and are ready and eager to learn.”

‘Students should be sitting down within the first 2 minutes of the lesson’ Do we just want our pupils to have ‘good behaviour’? OFSTED ‘OUTSTANDING’ BEHAVIOUR: ‘Pupils consistently display a thirst for knowledge and understanding and a love of learning, including when being taught as a whole class or working on their own or in small groups. This has a very strong impact on their progress in lessons.’ We want them to: THINK QUESTION DISCUSS ENGAGE DO YOU HAVE TO BE SAT DOWN TO DO THESE THINGS???

When and where do you ‘Think’?

‘ Students should be sitting down within the first 2 minutes of the lesson’ Argument 2: FALSE “sets the tone” “set the standards” Encourages a thirst for knowledge Stimulates discussion Provokes questions Engages students Ofsted grade descriptor for ‘Outstanding’ Behaviour ‘Pupils consistently display a thirst for knowledge and understanding and a love of learning, including when being taught as a whole class or working on their own or in small groups. This has a very strong impact on their progress in lessons.’

Turn your classroom into a gallery of initial stimulus material. Get students to make an initial decision and stand on a continuum as they enter the room. Give half your class questions as they enter and half the answers… get them to discuss and move around the room to find their counterparts. As students enter pose a question that provokes debate. Get them to find someone who agrees with them. ‘Students should be sitting down within the first 2 minutes of the lesson’ Argument 2: FALSE

Myth Number 1 ‘Students should be sitting down within the first 2 minutes of the lesson’ YOU DECIDE! TRUE OR FALSE???