1. Precision Teaching
Sleep and repeat!

2. Practice makes perfect permanent!
We know that practice is essential for retaining information in our long term memory so that we can use it again.
Many people with persistent literacy difficulties and dyslexia have short working memories and find it difficult to move learning from short term memory to the more permanent store of long term memory.

3. The Learning Process Make learning intentions clear.
Connect new learning to prior knowledge.
Teach new knowledge explicitly as you model the skill.
Work with the child supporting their attempts, correcting any mistakes by modelling correctly.
Provide opportunity for practice using a precision teaching tool, where appropriate.
Acknowledge effort and achievement.

4. Precision Teaching
Precision Teaching is NOT a teaching tool but a tool for providing regular practice to aid the retention of skills and facts after initial teaching. We use precision teaching to provide regular practice which builds in quantifiable evidence of progress. If progress isn’t achieved then we must ask ourselves if our teaching approach is appropriate for the child’s needs.

5. What to do - Reading
After the initial teaching has taken place, prepare a PT tool. Each line contains the same words but in a different order. Tell the child that they are only going to read for 1 minute. You may wish to do only 30 seconds.

6. What to do (Cont.)
Ask the child to set the timer and begin reading. If they make a mistake, correct it instantly but don’t count it in your tally. Keep a tally of all the words that are read correctly in 1 minute. If the child finishes all of them in one minute, get them to start again.

7. What to do (Cont.)
Each day, fill in the total number of words read correctly. Show progress. Send a copy of the sheet home to parents/care givers to show evidence of progress.

8. What to do - Spelling
Teach the spelling words, then prepare two PT tools: one with the words you wish the child to practice, and one with a blank grid (laminated).

9. What to do (Cont.)
Again remind the child that they are only going to write for one minute. Say the first word that is on the precision tool and ask the child to write on the blank grid. Do NOT correct any mistakes at this stage. Each time the child takes a new line, cover the words they have written on the lines above so that they are not tempted to copy.

10. What to do (Cont.)
Once the time is up, give the child your master copy and ask them to check, tick or correct their attempts.
Only count the number that were written correctly.
Praise effort and achievement. Remind the child that mistakes are how we know what we need to learn.

11. What else can we use PT for?
Precision Teaching can also be used for maths: number bonds, times tables etc.
PT can be used to rehearse facts as well. Questions are written in the tool. The same questions on each row in different orders.
Either the adult reads the questions and the child answers or the child reads and answers the questions.

12. In conclusion PT is NOT a teaching tool but rather a rehearsal tool.
PT shows quantifiable evidence of progress and can be a great stimulator for a child to practice so they can beat their score.
PT is a very short activity and so is one which a busy classroom teacher can manage with a number of children who are struggling in different ways.
PT is tailor made to suit the needs of each child.
PT shows if the teacher needs to consider adapting their teaching style to meet the child’s needs.