Tips from our teachers

We have compiled advice, tips and ideas from our teachers. Here are some of our favourites. Please email any of your own suggestions to adrian@classpeople.co.uk

What to take with you?

When in KS1, I always take "Miss P’s Special Bag", containing a selection of books (usually including Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo as the children love to join in the rhyming and Little Rabbit Foo Foo for making up actions!). Also in my bag is my special sticker box; always a good incentive! Bee-Bee Bear is effective during circle time, with only the person holding her allowed to talk. Other useful things in there include a notebook, pencil case and memory sticks full of plans and resources.

I sometimes feel like Mary Poppins with my special bag, but the children love it and have even asked to climb in!   - Stacey P

My guitar always sparks interest      -Caz H

I keep the following in my car at all times: a selection of books with prepared questions and activities (eg Woof! By Allan Ahlberg. Read the first chapter to the class and then have them write/draw what they would do during their first day as a dog!), cards from ‘Pass the Bomb’ game with combinations of letters on, a painted Balinese mask, cotton buds for art, a whistle (a god-send for PE lessons) and, of course, photo ID, my class people badge, my original CRB and QTS certificate!          -Adrian H


Starting the day

Introduce yourself and write your name on the board. Have an idea of how you will get the children’s attention (e.g. clapping), and make this clear to them. Ask them to give you a wave while you are doing the register so you can start to match names and faces.   -Sarah L

I usually use name tags for each child, and ask individuals to help out at all moments of the day. I like to be honest right from the start, and while I am definitely in charge, they obviously know their routines better and we can therefore make a great team! I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but it works. The ‘thank yous’ at the end of the day really make it worthwhile.                           -Caz H


Maths

Pistol-packing maths – a good maths mental starter. Select two children to stand at the front of the class, back to back. Ask a maths question and the first child to turn around and ‘fire’ the correct answer at their opponent wins. Winner stays on.           -Sarah L

For numeracy I have a fun times tables song: 1x7 is 7, 2x7 is 14, etc. The children repeat after me in an army marching style. This always makes them smile, and they really go for it by the end of the song!         -Caz H

Write up a calculation on the board, but with only the answer/target number filled in. Divide children into two teams. They take turns to throw a die and decide amongst themselves where to place the digit in order to come closest to the target number. Also, in KS1 - Target number up to 100 or sum of an addition number comprising 2-digit components eg ?? + ?? = __ .  The team with the highest (or lowest) sum wins. KS2 - 1000 or 3-digit numbers.          - Barbara S


English

Literacy Fillers –

  • Write on the board a section of text with missing words, punctuation etc.
  • Shape poems – Autumn, Christmas, Tree etc.
  • Show the children a picture and ask them to create a caption.
  • Illustrate (or re-tell in pictures) a well known story.
  • Self-portraits with ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’ in the borders.
  • Write up a long word on the board. Children find as many component words as possible.

- Sarah L

I always take Roald Dahl’s Dirty Beasts and act out the Porcupine poem.  It always captures the attention and imagination of the whole class, as the children imagine being taken to the dentist to have prickles pulled out of the their bottoms by Mr Myers, who walks into the room waving a massive pair of pliers!           - Esther P

English, upper KS1/KS2. Use A Sense of Season by Moira Andrew as a model for the children to adapt to describe any season (inc Christmas!). For KS1, explore descriptive language using the five senses as a launch pad.  With KS2, extend this from simple adjectives into simile and metaphor. 

The Magic Box by Kit Wright is a beautiful poem that can be used with upper KS1 and KS2 as the basis for work on poetry, adjectives, creativity, simile or metaphor.

 Recipe Poem.  The example can be adapted to most topics and revises imperative language. This activity can follow a seasonal walk, or conclude a topic. It can also be used to describe the characteristics of a character or period e.g. medieval knight (including a majestic steed) or Tudor banquet.

 Some very simple word work ideas; which one fits? there/their/they're and to/too/two

- Barbara S

 

Science

I have a science lesson which can be used throughout primary school, from Year 1 to 6. The children love it and teachers are always impressed! The aim is for the class to create a boat using just one piece of A4. They can design and make it however they like, but they only get a single sheet of paper! The boats are tested with Lego pieces or multi-link blocks - the boat that can hold the most cargo before sinking wins!              -Jenny C


Art

Scribble Art – Children draw a swirly scribble on a piece of paper and then colour or paint inside the lines.     -Sarah L

A versatile and adaptable idea for an afternoon of art is Australian dot painting. I introduce the style by reading the children Malu Kangaroo by Judith Morecroft & Bronwyn Bancroft, drawing particular attention to the illustrations which are composed mainly of patterns of dots and wavy lines. I also have a Balinese-style mask which is decorated in the same way but with a raised texture for the children to feel. Once discussed, I model drawing a faint outline of a kangaroo/landscape on an A6 slip of paper and block-colouring the background using pastels. The next step is to use cotton buds (of which I always carry a supply in the boot of my car) to add patterns of dots and swirls over the pastel backdrop. The children love it, using A6 size paper makes it accessible to all ages and abilities, and once one is finished they can carry on, using turtles or dolphins or palm trees as a centre-piece.       -Adrian H

Design a new school uniform        -Sarah L


PSHCE

Island Rules – The class has been shipwrecked on a deserted island! They must create a set of rules to live by.            -Sarah L


Classroom Games – Sarah L

Switch – A good method of calming the children when on the carpet. You start a simple repetitive action, but the children remain still. Say ‘switch’ and change your action, while the children begin to copy your previous action. They continue to follow, one action behind, until you finish by folding your arms.

 Example routine: Tap head (Switch), tap shoulders (Switch), tap nose (Switch), tap knees (Switch), fold arms.

Heads down, thumbs up – a classroom staple!

Choose three or four children, who come to the front. Rest of class sit with heads down, eyes closed, fists clenched with thumbs up in the air ‘Heads Down, Thumbs Up!’ Chosen children move quietly amongst the group and select a peer, gently squeezing their thumbs which they must then hide in their fists. When everyone has finished, heads are raised and eyes are opened ‘Thumbs Down, Heads Up!’ Those with squeezed thumbs must decide who chose them, and if they are right they swap places. If not, the ‘squeezer’ stays on.

20 questions – You think of a famous person or character. The children have 20 Yes/No questions to ask in order to identify your chosen person.

"Good Morning, Your Majesty" - A volunteer, at the front facing the board, has to guess who is saying the phrase in a disguised voice. Swap if correct.               -Jason P

Don't Clap This One Back - To the rhythm of '1 2 3 & 4'. Clap other rhythms for children to follow and then sneak in "Don't Clap this One Back". You guessed it, some children will clap back!! Noisy but fun   -Jason P