Learning objective? Check. Planned teaching? Check. Plenary to check the learning? Check:
‘What have I learned?’ ‘How did I learn it?’ What are my next steps?’
I find it funny that I have used these questions in my teaching since someone told me it was a good idea in my NQT year. Especially, now that I have realised that ‘used’ is probably the wrong verb. Now, I would more accurately report that they appeared in my lessons. The end of the lesson approached, the learning needed to be consolidated and these questions appeared to fit perfectly – a neat end to (what seemed like) well planned learning. However, theory and reality don’t always mix…in practice – they served no purpose as I never really dared myself to hear the answer.
With my activity complete and 5 minutes remaining – I would ask pupils to answer these questions, 3 seconds would drag painstakingly by then a student would take pity and throw some type of answer, in fact any type of answer into the equation. I recall one student who returned to ‘iambic pentameter’ in the plenary any time that we discussed Shakespeare. Relieved and determined to prove that the lesson was worth while, I’d take the answer and interpret it for them – giving students a summary of what I thought they should be learning – knowing that some of them wouldn’t have realised this and hoping that they would make some of the links and believe they’d had a successful lesson. They probably didn’t. The questions served no purpose.
I don’t know when this changed but today, I attended an inspiring session by Gary Pollard who made me realise that these questions now appear in my classroom with purpose. They are tools used for reflection – not only by the students but also by me. My plenary has transformed from a paper filling activity used to satisfy someone else - to a learning experience where students are reflecting for themselves and teaching me about the links between my lessons, other areas of the curriculum and even their interests outside of school. I am certain that hundreds and thousands of experienced teachers realised this a long time ago, but realising that I have realised is a lovely feeling…
