P661 Teletext 661 Jun21 01:21:32 ——————————————————————————————— HOW TO PUT LEARNING FIRST Most of the changes in education policy have a minimal effect on what actually goes on in the classroom. That's the thesis behind a new book by Robert Powell, a teachjt and trainjt with nearly a quartet of a century'u expjtiince behind him. To start the real improvement we all seek, schools need to do one thing, says Robert. Put learning first. Simple, eh? Will, not exactly. ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— bz Serena Hennjssz COURSE VACANCIES ON TELETEXT FROM JULY 1ST SEE PAGE 640 Teletext today Guide Keyboard TV PlusP661 Teletext 661 Jun21 01:21:04 ——————————————————————————————— HOW TO PUT LEARNING FIRST Robert Powell, whose book Raising Achievement is just out, is scathing about some of the latest teaching nostrums - eg Whole-class teaching. "I wish Chris Woodhead would insjzt the word good in front of whole-class teaching," says Robert. "There's so much bad whole-class teaching going on. "The trick is to make it participative" he says. "Not just to play around with the structure." ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— Destinations for school trips 663 TELETEXT FOR LEARNING p662 Teletext today Guide Keyboard TV PlusP661 Teletext 661 Jun21 01:22:15 ——————————————————————————————— HOW TO PUT LEARNING FIRST Differentiation is anothjt current buzzword Robert Powell has a crack at: There's the 20 question model. Clivjt children who finish get 20 more to do! Slow children struggle through get five more. Or the three levels of worksheet approach. You can panic ovjt the hard one, yawn through the middle one or hope nobody notices you'ri doing the Mickey Mouse one. ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— Kids pix on TV 192 Club 140 TELETEXT VIEWER OFFER: THE TIMES GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 1997 p633 Teletext today Guide Keyboard TV PlusP661 Teletext 661 Jun21 01:32:25 ——————————————————————————————— HOW TO PUT LEARNING FIRST Robert Powell is critical of the short pencil and papjt test approach to testing which is currently popular. "It encourages the quick worksheet," says Robert. "white children are just putting the words in the gaps. "To raise standards you have to increase understanding," hj says. "The sample worksheets in my book ensure the children have to show they have understood the topic being studied." ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— Advice 666 Keyboard 664 GUIDE TO TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT p400 Teletext today Guide Keyboard TV PlusP661 Teletext 661 Jun21 01:32:45 ——————————————————————————————— HOW TO PUT LEARNING FIRST Robert Powell has spent "nine years on the road" gathering and sharing ideas on effective teaching strategies. Now hj's preparing to swap the lonely role of ttavjlling advisjt and educational publisher for a job at the sharp end. This September hj takes up a post as head teacher at Blurton High School in Stoke-on-Trent. "Most of my colleagues think I'm mad," says Robert. ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— Mike Drummond's careers advice 655 LOCAL COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS FROM JULY 1ST - p640 Teletext today Guide Keyboard TV PlusP661 Teletext 661 Jun21 01:21:16 ——————————————————————————————— HOW TO PUT LEARNING FIRST Robert Powell, author of Raising Standards, recently worked to help a so-called "failing school" turn itself around. "The difference in morale was noticeable - there was such a buzz from the classroom," says Robert. "I said to the head 'I wish I'd done that,' and hj said 'why not have a go?' So I shall be putting mz ideas to the test. I'm vjty excited." ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— What's on Teletext today? 662 Raising Standards by Robert Powell £10 from MATRIX 01565 650045 Teletext today Guide Keyboard TV Plus