Craig Barton interviews guests from the wonderful world of education about their approaches to teaching, educational research and more. All show notes, resources and videos here: https://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/
This is the third in our series of conversations where we seek to agree upon a maths lesson structure. This time around, we continue our discussion of the Do Now, this time focusing on the choice of content, and what students do whilst working on the Do Now. As ever, we go super deep. So, I hope people enjoy it.
Show-notes: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/lesson-structure-3
Episode sponsors
This episode of the Mr Barton Maths podcast is proudly supported by Learning Resources. Check out their fantastic range of products to help support children’s understanding of maths here: learningresources.co.uk
***Plugs***
- Craig Barton is coming to Australia in June 2025. Click here to book your place!
- Check out Craig’s brand new 90-minute online CPD series here
- Access the notes about the Do Now here
Episode details
In this episode, Ollie and I tried something different. I’ve been working with a school to help develop a departmental lesson structure with their maths team. I know Ollie had been doing something similar with a school he has been working with, so it seemed a good idea to chat through our ideas to see where we agreed and differed.
My original plan was to cover this all in one pod. But, as you will hear, I may have been a bit optimistic about that. So, we are going to turn this into a series of episodes. Given how far we got in this conversation, we should just about wrap up our dive into a lesson structure by 2029.
Episode summary
In this conversation, Craig Barton and Ollie Lovell discuss various aspects of teaching, focusing on the Do Now strategy, insights from a recent trip to Sweden’s education system, and the impact of the StepLab documentary. They explore the importance of tracking learning, the use of examples and non-examples in teaching, and the challenges of planning effective Do Now activities. The discussion emphasizes the need for flexibility in teaching methods and the significance of understanding the mechanisms behind educational strategies. In this conversation, Craig and Ollie discuss various strategies for effective classroom management and teaching techniques. They explore the use of technology in classrooms, the importance of starting lessons effectively, and the best practices for registering students. They also delve into how to handle situations when students get stuck during lessons, emphasizing the need for clear communication and routines. The discussion includes the use of hints and cues to support students while avoiding unnecessary busy work. Finally, they tease upcoming topics and events related to teaching and professional development.
Takeaways:
- Craig shares his experience of visiting a school in Sweden.
- Ollie discusses the impact of the StepLab documentary on teaching practices.
- The importance of tracking content in Do Now activities is emphasized.
- Non-examples are crucial for understanding effective teaching strategies.
- Flexibility in planning Do Now activities allows for responsive teaching.
- The conversation highlights the cultural differences in education systems.
- Craig and Ollie agree on the value of visible timers during Do Now activities.
- The need for a structured approach to teaching is discussed.
- Ollie suggests a mix of planned and responsive Do Now questions.
- The role of examples in CPD is highlighted as a powerful tool for teachers. Classroom technology can enhance teaching but needs to be effective.
- Starting lessons with clear objectives is crucial for student engagement.
- Registering students efficiently can save valuable class time.
- Avoiding busy work helps students focus on learning.
- Teachers should have a clear strategy for when students get stuck.
- Hints and cues can support learning but should be avoidable.
- Establishing routines helps manage classroom behavior.
- Teachers need to distinguish between lack of effort and understanding.
- Professional development events can foster networking among educators.
Ollie’s stuff
- Sign up for Ollie’s newsletter here: edthreads.ollielovell.com
- On Twitter, Ollie is @ollie_lovell
- Ollie’s website is ollielovell.com
- You can check out Ollie’s podcast, The Education Research Reading Room here
- Ollie’s first book, Cognitive Load Theory in Action, is available from Amazon
- Ollie’s second book, Tools for Teachers, is available from Amazon
My usual plugs
- Check out my brand new 90-minute online CPD series here
- You can help support the podcast (and get an interactive transcript of this episode) via my Patreon page at patreon.com/mrbartonmaths
- If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of the show, then please visit this page
- You can sign up for my free Tips for Teachers newsletter and my free Eedi newsletter
- My books are “Tips for Teachers“, “Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain” and “How I wish I’d taught maths”