4Techniques to aid recall
Lower-attaining pupils often have great difficulty in recalling facts. This puts them at
a disadvantage when sitting tests. More importantly, perhaps, it makes it difficult for
them to apply one piece of learning to the next. When pupils are required to apply
learning to a new context, the problem is compounded if they cannot recall what
has gone before.
In order for recall to be effective, it is necessary to review learning on a regular
basis. Reviewing the content of every lesson is unmanageable, but in order for
pupils to begin to process the information and thus commit it to long-term memory,
starters and plenaries are vital. One way to get pupils to review a lesson is by
making a diagrammatic representation of the key points. They can then turn to a
neighbour and explain the key points using their diagram as a memory aid. The
starter for the next lesson could use the diagram from this review, with pupils
making the key points a different colour or turning the key words into a mnemonic
or acronym.
12 | Key Stage 3 National Strategy|Pedagogy and practice
Unit 3: Lesson design for lower attainers
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0426-2004
Task 10
Prepare support material 1 hour
Take at least one of the literacy ideas from section 2and one numeracy idea
from task 9. Prepare some materials for use in your lessons to support pupils’
literacy and numeracy skills in your subject. For example, these could take the
form of:
- a loop card game;
- key words and their meanings in the form of dominoes;
- a prepared graphical axis for pupils to tell you the ‘story of the graph’;
- data in tables for pupils to practise graphical representation.
Practical tip
It is important to incorporate literacy and numeracy skills into every lesson
that you teach with lower-attaining pupils. Even a two-minute discussion on
the meaning of a word will reinforce the importance of using the correct
vocabulary in a subject context.
Task 9
Plan to integrate numeracy skills 45 minutes
Look back at the list you created intask 7.
Work with another teacher and plan how you can integrate the numeracy skills
needed for the topic into your short-term planning. Refer to the Framework for
teaching mathematicsfor examples of activities.
