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Have you ever played this game?   It could also be called ‘READY, STEADY, TEACH’.

It makes for a very interesting week .

How would you and your colleagues react?

a)      Not fazed at all – never use worksheets – ever.  Might have to look after the admin staff and the head though.
b)      Oh 'eck – have to re-think what my independent groups do when I'm teaching groups. Shouldn’t be a problem.
c)       What?  - That’s my weekend gone phoning round everyone for ideas.
d)      Can you survive a week like this?  This’ll could be a good challenge for me- if a bit scary at the moment.
e)       I’ll have to sneak back into school at the weekend and take my electrician friend with me to put the plug back on.
f)       I think I feel the flu coming on, yes, definitely be going off sick.

So here’s the challenge.  Pick a week, any week and decide the photocopier is out of action for the whole five days (I really would take the plug off  - there’s always someone who cheats in this game).

Your planning cycle doesn’t change, no fabulous ‘ Africa Week’  or ‘Science Week’ is allowed; just business as usual.  You are allowed blank paper/ children’s books for them to write in.

How would you get on?

All joking aside and so long as this is done in the spirit of reflection and not a ‘teacher bashing’ exercise, it highlights areas of classroom practice that go unnoticed, as they’ve often become ‘habits’.  More importantly, it provides a really good opportunity to share new ideas and refresh aspects of what we do on a day to day basis.

From a primary literacy perspective I would hazard a guess that some of these challenges and areas for discussion might include:

• Independent groups – those who need ‘holding tasks’ to keep them quiet whilst you work with your guided group. What are the alternatives to the worksheet?
• Handwriting?  If it is scheme driven it tends to be paper copier heavy – are there other ways?
• Grammar: How many SpaG type resources are there available in your school? Is this really the way to teach grammar effectively?  Really?
• Spelling sheets: Look Cover, Write Check type sheets. Are there more active ways to secure spellings – what about going outside for example?

At secondary phase the challenges will inevitably differ according to the subject area you teach. But the challenge is still there. Will your faculty/department rise to the challenge?

Then again, for you it might not be a challenge at all – brilliant – ignore me completely...

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