Explore & Share Strategies by A Curtis

Flashback 4

curtisa24 — 2025-09-12 12:27:51 UTC

At the start of a Year 4 science lesson, the teacher gives a Flashback 4:

One question from last lesson (states of matter).
One from last week (water cycle).
One from last term (plants).
One maths link (interpret data from a graph).

Thinking Time

curtisa24 — 2025-09-12 12:28:31 UTC

During a Year 5 guided reading discussion, the teacher asks:
“Why do you think the author chose the word ‘lurking’ here?”
Instead of asking for volunteers, the teacher says:
“I’ll give you 10 seconds to think. I’ll be asking Fatima first, then Luke.”
Pupils know anyone may be called on → encourages full-class attentiveness.

Talking, showing and writing

curtisa24 — 2025-09-12 12:29:11 UTC

In Year 2 maths, the teacher introduces “arrays” for multiplication.

Shows a diagram of 3 rows of 5 dots.
Labels it “3 rows of 5 = 15.”
Writes the multiplication sentence alongside.
Talking + showing + written form together reduces overload and helps pupils connect representations.

Sentence Stems

curtisa24 — 2025-09-12 12:30:11 UTC

In Year 3 writing, the teacher provides sentence stems to help pupils expand ideas:

“I believe this because…”
“Another reason is…”
“This makes me think that…”
Higher-attaining pupils may not use the stems; others lean on them until ready to write more independently.

Oral Rehearsal

curtisa24 — 2025-09-12 12:31:08 UTC

In a Year 6 history lesson, pupils discuss whether the Victorians improved people’s lives.

Teacher sets up partner talk using the stem:
- “I agree/disagree with you because…”
- “On the other hand…”
Partners rehearse orally before feeding back → increases quality of contributions and confidence in whole-class discussion.

2025-09-15 15:20:38 UTC

Hands down answering

Using the Class Dojo randomiser

2025-09-15 15:21:18 UTC

Using lollypop sticks

2025-09-15 15:22:35 UTC

Daily arithmetic

2025-09-15 15:22:43 UTC

Modelling a sentence, colour coding the different areas such as 'parenthesis'

Answer sentence stems in Guided Reading

2025-09-15 15:22:54 UTC

2025-09-15 15:23:18 UTC

Including pictures to support scientific language

2025-09-15 15:23:38 UTC

Giving opinions, thinking critically and finding evidence in the text or facts they have found.

2025-09-15 15:24:18 UTC

Sharing and rehearsing sentence examples in a writing lesson to demonstrate to the whole group how sentences are constructed

2025-09-15 15:24:20 UTC

Having a big question on the board from prior learning and children discuss it with a partner and then share with the class

Sentence stems

2025-09-15 15:24:20 UTC

White Rose sentence stems to develop understanding and oracy.

2025-09-15 15:24:26 UTC

Low stake quizzes

Big Question

2025-09-15 15:24:29 UTC

At the start of the lesson we ask questions about lessons already taught plus questions about what they learned the previous year.

2025-09-15 15:25:12 UTC

Key vocabulary - guided reading with images

2025-09-15 15:25:12 UTC

In Spanish, having the sentence stem on the board.

Gradual release model - slowly taking some scaffolding away

2025-09-15 15:25:35 UTC

Inference question of the day sentence stems "The fox ran away quickly because..."

2025-09-15 15:25:58 UTC

Sentence stems - WRM

2025-09-15 15:26:21 UTC

Maths - modelling reasoning and problem solving explanations

Cold calling

2025-09-15 15:26:39 UTC

When answering a question I give the children thinking time or talk partner time and then use names on lolly sticks to select a child to answer.

2025-09-15 15:26:43 UTC

Shared write - including elements of the success criteria

2025-09-15 15:28:00 UTC

Morning starters and Exit tickets (submit answer tickets to get bag and coats)

2025-09-15 15:28:23 UTC

Debate style lessons - Big Question etc

2025-09-15 15:31:04 UTC

Teaching narrating their thinking and steps