Teaching and Learning: The DGS Way

Effective Teaching and Learning facilitates the clear, memorable and enjoyable delivery of a knowledge rich curriculum by animated subject experts. Through the skilled use of modelling; crafted explanation and deliberate practice, all students are challenged to develop their understanding; sparking their curiosity and fostering the development of independence, self-expression and self-reflection.

Our approach to Teaching and Learning is research informed and student centred. The following Teaching and Learning Principles inform all QA processes and CPD design. They are used to support staff at every level of expertise during feedback and coaching and form a shared language around classroom practice.

Challenge

Deliberate practice and gradual release

Retrieval

Responsive teaching

Memorable explanation

Student reflection and metacognition

Vocabulary

Responsive AFL

Effective live modelling

Oracy

 

Challenge1.  Challenge

Definition: something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person's ability:

The DGS way: all students should be challenged in lessons to develop their understanding, increase their knowledge and refine their skills.  Challenge is motivating, moves learning forwards and raises the bar for all students.

Retrieval2.  Retrieval

Definition: the process of recalling previous knowledge to increase its storage strength.

The DGS way: teachers seek opportunities to retrieve previous knowledge to help students see links between knowledge (strata) and increase the storage strength of what they have been taught. Retrieval starters are common practice and are used across the curriculum to ‘interrupt forgetting.’

Memorable Explanation3.  Memorable explanation

Definition: the way information is broken down and demystified so that it is made clear and easy to understand.

The DGS way: teachers have a thorough subject knowledge and carefully plan and deliver explanations which help students understand and remember new knowledge. Explanations are carefully paced and worded to ensure all students can access the explanation and remember the key details and dual coding is used to ensure that working memory is not overloaded.

Explicit Vocab4.  Explicit vocabulary teaching

Definition: the clear teaching of tier 3 vocabulary and use of tier 2 vocabulary to help students access the curriculum and communicate their views and knowledge with accuracy.

The DGS way: valuable vocabulary is signposted; explicitly taught; and practised during lessons using etymology and understanding of prefix/suffixes to build confidence.

Effective modelling5.  Effective live-modelling

Definition: the process of sharing knowledge, thought processes and skills to share expertise with the learner.

The DGS way: teachers are subject experts and use live modelling to share both what they know and how they think: making their choices explicit to learners so that they can be supported in developing their understanding.

Practice6.  Deliberate practice

Definition: a distinct type of practice that is purposeful and systematic and focused on building independence over time.

The DGS way: knowledge and skill are clearly modelled for students before they are supported in practising for themselves as part of the gradual release model. When students are learning new content, teachers use scaffolding to relieve the pressures on working memory and give thought to how we ‘gradually lose control’ across lessons and curriculum maps: from explicit instruction to independent practice as students internalise learning.

Responsive teaching7.  Responsive teaching

Definition: teaching which reacts to students’ needs and responses with precision.

The DGS way: teachers plan challenging lessons for all students and respond deftly to their needs during the lesson by using regular questioning and quizzing to: gauge understanding; offer scaffolds; address misconceptions and offer elaboration and challenge.

Student reflection8.  Student reflection and metacognition

Definition: knowledge and understanding of your own thinking.

The DGS way: teachers seek opportunities to model their thinking as the expert in the room to share their expertise with the students. They structure opportunities for students to plan, monitor and evaluate their learning through metacognitive talk and meaningful reflection.

Responsive feed forward9.  Responsive feedforward assessment

Definition: the use of targeted, timely, specific formative assessment which gauges student understanding and moves learners forwards.

The DGS way: feedforward assessment carefully measures what and how students are learning in a timely way. Practices like target codes, whole class feedback and sharing models ensures students know how to improve and chase success whilst protecting wellbeing and workload.

Oracy10.  Oracy

Definition: the ability to speak clearly and accurately to express ideas.

The DGS way: we are committed to broadening our vocabulary. We are a word-curious school and take very opportunity to explore new words, recognising that a broad vocabulary is key to fluent, accurate, confident and effective expression in both speech and writing.

 

Documents

Page Downloads Date  
Teaching Learning handbook 11th Oct 2021 Download
@@DidcotGirls11:07 PM - 14th March, 2024 Here's Dr Comina celebrating with a outdoor lunchtime display of some exciting chemical reactions. The elephant's toothpaste was spectacular! pic.twitter.com/BAuNf01eVD
@@DidcotGirls04:01 PM - 12th March, 2024 Dr Susy Connell talking to our girls about her career in medicine and inviting our students to consider this amazing career! pic.twitter.com/2Y5m17CsJw
@@DidcotGirls04:01 PM - 12th March, 2024 Photographer and author Corin Jones talking about her photography business and how she empowers women through her photographs. pic.twitter.com/x6IIlmcepL
@@DidcotGirls04:01 PM - 12th March, 2024 Delighted to welcome Leah Parren, who used to be mu student (!) to come and talk about leadership as well as the magic of teaching! Macy and Tushya are providing beautiful music, too! pic.twitter.com/nFHe6yDTXv
@@DidcotGirls04:00 PM - 12th March, 2024 Cannot think of a better way to start our Student Leadership Conference than this awesome dance number by our Diversity Leaders! pic.twitter.com/h9Vz8DZKLp
@@DidcotGirls04:00 PM - 12th March, 2024 with us this morning at our Leadership Conference talking about his work at Velocity and his experience and lessons as a professional footballer. The students are gripped! pic.twitter.com/8ovCoDLy34
@@DidcotGirls04:35 PM - 6th March, 2024 Today, Reading Ambassadors from visited Long Wittenham CofE Primary school to look at the picture books shortlisted for this year's . A joyous afternoon watching older students pass on their love of reading to a younger audience. pic.twitter.com/ZJ9LJX70c8
@@DidcotGirls09:18 AM - 1st March, 2024 Want to join the most rewarding profession there is and make a difference for young people in your area? Get in touch to talk about how you can train to teach with us. pic.twitter.com/uDoDTaFQHK
@@DidcotGirls09:18 AM - 1st March, 2024 Interested in training to teach or want to find out more about teacher training? Eager to make a difference in one of our schools? Sign up for one of our online info events to find out more. pic.twitter.com/9uqKo3kFJ9
@@DidcotGirls05:19 PM - 23rd February, 2024 Thoroughly entertaining and inspiring talk from Manjeet Mann to our Year 9 and 10 students today. Thanks to for providing books to be bought and signed! pic.twitter.com/LVHewYAyGm
@@LibraryDGS02:39 PM - 23rd February, 2024 Thoroughly entertaining and inspiring talk from Manjeet Mann to our Year 9 and 10 students today. Thanks to for providing books to be bought and signed! pic.twitter.com/LVHewYAyGm
@@DidcotGirls11:13 AM - 8th February, 2024 We are looking for a Head of Sociology to lead our A Level programme. Apply by 26th February: Read more
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