talk-less teaching in

Talk-Less Teaching in Science

c.ferguson@millthorpeschool.co.uk

@FergusonMr1

Answers taken from a survey of over 500,000 schools.

• On average, teachers talk for 50% of lesson time.• 80%

• Teachers talk less to older students.• Smaller classes/behaviour/they have figured out more talk from

us means less work from them• Teachers talk less as class size decreases.

• On average, 20% of lesson time is devoted to student discussion.• 5%

• On average, teachers ask around 100 questions a day.• Up to 300 – most are house keeping – have you got a pen?• Most children are given about 5 seconds to answer teacher’s questions.• Less than 1 second – we pile questions on top of questions and

don’t allow any think/response time.

TALKING = QUICKENS way to get information OUT BUT NOT necessarily IN.Even we like to be PASSIVE – you are all thinking tell me what I need to know so I can go home!

How many of these do you know the answer to?

1. What is the frequency of Ultrasound waves?

2. What precautions are taken when using X-rays?

3. How are X-ray images made?4. Why are Ultrasound waves used for

prenatal scanning?5. Why are ultrasound waves partly

reflected by body organs??6. Why is an Ultrasound scanner better

than an X-ray scanner for scanning a body organ?

7. State one advantage and one disadvantage of a CT Scanner in

comparison with an ordinary X-ray machine.

(GCSE QUESTION)

Go around the room and ask someone your question.

If they get it RIGHT – ask them an extension (if there is one) and then give them the

card.If they get it WRONG – tell

them the answer and get them to REPEAT IT back to

you.They will then ask you a question and repeat this

process.SWAP QUESTIONS

Do this until you have been asked at least 5 different

questions Feeling confident answer Mr Ferguson’s GCSE Question!

What’s up Doc?

How many of these do you know the answer to?

1. What is the frequency of Ultrasound waves?

2. What precautions are taken when using X-rays?

3. How are X-ray images made?4. Why are Ultrasound waves used for

prenatal scanning?5. Why are ultrasound waves partly

reflected by body organs??6. Why is an Ultrasound scanner better

than an X-ray scanner for scanning a body organ?

7. State one advantage and one disadvantage of a CT Scanner in

comparison with an ordinary X-ray machine.

(GCSE QUESTION)

Go around the room and ask someone your question.

If they get it RIGHT – ask them an extension (if there is one) and then give them the

card.If they get it WRONG – tell

them the answer and get them to REPEAT IT back to

you.They will then ask you a question and repeat this

process.SWAP QUESTIONS

Do this until you have been asked at least 5 different

questions Feeling confident answer Mr Ferguson’s GCSE Question!

Useful for FACT BASED or CONTENT heavy lessons – perfect for Science!

DIFFERENTIATION- You can colour code the cards so that pupils who are working at different levels/outcomes only

swap with people with the same coloured cards

EXTENSION- to push further you can have a 2nd question on the same card to push further

Time: Optimum time = 10 minutes – LOTS of information –NO teacher talk.

Go around the room and ask someone your question.

If they get it RIGHT – ask them an extension (if there is one) and then give

them the card.

If they get it WRONG – tell them the answer and get them to REPEAT IT back to

you.They will then ask you a question and

repeat this process.Do this until you have been asked at least

4 different questions.

Create an easy question and a further tricky

question to see how much everyone

remembers!

Teach me, tell me

Easy question:   

A: Tough Question:

 A:

How many of these do you know the answer to?

1. What is the frequency of Ultrasound waves?

2. What precautions are taken when using X-rays?

3. How are X-ray images made?4. Why are Ultrasound waves used for

prenatal scanning?5. Why are ultrasound waves partly

reflected by body organs??6. Why is an Ultrasound scanner better

than an X-ray scanner for scanning a body organ?

7. State one advantage and one disadvantage of a CT Scanner in

comparison with an ordinary X-ray machine.

(GCSE QUESTION)

Go around the room and ask someone your question.

If they get it RIGHT – ask them an extension (if there is one) and then give them the

card.If they get it WRONG – tell

them the answer and get them to REPEAT IT back to

you.They will then ask you a question and repeat this

process.SWAP QUESTIONS

Do this until you have been asked at least 5 different

questions Feeling confident answer Mr Ferguson’s GCSE Question!