Marvellous mistakes were modelled daily and all teachers used them in some way. Visualisers were used to spot mistakes; three dots under spellings were used as part of Talk For Writing procedure and use of a marvellous mistakes sheet for English. Children are not afraid of making mistakes and are challenging others and teachers. They are using more ambitious vocabulary as a result of the mm sheet.
Task related praise was very successful, with children being responsive to it.
Task related praise is the best reward
I really worked with my children to improve their handwriting. They were trying their best during handwriting sessions but I really wanted
this to appear in other subjects. I was marking one child’s shared writing during an English lesson and noticed that his handwriting had
improved. I said that I was very pleased with his neat joined handwriting. I opened his handwriting book and showed him his first piece of English writing compared to now to see the improvement. He was very happy with this feedback and said to his friends ‘Mrs Bissett was very happy with my handwriting’ because I used joined writing.
He also told his parents. This is so much more meaningful an external reward.
Sandra Bisset, Drake Primary School
All groups are now mixed apart from reading. Children are more engaged and see they are equal. They learn better from higher achieving partners and not being labelled.