Post on 16-Jan-2017
Date
Raising Achievement through Competition
Outcomes
✤ Improve motivation of target groups in classes.
✤ Develop whole school house system which is embedded in all departments.
Three approaches to competition
1. Engage in contests with each otherFor example, learners compete in a monthly numeracy league, with
correct answers to sums contributing points to an overall score.
2. Overcome challengesFor example, during a science class, learners work in teams to see which
team can build the most effective electrical circuit.
3. Contend for recognition and rewardsFor example, at the end of a unit of work, learners submit pieces of
writing that are judged against different categories and levels of award.
Examples from PE
✤ GYMNASTICS - routine where other students are judges, students come up with own criteria for assessment
✤ FOOTBALL - who can demonstrate the most different ways of turning with the ball?
✤ ATHLETICS - event standards linked to gold, silver and bronze awards.
Example’s from PE✤ TRAMPOLINING - which team can list the main
safety aspects the quickest?
✤ GCSE - correctly label muscles on a body the quickest.
✤ SPORT EDUCATION – students in class affiliated to a team with different jobs (coach, reporter, statistician, manager, umpire, etc.). Teacher awards points to each job lesson by lesson / termly team prize.
Using competition as a teaching method✤ The principles of sports competition can be
applied to learning across the curriculum.
✤ Just as competition is only one method used to support learning in PE and sport, it can also be used as a teaching method in other subjects.
✤ As with any teaching method, it needs to be used with discernment – to suit learning objectives, learning plans, logistics and, above all, the learners.
Make sure that competition is used appropriately to support learning
• For example, one school set up a reading league for boys to tackle an issue with boys’ literacy.
• The boys were given points for each book they read at home, with books on sport as prizes.
• School library books were allocated points according to their level of difficulty; bonus points were granted to books sourced from home or the public library.
• Parents were fully involved, with the boys taking home a copy of the league table and their position at the end of each week.
Competition in your department
Fill in the table with:
✤ What do you already do?
✤ What could you do that would link with topics covered / tasks set?
House System
✤ What is the house system?
✤ What does it mean to you?
✤ How can it help students develop?
Aim
✤ Develop a healthy level of competition and camarderie among students
✤ Helps students to invest in the life and ethos of LLS
✤ Foster teamwork and networking across age ranges and gives a sense of identity and belonging
How?
✤ Develop a variety competitions at all levels across the curriculum and outside of the curriculum that are inclusive, engaging and constructive.
✤ How could your department help to develop the whole school house system?
House Competition
Pick a task from your subject:
✤ What would you award house points for? And why???
✤ How could you integrate house competitions in your curriculum area both within lessons and also in extra-curricular clubs or events?
Activity ideas…✤ Masterchef/ bake off
✤ Dragons den/ enterprize activities/ the apprentice
✤ University challenge/ maths challenge/ quiz/game shows
✤ Service i.e. charity events/ setting up or helping with extra-curricular clubs
✤ Debating society/film/book club (reviews)
✤ Gaming
✤ Performing arts/ BGT/ Music festival/ got to dance/ strictly/ shows etc
✤ Sports competitions
✤ OAA/ teambuilding etc
✤ Art and design- design house badge/logo for planners and displays / make sculptures from recycled things ie bottles