Could You Teach Naked?
Every September it seems like there’s a new Whole School
Initiative hitting the fan. As the Headteacher takes the podium on that first
inset day, you hold your breath, waiting to find out what new, quirky trend
will permeate your staff meetings for the year ahead…
But what if your headteacher stood up and told you that this month is all about #NakedTeaching?...
Are you game for it?
What is
#NakedTeaching?
Ok, so I know I’m kind of known for controversial titles
(see here
and here),
but no… it isn’t anything dodgy. #Naked
Teaching is imagining – just for a short time – what it would be like to have
to teach without any resources. I’m one
of the trustees of the charity, World Wide
Education Project which helps to provide an education for children in areas
where school resources are scarce or non-existent. #NakedTeaching is about
liberating yourself from physical resources, unshackling yourself from the
whiteboard, releasing the learners from desks and freeing the learning space of
worksheets, textbooks – everything!
So ask yourself: what would you teach and how would you
teach it if, like teachers in impoverished communities around the world, you
had no resources to rely on?
What is
#NakedTeachingDay?
#NakedTeaching Day on Friday 30th September is an
opportunity for schools across the UK to raise awareness of the plight of
children who attend makeshift schools in slums, under bridges and in refugee
camps. It’s a chance for teachers to stick the supplies back in the store
cupboard, unleash their inventiveness and undress their lessons. You could even
take the kids outside and lose the walls and the chairs too!
And remember, like most activities that include the word
“naked”, someone has to be the first to take the plunge!... So don’t dither shyly waiting to find out if
your colleague down the corridor is going to partake – set the ball rolling
yourself! Let your colleagues know that #NakedTeachingDay is coming! Build up
the tension and create some anticipation in your school! Friday 30th
September is the day to take some exciting risks and skip unfettered onto that cordoned-off section of the
scholastic beach you’ve always wanted to try. ;)
To kickstart your #NakedTeaching escapades, try one of these
5-minute resource-free teaching strategies that can be adapted to teach just
about anything: (But beware – as #NakedTeaching goes, the following ideas are
hardcore because they don’t even involve paper or pens…)
1.
In pairs, learners sit facing each other and try
to score points based on tennis scoring by coming up with words or ideas
relating to a particular topic e.g. “features of persuasive writing” or “facts
about the Tudors”. .As soon as hesitation or repetition occurs the opponent
gets the points. This can be used for revision or to establish what pupils
already know.
2.
Ask learners to choose a fact/quote/number/word/question/idea
relating to the subject matter that they can repeat over and over out loud.
Learners must get up, move around and speak their piece to as many of their
classmates as possible. Each time they exchange an utterance, they must look
for the links between what each of them has said. If they think carefully
enough they will always find a way to link the two things together!
3.
Call out statements and ask learners to sit down
if they think the statement is false and remain standing if they believe it to
be true. This can be used to test understanding and knowledge, but can also be
used to encourage personal response. Ask learners to turn to the person next to
them and justify which position they chose or explain how they “knew”.
4.
In groups, learners make up a song/chant/rap to
revise their learning in a topic so far. They should connect key ideas with
catchy tunes and rhythms to make concepts doubly memorable. If the kids are
brave enough, let them perform their Number 1 Hits to other classmates!
5.
Create a Sound Collage by asking learners to bow
their heads and close their eyes. As you circulate around the space, tap random
learners on the shoulder. As each person is tapped (and you can revisit certain
people!), they call out their “most interesting idea or question” about the
topic. Once the sound collage is finished, learners open their eyes and are
asked to consider and discuss some of the “anonymous” ideas and questions they
heard.
#NakedTeachingDay is organised by the World Wide Education Project. We’re hoping
that your school can raise awareness and funds for the impoverished children
around the world that we are currently supporting. And come up with some new
ideas for their teachers too! See here
for how you can donate.
Have a look here to see how
you can help the fabulous Lisa Jane Ashes use #NakedTeaching to raise funds to
educate children in Ghana who have nothing.
And have a look here
to learn a little about our project in the Calais Refugee Camp - as well as all
our other projects here
Join the conversation at #NakedTeaching and
#NakedTeachingDay and share your pics and ideas!
Isabella Wallace X
www.wwep.org.uk
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