Teach to the Top: Aiming High for Every Learner
£14.30
‘Teach to the Top’ is a research-informed guide to aspirational teaching, focusing on how embedding higher-level knowledge in the classroom empowers students to succeed and to enjoy learning.
Questioning existing orthodoxies around ability, ‘Teach to the Top’ sets out a vision for an education system in which pupils of all attainment levels are enabled to make fantastic progress by being exposed to sophisticated concepts, and afforded opportunities to think deeply and grapple with stimulating ideas.
Making a convincing case for the centrality of subject knowledge, the book also shows how affording teachers the professional autonomy to participate in continual development of their own knowledge benefits both teachers and students.
As well as engaging critically with a wealth of educational research, ‘Teach to the Top’ outlines a plethora of research-informed strategies for teaching to the top.
Topics include embedding advanced knowledge in curriculum planning, approaches to challenging classroom talk, the fundamental importance of increasing learners’ confidence, the dangers of differentiation and grade-focused feedback, and the value of an adaptable approach to planning.
Both thoughtful and practical, ‘Teach to the Top’ develops a persuasive justification for the entitlement of every child to higher-level knowledge, alongside providing teachers with a range of practical suggestions and questions for reflection to enable the application of this philosophy to their own classrooms.
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Additional information
| Publisher | John Catt Educational Ltd (17 Sept. 2021) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 140 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1913622754 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1913622756 |
| Reading age | 18 years and up |
| Dimensions | 14.22 x 1.02 x 20.32 cm |
by Keeley saunders
Exactly what I needed to read and so apt. Low expectations are never ok, but sadly endemic in low attaining schools. This is thoughtful in its approach, with research to back up every point made. Will be adding to my school’s cpd library
by Melanie Clowes
Useful and inspiring, I LOVED this. Really explores what ‘teaching to the top’ means and how to aim high for all students, and provide challenge in the classroom. Lots of really useful reflective questions and practical examples. Brilliant book – thoroughly recommend to any teacher whether primary or secondary!
by Bethany L Morgan
A good book with lots of ideas about how to implement effective stretch and challenge in to your lessons and planning. Well organised and easy to find the information you’re looking for.
by Katie
A really interesting read. It made me reflect on some things we just accept as normal in schools like setting and ability groups, but also contains so many useful tips and ideas about how to increase challenge in lessons and inspire students. I would definitely recommend.
by Paula
With my limited experience into teaching, I am always on the look for books that, apart from giving me some tips and tricks, would reinforce the idea that I can teach creatively, in a balanced way, that I can plan in a flexible manner and I can inspire students to think further.
What I found in Megan’s book is language accessibility and ideas that I never thought about before. When you teach and help students, you don’t continuously think about how you do it, because with experience, it becomes your second nature; however, it is integral to reflect on all the situations and the journey, and help others around you that would like to consider a career in teaching.
It gets you through all the important stages: what you know about your subject, how to be confident in your knowledge, how to plan and assessments, grades and tests and their variables, and most importantly – aspects about mental health, such as motivation and self-esteem, which should always be topics of discussion in any teaching environment.
It is a great book that also teaches you the value of patience, respecting others’ rhythm and inspiration, aspects that I would love to master in the upcoming years.
by Christopher Walker
As a teacher you occasionally are lucky enough to come across a book that can redefine how you see your practice and this is certainly one of those books.
Mansworth takes a no nonsense approach to teaching akin to what every teacher believes teaching is at the start of their careers before being drowned in senseless gimmicks that people (and observers) regard as challenging teaching. She is able to redefine approaches to misunderstood concepts like differentiation, ZPD and others and is able to ground every one of her concepts in clear, cogent research.
I believe every teacher, school leader, OFSTED inspector and anyone who makes the highest decisions regarding education needs to read this book as it fundamentally gets to the need of teaching to the top – to give students opportunities to ‘think deeply, discuss difficult or challenging concepts and become questioning and reflective learners.’
by Mr R. Gardner
An excellent read. Compact and full of useful gems, and underpinned by a sound philosophy for teaching to the top and pushing all students!
by MrMytton
Nothing new in this book that every teacher already knows….. can hardly call this a ‘game changer’!