principals for effective teaching practice developed by Tom Sherrington.
Based on Rosenshine’s principals of instruction.
Tom Sherrington's Teaching Hexagons is a visual tool that offers a comprehensive framework for understanding and improving teaching practices. By breaking down the complexity of teaching into six key areas represented by hexagons, this model provides us with a structured approach to reflect on and enhance their instructional strategies. Each hexagon represents a crucial aspect of effective teaching, guiding teachers in creating engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Through the Teaching Hexagons, educators can gain insights into various elements of teaching, such as curriculum design, assessment, classroom management, and instructional delivery, ultimately supporting the development of high-quality teaching practices that benefit both teachers and students alike.
Here is one example that I found really useful in my own teaching practice - Especially the fourth step here to reinforce a positive framing around the silence, where the students learn to value the time to focus.
Here are some other examples. The infographic aesthetic makes these very digestible and simple to review.
Applying this to practical activities in the classroom can be really valuable to us as art teachers. Asking students to complete exemplar work following demonstrations as low stake rehearsals - Especially encouraging mistakes to be made so that feedback can be valuable and misunderstandings can be resolved for the class.
Body language and projection.
'You may not realise it, but you are a voice professional. As a Teacher you belong to a professional group called informers - and your vocal demands include long periods of uninterrupted speaking to groups.'
(Sherwell 2009)
Poor Vocal technique
Don't hunch twist or bend while using your voice it puts the voice and your breathing apparatus under strain.
Stand or sit up straight, with a straight back, relaxed neck and shoulders.
Your voice needs warming-up to avoid strain
Get to know when your voice is starting to feel strained
Warming up your voice for teaching
relax your shoulders
Breathe deeply
Vocalise and activate lip and breath control
Building a vocal repertoire
Find a naturally assertive register - Take presence in the classroom and project - but not so much as to strain your voice (confident, in control, relaxed)
Project and check - ensure that all students can hear you
Establish known commands and cues - create simple routines that are established and practiced for maximised efficiency.
Script routines and known scenarios - 'that's close, not quite right but well done for trying' - softens incorrect responses. rehearse what to say in predictable scenarios
Establish a register for controlled severity - Develop an alternative register to be more commanding.
Book recommendation to continue developing this: Jeanette Nelson, The Voice Exercise Book. A guide to Healthy and Effective Voice use.
Status, Assertiveness, Rapport
High and low status teachers.
Speak slowly and low
Be calm and in control
Present smartly
Breathe from your stomach
Be still and centred
Position yourself to the front of the classroom
Amy Cuddy Social Psychologist
Non-verbal expressions of power and dominance.
Fantastic TED talk on body language for the classroom.
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