Starter techniques

Today I used a starter technique I read from the 'Love Literacy' book which gives literacy based starter and plenary ideas for all subjects. I used this in my PSHCE lesson with the tutor group that I share.

My normal delivery is to put up the slides with the title and learning objective on to be copied down by all. However this is the last lesson on a Friday and most students have already began switching off in anticpation of the weekend, writing and copying is the last thing on their minds.

On the white board I simply wrote 'Loss' 'Death' and 'Sadness.' I then asked the class to reflect on the words with those around them and discuss which they believed to be the odd one out. Many shouted answers out but I insisted they took a few minutes to reflect before doing so. It was really interesting to hear their answers and understand how they came to their particular conclusion. With this activity their is no need to correct students, it allows for all to particpate as there are no right or wrong answers, simply their own justifications, which in turn did help contribute towards a greater particpation then normal.

After this I asked them what should be the title of today's lesson? This seemed to be a much more powerful technique then simply "Copy down the title, here is the LO"... let's get on with some learning. The majority of students recognised that we would be looking at death and what the implications of it were.

Any way the title was bereavement. At this point all students had an understanding of what the title meant and its context in today's lesson. I'm sure if I had asked before what bereavement was then the response would have been pale in comparison.