| How can we use children’s knowledge from home to raise their perception of each other in school? |
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Independent Evidence
The dynamics of teaching and learning in the classroom can change if children have the opportunity to share their own area of expertise with their teacher and classmates. Research has shown how the shoe box activity, for example, provides a platform for children to become the ‘class expert’ on their particular area of interest. In this activity children select items from home which fit in a shoe box, and bring them into class to discuss them. 
Your evidence and reflections
You could find out your pupils’ areas of expertise by carrying out the shoe box activity over a term. You could keep a record of their areas of interest by listing the topics the children talk about. (Reflective activity 8-2a) Putting the evidence to work Having identified what interests your pupils you could use the list to work out to what extent the existing curriculum relates to their interests. Is it possible to adapt the curriculum so that more of your pupils’ interests are covered? Which of their interests would be difficult to accommodate? You might like to discuss the conclusions you come to with colleagues, as a basis for considering school attitudes to pupils’ areas of interest overall.  Find out more about the TLRP Home-school knowledge exchange project at: http://www.tlrp.org/project%20sites/HomeSchool/index.htmFind out more about effective home-school liaisons at: http://www.gtce.org.uk/policyandresearch/research/ROMtopics/parentalrom/ or http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/research/themes/parents/ Pollard, A. (1985) The social world of the primary school London: Cassell. |
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