Teaching and Learning
The Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme [TEEP]
At Saint Paul’s Catholic High School we believe that learning should be a lifelong process and a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone. Through our teaching we focus on inspiring ch
ildren to learn and enable them to become confident, resourceful, enquiring and independent learners. In order to achieve this we need a coherent approach to teaching and learning.
The TEEP (Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme) model of effective teaching for effective learning is a framework with a strong pedagogical foundation, to support a consistent approach to teaching and learning. The TEEP model draws on significant research that has identified what is required of teachers and of learners in order for them to gain the best learning outcomes possible.
It is expected that all teaching staff use the TEEP model when planning and delivering lessons and that Middle Leaders use the TEEP model when delivering CPD. Recently trained staff are expected to start embedding TEEP structures into their lessons following the initial 2 days training. In between days one and two and day three they should be using the TEEP cycle in at least one lesson per day.
The aims of TEEP are to:
Give staff a common language for planning, teaching and evaluating learning.
Develop a community of learners where learning is valued, enjoyed, supported and lifelong.
Encompass and build upon everything we do that we know makes teaching and learning better.
Promote challenging lessons, which ensure excellent progression both within a lesson and across a series of lessons in order to raise achievement for all.
Improve teaching and learning so that all lessons are at least good.
Provide staff with excellent development opportunities.
The focus for Teaching and Learning in 2017-18 at Saint Paul’s are to:
Ensure all newly appointed staff undertake TEEP training and embed structures into their lessons with the support of the teaching and learning team.
Ensure marking is formative and supports students’ progress and that time is planned in lessons for students to respond to feedback.
Use the cycle and the underpinning elements to ensure pace and challenge in lessons which leads to progress over time.
Ensure there are clear links between the learning objectives and the activities undertaken in lessons.
The TEEP Model
The TEEP model of Effective Teaching for Effective Learning was developed in response to the needs of education systems, schools, teachers and students. It is a framework with a strong pedagogical foundation, to support a consistent approach to Teaching and Learning.
The model draws on significant research that has identified what is required of teachers and of learners in order for them to gain the best learning outcomes possible. The model is made up of three significant components each with important elements that are inextricably connected yet need to be recognised individually for their contribution to the teaching and learning process.
Effective Teacher behaviours and Effective Learner behaviours (the outer circle)
One of the most significant influences on the quality of student learning at school is the class teacher. The model nominates four areas where teachers will benefit from being explicitly aware of how the decisions they make can impact their students’ learning. TEEP explores:
Classroom management: using routines, motivation techniques and consistent behaviour management practices.
Interactive teaching: Using techniques such as stimulating and facilitating classroom discussions, the effective use of questioning by students and teachers, using a variety of reflection practices.
Learning Styles: exploring the use of a range of teaching techniques that will meet the needs of the different learning styles of students in the class, ways to differentiate the learning, small group work, whole class instruction, and fostering independent learning practices.
Effective Learner Behaviours
Equal value must be given to the significance of understanding more about what effective learners do. If we want students to be responsible and independent learners then it is important that they understand more about how to learn so that they can be empowered in the learning process. Teachers need to know how to support the development of specific active learning behaviours.
TEEP explores active and effective learning behaviours in the areas of collaborating, thinking and metacognition, decision making, and communicating. We look at ways to help students construct meaning in their learning, monitor their own progress and reflect on the whole learning process.
Underpinning Elements (the middle circle)
The five Underlying elements of effective practice are:
Collaborative Learning: Collaborative Learning is an approach to teaching and learning that involves pairs or groups of students working and learning together to explore a topic, complete a task, solve a problem or create a product.
Effective use of ICT: Effective use of ICT can help students learn more deeply or quickly, usually when it does something they couldn’t easily do without it.
Assessment for Learning: implies that any assessment should lead to improved learning outcomes for students. The TEEP model explores strategies and techniques that support teachers and students to give and receive quality feedback, and use assessment in both formative and Summative ways. It involves sharing learning goals with students to help students to know and to recognise the standards they are aiming for.
Accelerated Learning: This is the term used to describe the techniques and strategies that teachers use to actively engage learners in learning. It includes making connections with prior knowledge and experiences, allowing opportunity for exploratory talk, experiencing the content of the curriculum through the senses and supporting students to take risks in their learning.
Thinking for Learning: Thinking is a process that invites the learner to make sense of the information at hand. It is the way to understanding. It involves the teacher encouraging students to think deeply rather than on a superficial level so that the learning that takes place is rich and long-lasting means being asked searching (higher level) and big questions.
The TEEP Learning Cycle (Inner Circle)
The learning cycle is used by teachers as a guide to plan relevant, purposeful and stimulating lessons. The model includes a six-part lesson planning cycle (in the centre) which is built on what we know about effective learning.
The stages of learning are shared with students so they can reflect on how to improve their own learning. Teachers can be confident that if each of these elements is considered during planning, then the lesson or series of lessons will be more likely to actively engage students in their learning. By definition the cycle does not mean that each element is discrete or linear, rather it is intended to provide the basis for a strategic and cohesive sequence of activity that will enhance the students’ learning. It is expected that teachers will move back and forth using the cycle flexibly as they determine what is best to meet the needs of their students.
Prepare for learning: To create a purposeful, working environment in which the students feel valued and confident from the outset. It is an opportunity to link learning. Are the students ready to learn?
Agree Learning Outcomes: To inform the students what they are expected to have learned by the end of the lesson and what the success criteria is. Useful phrases include: What will be able to …, What we will know about …, What we will understand …Why are we learning this?
Present New Information: This stage of the lesson is for students to be introduced to new ideas, concepts or themes through all the senses and mediums (VAK). The input may be directly from the teacher or from images, texts, video, internet demonstration, stories etc. What are students learning about?
Construct Meaning: This is the time for students to develop their understanding of the new information. Students are asked to make sense of it and explore it for themselves. The activities in this section should be designed to allow students to make progress towards achieving the learning outcomes. To do this they may have to consider different points of view, process information or work something out for themselves. You may need to make mistakes! What are students discovering?
Apply to demonstrate: This is the time for students to participate in a task or tasks that will allow them to demonstrate their developing understanding of the content that was presented and apply the new learning in a different situation. How can they use what they know?
Review: This is an essential stage in the process of teaching and learning. It is a chance for the students to reflect on the process and content of learning. The teacher will have a Big Review and mini review points during the lesson where they can check students are making good progress in their learning. Have they really understood it?
Teacher Learning and Professional Development at Saint Paul’s
All teaching staff at Saint Paul’s participated in a level 1 three day training programme to strengthen further teaching and learning. This involved learning about the structure of the teaching model of effective learning, taking part in an expert’s challenge to understand the five underpinning elements on which the model is based, how to use the learning cycle as a planning tool, so that they can apply the model in their classrooms and focus on effective teacher and learner behaviours.
Selected staff across a wide range of subject areas have taken part in a level 2 training programme, developing a deeper understanding of the model of teaching and learning used at St Paul’s. These staff are now our TEEP champions and members of the Teaching and Learning team. This enables them to embed the model of teaching used across the school, undertake Action Research and share their findings with colleagues, deliver CPD as well as coaching and mentoring to improve the quality of teaching and learning across the school.
We deliver CPD after school on Wednesday’s with a focus on continuing to embed our shared model of teaching and learning across the school. All teacher learning / professional development is delivered using the TEEP model so that staff are constantly revisiting the framework and leaders are modelling the model.
Throughout this academic year all staff are undertaking an action research project on one of the underpinning elements of the teaching model used at St Paul’s. Teachers will be including a variety of techniques to secure stretch and challenge for all students in lessons.
For further information contact:
Mrs A Holland – Headteacher’s PA, Saint Paul’s Catholic High School.
