CLEAPSS: Adaptive teaching and practical work

Following a brief introduction to CLEAPSS and the services that CLEAPSS provides, this hands-on workshop featured two CLEAPSS primary practical activities, linking them to adaptive teaching.

Although the session was not an introduction to adaptive teaching, attendees were signposted towards relevant research such as Education South West’s Understanding Adaptive Teaching.

Attendees enjoyed trying out our Finding out about teeth activity and discussed a range of ways in which adaptive teaching could be incorporated into this activity.  These included by anticipating barriers which could be addressed such as working in groups of 3 to support children with limited sight, using assessment to elicit evidence of learning by questioning children during the activity, and in the moment adaptations such as re-explaining concepts such as ‘bite’ and ‘chew’. 

Attendees then took part in the classic CLEAPSS activity How does the size of a ‘cupcake’ parachute affect drop time?   Again, we considered a range of ways in which adaptive teaching could be incorporated into this activity.  These included anticipating barriers which could be addressed such as pre-teaching children how to calculate averages, using assessment to elicit evidence of learning by observing groups working together, and in the moment adaptations such as re-explaining concepts and making changes to the language used in the lesson. 

All our activities use easily accessible resources and are developed with teachers and trialled in schools with children. Participants left this session with practical ideas and guidance to use in their own classrooms and to share with their colleagues.

Attendees were reminded that, as a member you now need to register for an account.  

Links can be found on our ASE Padlet.