Oops!: Helping Children Learn Accidentally

by Hywel Roberts

This book is about engaging learners in great learning. It's about the dance that happens behind positive engagement - the cool moves and steps a teacher needs to choreograph in order to create a context where great learning can happen - and about the importance of relationships in engagement and how rapport can be learned. The book also shines a spotlight on the role of the teacher and how he or she can do the right things to get the absolute best from students.Some of the best learning takes place when, rather than imposing on young people a pre-determined curriculum, you find the stimulus that is relevant and engaging for them and build from there. Then the curriculum starts to emerge in a way that simply hooks students into learning almost despite themselves.There is nothing for them to push against ('What's the point?!' 'This is boring..!') as they have helped shape the direction of the lesson in a way that makes it real and useful to them. All this without them even realising what is going on!They have been 'lured into learning' and the process is shared with teachers in this book, with examples as to how it can be done and how the author has done it. Reading this book will support teachers in developing ideas that motivate everybody in the classroom, from infants to secondary and beyond.Whether you're new to teaching or have vast experience you will find in this book inspiration to raise achievement, improve behaviour and enhance creativity in the classroom and you will change the way you approach lesson planning forever.This is about engaging learners in great learning so well they barely know they are learning. Its about finding a joy in the process of learning, enhanced by those spontaneous, serendipitous events that help you remember just why you came into the teaching profession in the first place. This is an excellent teaching resource to support the Montessori Method. Hywel Roberts is a creative educator with sixteen years' - experience in the classroom teaching drama and English in schools. He is a consultant and speaker specializing in Drama for Learning, Mantle of the Expert, Lures into Learning, and engagement across all phases.

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2012

Reviews

[Millie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read this book as a teacher and do not feel inspired, you may be in the wrong profession. This was everything I needed it to be and more. Cannot wait to ‘be brave’ and create some magic in a real life classroom (🤞) soon! Diolch, Hywel! Passion and excitement well and truly reignited.

[Mark Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed full of great ideas and anecdotes, which empower the teachers who know what they are doing to embrace their maverickness and teach kids in the ways that interest them and make them learn. It doesn't so much tell you how to teach better, but reminds you how. Written by a teacher for teachers, in a great style that assumes you already know what you are doing and treats its readers with respect.

Having seen Hywel speak, I must encourage you (insist that you) do everything you can to see him yourself. He is inspirational and, with his explanations and demonstrations, turns this into a five star book.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hywel did a session with us on our teacher training about creating awe and wonder in the classroom!
The session was amazing, it summed up everything I wanted teaching to be, fun, engaging, relevant...

A few months into teaching and I had started to forget all of this. The need for lesson plans, and the drive towards assessment dates had me in a panic.

Over Christmas I got all my work finished, folders complete and handed in, and decided to give this book a try.

It's a reminder of everything fun that should be obvious! Inspired me to try to be more B.R.A.V.E in my future lessons.

Give it a read it's worth it!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab bits of inspiration after the school break.

[Ross McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of content; practicality and pedagogy.

[Lisibo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken me so long as I wanted to take it in rather than 'gorging' on it and not being able to digest it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has had a dramatic impact on my teaching, not because it's changed what I do, but because it has validated what I choose to do - put my children's enjoyment of learning as a priority.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

fab book. Chock full of great ideas.