Geography Teaching Today

Talk is an essential part of any effective lesson, dialogue between teacher and pupil and from pupil to pupil enables classrooms to buzz with discussion and debate around geographical issues, to challenge misconceptions and stereotypes and to enable pupils to plan their own progression through their learning pathway. So, where do we begin when planning to incorporate effective talk into our geography lessons?

Many geographers have engaged with the Secondary National Strategy through the foundation subjects materials and consultant support, and more recently through the Whole School Initiative materials. Within all of the publications and professional development opportunities offered by the Strategy the focus has been in the classroom, creating engaging and challenging lessons which are clearly focussed and involve learners in their own learning.

The Secondary Strategy offers a wealth of resources to support talk for learning in classrooms - these are listed in publication order below. All are downloadable from the standards site and should be available in hard copy in every secondary school.

Literacy across the curriculum
DfEE 0235/2001
A generic set of training materials for whole school development of literacy priorities.

Literacy and Learning in Geography
DfES 0048/2002
Now part of the Literacy and Learning materials, this original pack provided a selection of training units for departmental development of literacy.

Training materials for the Foundation Subjects
DfES 0350/2002
A set of 14 training units for foundation subject departments to develop a number of aspects of classroom practice in foundations subjects and RE.

Assessment for Learning whole school training materials
DfES 0043-2004
A whole school pack of training materials designed to develop all aspects of AfL, which includes subject development materials.

Literacy and Learning whole school materials
DfES 0672-2004
A comprehensive package of materials designed to develop literacy through clear cross curricular literacy objectives for Years 7,8,9 linked to geography activities through a subject specific booklet.

Pedagogy and Practice: Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools
DfES 0433-2004
The 'Ped Pack' of self study units which focuses on research evidence, uses video clips and suggests practical tasks to try in your own classroom on a number of aspects of pedagogy.

Leading in Learning WSI whole school training materials
DfES 0034 -2005
Whole school training materials for developing thinking skills through the use of ten strategies using a three cycle lesson approach.

In addition, materials to support speaking and listening through the English strand of the strategy may provide a deeper insight into the development of talk in classrooms - we suggest that you seek out a friendly English teacher!