Preparation is the key: Chunking.

Ok, with any job it's important to be ready and to think on your feet.

So when you're teaching and your class looks you and they have no clue what you're talking about then time to think on your feet.

I've been working in schools for about 8 years now. I've always had a keen interest. When my mother used to be a teaching assistant I'd always volunteer to come and help and on several occasions I'd sing for the children. Not sure if they enjoyed it or not. It wasn't until my best friend became a teacher that I decided to become more involved.

My excuse was that I never got to see my friend as often as I wanted, so I volunteered at her school, then completed an online diploma to become a Teaching Assistant. When I had passed, I started looking for employment. Luckily for me, my friends school Headteacher decided that she wanted me to work at the school and practically made a job for me. This seems like a lifetime ago and now I find myself planning lessons and looking after my own class.

This week has gone fairly quick, however it's been good, well probably apart from not having computers work for my computing lesson and using the chunking in Maths. For those who don't know, chunking is a method used for dividing larger numbers that cannot be divided mentally (The School Run, 2019). I have to admit, I had a pretty defeated mood before I started teaching this, as it's not something I enjoy using as a method.

Then on Wednesday, I was on an NQT course and this gave me chance to rethink and come up with a different approach. So the next day I revisited chunking and allowed the children to explore this method with a very different approach. All I needed was that little spark and I felt able to show my class that it's ok to try and learn something new.

Sometimes we don't like change or to try learn new things. Although, this new year and my own new approaches to things has shown me that it's ok to take a risk. If things don't work out, it's ok to put your hands up and admit that you're wrong.

I always encourage my class that's it's ok to make mistake, as long as you try. Alina Tugend (2011) suggested 'if students are afraid of mistakes, they’re afraid of trying something new, of being creative, of thinking in a different way.' I'm honest with my class and I make mistakes regularly (Ok, I don't talk about all of them!) It's what we learn about ourselves and how we can improve that is the most important.

So chunking might not that be that interesting for some, however if one child gets 'it'. Then that's more important, isn't it?

It's been a quick week, however lots of long days. I'm ready for bed. I know how to live on a Friday night!

Steve Maull

An NQT.

References: Alina Tugend, 2011, 'The Role of Mistakes in the Classroom' online at https://www.edutopia.org/blog/benefits-mistakes-classroom-alina-tugend

The School Run, 2019, online https://www.theschoolrun.com/what-is-chunking