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Kris Stutchbury Post 1

21 April 2021, 8:52 AM

Resources to support SBTD

SBTD involves teachers discussing ideas together, planning classroom activities, trying them out and reflecting together on how the go: collaborate - practise - reflect. What sort of resources to do teachers need to support this process? Do you have any good examples to share? 

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 2 in reply to 1

23 April 2021, 10:32 PM

Kris i would suggest the TESSA Open resources. Teachers could use them directly or adapt them or use them as model to guide them develop those that suit their needs. They are already tested and proved fantastic.

Hugo Uh Post 3 in reply to 2

24 April 2021, 10:14 PM

Nicola jones Post 12 in reply to 2

28 April 2021, 10:15 AM

Tested and proven by me as well.Florence. information on TESSA  is colorful,  clear and concise and covers all there is to know about inclusive education.

Joanne Baksh Post 19 in reply to 2

3 May 2021, 5:14 PM

Resources to support SBTD

TESSA open recourses is vey good and the guide is already there for our use. I agree Florence.

Kimberlee Barton Post 22 in reply to 19

4 May 2021, 2:33 AM

I totally agree with implementing the TESSA  guide to support SBTD. This guide enhance and improve teaching and focus on developing teachers' classroom practice.

Stephanie Mohan Post 20 in reply to 2

4 May 2021, 1:47 AM

I agree as well. This is the first time I have seen this resource. Very useful.

Rose Nyambura Post 4 in reply to 1

24 April 2021, 10:40 PM

What the teachers need is sensitization/information inorder to support SBTD. Once the teachers are aware of exactly why they need to embrace SBTD and the expected returns aimed at benefitting their students, teachers will be willing to search for any other resource from the available reservoirs including TESSA OER's (generally teachers love searching for new knowledge though there are a few exceptions). 

Resources in terms of materials may vary from school to school. Some schools in Kenya are well endowed and even have resource centers accessible to both teachers and students while in other schools teachers lack working space which is very demotivating. In such a school, a condusive physical space would be ideal so that the teacher can be able to plan and organize for his teaching before thinking of SBTD. 

Lisa Mohammed Post 5 in reply to 4

25 April 2021, 2:22 AM

In EC we plan/do/ review it is a daily practice and can involve the staff working to help each other with future planning for all types  of learners.


Maria Ramkissoon Post 26 in reply to 5

10 May 2021, 5:43 AM

I agree Lisa, plan/do/review works well in EC. We also do weekly planning as a Cluster group (4 ECCE Centres). The Administrator plans these meetings and each Centre is given the opportunity to present their ideas for the Weekly activities printed in the ECCE activity pack and the resources to be used. This collaboration assists teachers in gaining new insight as to how our young learners can be more active in their learning.

Phuloo Marad-Seegulam Post 18 in reply to 4

2 May 2021, 11:45 PM

Hi Rose i agree that teachers need to be sensitized in order to support SBTD. In my country there are lack of resources and spaces which is a disadvantage to the system.

David Ngatia Post 6 in reply to 1

25 April 2021, 3:08 PM

A supportive administration is quite important for success of SBTD. The administration should encourage  all teachers  and facilitate them to participate in SBTD programs by providing conducive environment (e.g internet connectivity, time allocation, computers) and motivation.

TESSA and COL materials can be really beneficial for teachers' reflection and practice.

Oluwaseyi Agunbiade Post 7 in reply to 1

26 April 2021, 2:51 PM

I quite agree with Rose and David.

Motivation, encouragement and support will go a long to ensure teachers strive to develop professionally continuosly.

Sally Brizan Post 8 in reply to 1

26 April 2021, 3:52 PM Edited by the author on 26 April 2021, 3:54 PM

At my Centre we meet weekly, to discuss what was done with the children during the course of the week. Teachers bring their reflections and we share information.  However, we source resources from what is available and try to be quite creative.  We try to provide developmentally appropriate activities which are more hands on for the students. Continued motivation is given to all members involved, and taking ideas from each teacher helps make the delivery a success. 

David Ngatia Post 9 in reply to 8

27 April 2021, 3:33 PM

Quite a good practice Sally.

Cecilia Castaneda Post 10 in reply to 8

28 April 2021, 4:34 AM

I agree with you. There are many experienced teachers that share their ideas and can be implemented in the classroom. It's good to know that your school have those meetings regularly. Three of of us teach grade 1 and we meet weekly and also share experiences for the week and also share ideas of how to overcome challenges and helps a lot. 

Nicola jones Post 11 in reply to 8

28 April 2021, 10:07 AM Edited by the author on 28 April 2021, 10:08 AM

Sally at the school where I work, we also meet once per week and conduct the tasks that you have outlined, however thanks for the idea of the teachers taking their reflections and share at the TMG (at my institution its call Planning Session)

Shelley Pariag-Phillip Post 16 in reply to 8

29 April 2021, 4:24 PM

I believe that this is a common practice among ECCE centres, plan, do, review, which is very collaborative in nature, and allows teachers to have a lot of input and creativity.  I must add  that ECCE is child centered with active learning and culturally relevant activities for the children.

Xiomara Bautista Post 13 in reply to 1

29 April 2021, 4:42 AM

OERs have a plethora of information very useful to support teachers in SBTD. At our school, we usually send resource material to our teachers for them to review and we discuss with them how helpful the resources were. We would do virtual class visits, since we are an online school, and share in the discussion with teachers from time to time. We encourage them to use NotesMaster, which is recommended by our Ministry of Education and since our students sit CXCs, the information there is relevant to the CXC syllabus. Now that I have been introduced to the TESSA Open Resources, I will also recommend them to our Director so we may encourage and share with our teachers.

David Ngatia Post 14 in reply to 13

29 April 2021, 9:11 AM

Your school is doing well Xiomara. I'm excited to note that your school is fully online but you still collaborate, discuss and reflect on your practices as teachers. You will definitely find the TESSA and COL OERs very useful.

Rose Nyambura Post 15 in reply to 14

29 April 2021, 4:01 PM

True David, Xiomara's school is way ahead of many in Africa. 

Sharon Seeraj Post 17 in reply to 1

30 April 2021, 8:02 PM

As mentioned before, a series of small training sessions set apart for educators to enable continued learning is a resource I think should be included in the school and teacher's curriculum. 

Tracey Little Post 21 in reply to 1

4 May 2021, 2:21 AM Edited by the author on 4 May 2021, 2:22 AM

The SBTD process that you have described Dr. Stuchbury re: discussing ideas together, planning classroom activities, trying them out and reflecting together, are all necessary practices to facilitate inclusive practices, however, they are also time intensive. I think time it the greatest resource that our teachers, in Trinidad need to hone this process, given the extent of our curricula. I think they would also need a "critical friend" who could act as a springboard for their reflections on what worked, what did not work and next steps. 

In my opinion, we tend to overlook that the teachers whose philosophies we are trying to transform into inclusive ones, may not have the appreciation for inclusive ideologies, consequently, we need to have experienced personnel who would walk them through the collaborative process, creating multi-sensory learning opportunities for all students, the implementation process and yes, the reflective process. This must be consistent, on-going training as information and practices change so rapidly in education.

Rose Nyambura Post 25 in reply to 21

4 May 2021, 6:34 PM

True Tracey, there is need for well thought out on-going training for teachers which should not be forced on them otherwise the outcome will not as per expectaion.  The most important thing is to get started with inclusive education and all it proposes, then strategically bring all stakeholders on board.

John Mtenje Post 28 in reply to 21

21 May 2021, 10:12 AM

I agree with you Tracey. Most teachers are overworked and the curriculum is so structured giving little room for creativity. the teachers are the most important resource in teaching and learning and need as much time as possible 

John Mtenje Post 23 in reply to 1

4 May 2021, 5:12 PM

Each school is unique and I think resources from TESSA are a good starting point but schools should start thinking locally in making and adapting resources because these have an impact on learners as they make associations with their school and community environment

David Ngatia Post 24 in reply to 23

4 May 2021, 5:27 PM

Quite correct John.

Kathy-Ann Randolph Post 27 in reply to 1

12 May 2021, 2:37 AM

Team work plays a major role in SBTD, it is important for teachers to collaborate and share their ideas. In the early childhood setting a lot of planning takes place with the administrator and teachers, in which developmentally appropriate activities are planned prior to help teachers prepare and find materials to meet the needs of each child. At times teachers would work together to execute the plans, after completion we would sometimes reflect and say how the activity went, if we could have tried a different strategy, was the materials sufficient and age appropriate, if we had to redo the activity what we would have done differently in this way it helps us to grow and learn as we move forward and plan accordingly.