Captivating Your Class

This essential handbook offers practical approaches to teaching in an Advanced Level (A Level) classroom, this includes AS, A2 and all level 3 equivalents as well as the International Baccalaureate and other post-16 qualifications. It is primarily designed to give confidence to teachers to teach in a way that encourages students to enjoy learning in lessons in a purposeful way. It will build on theoretical work, where appropriate, to help reflection and planning by individual teachers for their specific subjects and classes. The references section will guide teachers to further reading for each of the chapters if they wish to explore the theory in greater depth. The key messages of the book are twofold.

Firstly, personalised planning of lessons is essential, generic lesson plans will not work at A Level and teachers will need to be aware of the personalities and individual strengths and weaknesses of the students in their class to be able to structure and develop their learning accordingly. Secondly, the strategies will be successful when they have been developed in relation to the subject and consolidated to secure subject knowledge and understanding. To this end many suggestions are exemplified through a range of subject examples for both AS and A2. This comprehensive guide is a must for those teaching anyone post-16.

Introduction
Chapter One: Enlivening A’ Level teaching and learning
Chapter Two: Creating Independent Students
Chapter Three: Encouraging Reflective Learners
Chapter Four: Extending Students Thinking
Chapter Five: Revision
Chapter Six: The Next Steps
References and further reading

Joanne Philpott is an Advanced Skills Teacher at an A Level college in Norfolk. She specialises in Assessment for Learning and Gifted and Talented.