Dynamically Different Classrooms: Create Spaces That Spark Learning - Softcover

Claire Gadsby is an innovator, educator and motivator. A teaching and learning consultant and trainer with over 20 years classroom experience, she collaborates with a wide variety of schools every year to raise their levels of achievement. Much of her work involves working alongside teachers in classrooms, and her areas of expertise include assessment for learning (AfL), whole-school literacy and demonstrating pupil progress.

Jan Evans is an education consultant with over 30 years experience of working in education. Jan is committed to helping teachers reclaim their creativity and regularly leads whole-school training programs as well as classroom-based coaching. She prides herself on being able to motivate teachers through her sense of humor, practical approach and enthusiasm for innovative teaching and learning strategies.

’Dynamically Different Classrooms breathes life into thinking creatively about teaching and learning. It is full not only of ideas proven to work, but also of methodological insights into why they work. Each chapter offers ideas about a different area of learning, often sharing powerful reminders that a fresh look at how we use our classroom space can make all the difference. It also provides a refreshing take on the holistic view of teaching the whole child, taking into account a consideration of emotional responses.

This book will be fantastically useful for primary and secondary school teachers alike – and I believe every parent in the land would want their child to have the kind of learning experience that it champions, where the importance is placed on creativity, resilience and curiosity rather than on exam results alone.

- Rachel Jones, teacher, King Edward VI School, author of Teacher Geek and curator of Don’t Change the Light Bulbs

’Dynamically Different Classrooms’ combines learning theory with a range of practical strategies and shows how the classroom can be the arena to bring it all to life.

If we believe in active learning, this is a book to be acted upon.

- Mick Waters, Professor of Education, University of Wolverhampton

There are plenty of books looking at the ‘how’ and ‘what’ of teaching, but not many ask us to consider the ‘where’. In ’Dynamically Different Classrooms’, however, Claire Gadsby and Jan Evans do exactly that as they share ideas and strategies that are underpinned by solid research and have been sourced from years of working with primary, middle and secondary schools across the UK to help create learning environments that enable every child to progress and thrive.

Does this mean spending endless hours constructing complex and beautiful wall displays, or spending non-existent funds on fancy furniture? Nope, the suggestions in this book are much smarter than that – supporting educators to rethink the space in which they teach, and make it work more effectively for them and their pupils.

- Helen Mulley, Editor, Teach Secondary

It is no surprise to me that Claire Gadsby and Jan Evans would produce a book that communicates such energy and excitement in both content and tone. We have benefitted as a school from Jan’s wealth of experience in developing active engagement in children through higher-order questioning, and we shall certainly ‘magpie’ from the wonderful variety of ideas presented here. As ever, Claire and Jan’s passion is infectious – and it is refreshing to come across a book that leaves the reader feeling so energised.

- Clare Smith, Head Teacher, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

In an educational landscape where different trends and fads come and go, ’Dynamically Different Classrooms’ is filled with the wisdom that only experience can bring. The main messages from recent and robust research are all put in one place and told through an array of creative examples and practical strategies, which makes this book a treasure trove of inspiration and ideas!

- Chris Martin, Principal, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School

Calling all teachers: this book will help you rethink your thinking and rejuvenate your learning strategies.

- Dr Andy Cope, teacher, author and the UK’s one and only doctor of happiness