Here’s a very short post to report on some fabulous work my Year 8s did this week. I marked their first few pieces of work and then devoted a double lesson this week to redrafting: a slice of Directed Improvement and Reflection Time.
We started the lesson by watching the Ron Berger Austin’s Butterfly video:
The students immediately got the message: the boy who made the first and final drafts was the same boy. He just needed to know what the standards were and how to reach them.
Then I gave out their books and asked them to redraft as much of their work as they could in the time focusing on two main themes:
Presentation: pencil and ruler, underlining, diagrams, handwriting.
Science content: adding explanations, correct use of terminology, adding ideas about forces between molecules.
The examples that stood out the most were from two boys who I thought had serious difficulties with writing. Turns out, they just needed to aim a bit higher. Through the redrafting process and the praise they received for their improvements, their attitudes shifted significantly; their self-believe grew and they left the lessons beaming. I didn’t expect quite such a big effect. Here’s a sample of what they did:
This student engaged in a fantastic discussion with me about molecules and forces. He came up with this idea (illustrated with his fingers) about molecules in ice being like balls with sticks giving the solid structure. Still plenty of room to improve but even he couldn’t believe he could do work like this.
This student responded superbly. Once he realised that excellence was in his grasp, he just made a decision to produce something really good – instead of the slap-dash effort he’d defaulted to first time around. That applied to his presentation and his thinking.
I’ll be doing this again.
teacherhead 
[…] Here’s a very short post to report on some fabulous work my Year 8s did this week. I marked their first few pieces of work and then devoted a double lesson this week to redrafting: a slice of Directed Improvement and Reflection Time. […]
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[…] that this technique is only suitable at the start of lessons, if you read Tom Sherrington’s blog about the impact it has had in his science classes you should be able to see it can be used as an […]
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This article is proving really useful to share with my classes. Ron Berger strikes again. If you haven’t yet read “An ethic of Excellence” its a must and he really delves into his critique.
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[…] Sherrington @headguruteacherhttp://headguruteacher.com/2014/09/26/improving-the-basics-inspired-by-austin/ shares his DIRT activity based on Austin’s Butterfly to demonstrate how 1 student noticeably […]
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[…] will not write a single word unless forced to in very controlled conditions. His work was profiled in this post about re-drafting. He needs very firm boundaries just to comply with basics and is aware of his relative immaturity […]
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We’ve been doing some similar work….
https://lookoutforlearning.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/time-to-reflect-and-improve-purple-pens/
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[…] Three related posts: Marking in Perspective; Close the Gap marking; Improving the basics […]
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Good afternoon Tom,
I recently stumbled onto your blog and as an NQT with big ideas I just wanted to thank you for the inspiration.
I have ideas which I sometimes feel I cannot execute or as an NQT I would get the usual “what do you know” form other more experienced staff members.
I’ve been trying to find a way of introducing the (joys) of re-drafting and you have made this process less intimidating.
Thank you
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[…] butterfly as a student and staff body. Tom Sherington @headguruteacher writes about it here http://headguruteacher.com/2014/09/26/improving-the-basics-inspired-by-austin/ . Capital’s focus on GEM (get excellent marks) and DIRT tasks (redrafting) is having an impact on […]
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[…] Sherrington was inspired by Austin’s butterfly and here is his account of how his students progressed with […]
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[…] Also revisit this about redrafting and improving the basics: http://headguruteacher.com/2014/09/26/improving-the-basics-inspired-by-austin/ […]
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[…] Also revisit this about redrafting and improving the basics: http://headguruteacher.com/2014/09/26/improving-the-basics-inspired-by-austin/ […]
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[…] re-drafting is a good way to set the bar higher for everyone; first efforts can always be improved, Austin style. 3. Rushing practice This is a common issue in my experience. It applies to adult training too: […]
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[…] butterfly as a student and staff body. Tom Sherington @headguruteacher writes about it here http://headguruteacher.com/2014/09/26/improving-the-basics-inspired-by-austin/ . Capital’s focus on GEM (get excellent marks) and DIRT tasks (redrafting) is having an impact on […]
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[…] of a piece of redrafting a Y8 student did for me in science – as featured in this ‘Improving the basics, Inspired by Austin‘ […]
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We’ve watched Austin Butterfly as teachers, but I never considered showing it to students. Seems obvious now!! Will share with colleagues.
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[…] Redrafting. It is worth revisiting the Austin’s Butterfly video and use redrafting video to improve the basics of presentation. I also think that a focus on presentation can be a vehicle for addressing wider […]
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