This new block building methodology scaffolds the type of thinking essential to learning. This involves organising, connecting and talking about knowledge. It's universal nature means it can be used in many different educational settings.
Why does building enhance learning? As children organise their thoughts and ideas, they generate meaning. This is how we understand something new. The block models become an engaging launchpad for thinking, talking and writing.
This visual powerpoint provides a top level view of block building concept. Use it in your next staff meeting or for sharing with colleagues.
"It helped me in my Geography and English as I normally get stuck in the writing. When we do stories it allows me to set up my ideas first. If I make a mistake I can just move the blocks before writing it out." Woody, Year 7, The Maltings Academy.
Understanding a new concept is easier to grasp if we break it down into smaller parts and figure out how it all fits together. What outcomes have we seen so far?
Explore the teaching resources
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Karen Sivyers research project investigated how the block building tool could be used to develop children's writing abilities.
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Learning is essentially the ‘putting together’ of information into organised structures. Whichever year group or subject you work with, when your students are learning, they are carefully organising and piecing together the new ideas they encounter. Providing opportunities to explore the structure of curriculum content brings with it a clear learning advantage.
Activities include:
Joining words to form phrases
Linking fragments to extend sentences
Organising points to build plans
Sequencing events to develop timelines
Joining concepts to create new ideas
When you need to tackle something that might be considered complex for your learners. This might be preparing for a piece of writing, consolidating a body of knowledge or checking for understanding.
The process can be used to 'stretch' higher attaining pupils or support a child who is struggling with grasping a new concept. There are significant implications for dyslexia and autism.
Schools are usually addressing one of these agendas:
1) Schools supporting a significant amount of disadvantaged learners.
2) Schools that are focused on developing lifelong learning traits.
3) Schools that are embracing a knowledge-rich curriculum.
The toolkits are perfect for simplifying any important concept or task. This could be in English, Science or the Humanities. It's useful for any body of knowledge with a clear structure.
If you're curious about this approach and want to find out a little more then please get in contact. You can send an email to: paul@structural-learning.com
