NEWS: New subject-specific teacher training courses

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As part of our expansion programme, Positively MAD is launching a number of subject specific teacher training courses.  These courses, aimed at both Primary and Secondary teachers, will allow us to provide a richer array of services for schools while enabling us to cement our already strong reputation in the marketplace.

SUBJECT SPECIFIC FOCUS

The teacher training section of our company is not short of enthusiastic reviews either, with our Assessment for Learning and Thinking Skills courses constantly being booked for whole-staff INSET days. The feedback we receive for these courses is joyous and thrilling to read.

Now, as we strive to grow to become an even stronger force in the education market place, we are pleased and excited to announce that we have added a number of subject-specific teacher training courses, which can be run at schools throughout the year and which are not reliant on INSET days for bookings.

This means that subject departments can book us whenever they feel they would like to be uplifted and inspired with subject-specific ideas which are instantly useable and pupil-friendly. Here is a brief overview of what teachers can expect:

PRIMARY SPECIFIC COURSES

·         Gripping Grammar: a one day course exploring the fundamentals of basic grammar and showing teachers how to teach grammar with an aim to improving pupil writing skills (Key Stage 2)

·         Whole-brain Maths: a one day course exploring recent theories regarding whole-brain learning  and developing creative approaches to teaching Numeracy (Key Stage 2)

·         Memorable Science: a one day course during which teachers workshop different creative approaches to teaching Science using a variety of memory-improvement tools (Key Stage 2) 

·         Developing Creative Writing:  a one day course crammed with fun activities and ideas to enrich and develop students’ writing skills (Key Stage 2

SECONDARY SPECIFIC COURSES

·         Hooks, Lines and Thinkers English:  a one day course showing teachers how to help students improve spelling, essay planning and critical thinking (Key Stages 3 and 4)

·         Gripping Grammar: a one day course exploring the fundamentals of basic grammar and showing teachers how to teach grammar with an aim to improving pupil writing skills (Key Stages 3 – 5)

·         Extended Writing:  a one day course exploring grammar basics, sentence analysis, essay planning, persuasive writing, argumentative writing and errors of logic (Key Stage 3 and 4)

·         Hooks, Lines and Thinkers Science:  a one day workshop exploring the applications of memory tools to the teaching of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, with a bias towards weaving critical and creative thinking into lessons  (Key Stage 3 and 4)

A booklet containing the fact sheets for each of these courses is available as a  free download in our resources area. (http://www.positivelymad.com/resources/category.aspx?id=16)

 SPECIAL RATES

Furthermore, we are able to offer our courses at a reduced rate because we can run the courses at schools and there is no need to book outside venues.

 “With any open course,” says Alan David Pritchard, Head of Product Development and the creator of these courses, “teachers can expect to pay up to £350 per delegate. This means that very often only one or two members of the department can be trained at any one time – which is an expensive load on the department’s budget. With our training packages, we can offer entire departments a whole days’ training for as little as £750 + trainer’s travel expenses. This is a huge saving for the department – and also reduces the need for individuals to disseminate the training information to the rest of the department later.”

SATURDAY TRAINING AN OPTION!

We understand that it is expensive for schools to provide cover and to pay for supply teachers, so we are inviting departments to consider training on a Saturday. As outrageous as this may at first sound, there are a number of benefits to Saturday training. First, it completely eradicates the need to pay for or arrange cover. Second, we can further reduce the cost by running the course at the school and by asking teachers to provide their own lunch. Third, because departments will be saving money – there is the possibility of being able to pay your staff for attending the training. Plus, Saturday training starts at 11am and finishes at 5pm – so you still get the opportunity for a lie-in! Also, it is only one Saturday out of the whole year ... which isn't really that much to ask.

Less expensive than INSET day training, our subject-specific courses have been trialled at schools, receiving comments like “Wonderful!”, “Brilliant!”, “Really, really useful!” – to quote just a few.

Further details regarding these courses will soon be published on the Teacher Training section of this website and are presently available in a downloadable booklet containing fact sheets (this can be found in our resources area http://www.positivelymad.com/resources/category.aspx?id=16).  

Schools wishing to book any of them , can do so by calling Alan Pritchard on 01983 864406.