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=Welcome to the Reasoning Task Force Wiki= Improving the teaching of reasoning in the Alpha Plus Group.

Aims of the Task Force

 * To identify and promote best practice in the teaching of verbal and non-verbal reasoning;
 * To identify the most effective hard-copy resources for teaching verbal and non-verbal reasoning;
 * To identify the most effective e-resources for teaching verbal and non-verbal reasoning (note: ideally, to find the 'Mathletics' of Reasoning)

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Outcomes from the First Meeting
1. Agreement of objectives (listen above) 2. Discussion of current practice, including challenges: media type="custom" key="12583548" 3. Discussion of areas to investigate media type="custom" key="12583882" Hilden Grange encouraged not to teach formal Reasoning lessons by local grammars || * Rename Reasoning as 'Problem Solving' lessons; 2. To structure schemes of learning to balance: 2. To collate objectives into five or six 'strands' (AR). || 2. Investigate methods for tracking progress in Reasoning (LR; JM: SK; RJ) - including CATs; 3. Investigate cost of NFER creating bespoke (computer adaptive?) Reasoning assessments to enable staff to track progress (NH). || 2. Collate 'past papers' (all members to upload PDF files of any past papers). || 2. Investigate websites (subscription & free) that can be used to teach reasoning, including LC's suggestion, [|Good morning children] and Nintendo Brain training (AR & FM) ||
 * **Area** || **Proposed action** ||
 * EYFS departments under pressure not to teach formal Reasoning, impacting on outcomes at 7+;
 * Hands-on problem solving in EYFS (shapes; rotation, etc.);
 * Continue 'Problem Solving' lessons post 7/11+ with focus on hands-on problem solving games and activities. ||
 * Pedagogy - agreement on:
 * need to promote game-based learning
 * need to extend alphabetical skills, knowledge of spelling rules and vocabulary (including knowledge of synonyms and antonyms)
 * need to guide less-experienced staff away from simply working through one Bond paper per session towards teaching specific question types || 1. To investigate hands-on, Mindlab-style games (LR; JM; RJ; SK)
 * all question types being covered;
 * vocabulary and alphabet games. ||
 * Need for Reasoning to be linked to teaching of Spelling, Word work and Mathematics (particularly teaching of Shape) || Following completion of Reasoning Task Force, respective schools to create cross-curricular links between teaching of Reasoning and (i) Word/Spelling lessons and activites and (ii) Mathematics. ||
 * Teaching Structure || Proposed teaching structure suggested by NH here; some questions whether allows enough time for working through text books. ||
 * Complexity of number of question types pupils have to cover; desirability of grouping these question types into 'strands' || 1. To collate reasoning objectives (AR);
 * Assessment || 1. Collate current methods for assessing progress in Reasoning (all members of task force);
 * Resources (papers) || 1. Collate current resources used in all year groups from 4-7 (all members of task force);
 * Resources (e-resources and games) || 1. Investigate how iPad apps can be used to help teach non-verbal reasoning (BA);

'Chunking' our Research

 * Name || Role & Responsibility ||
 * NH || Project coordinator ||
 * LR || Resources to 7 ||
 * JM || Resources to 7 ||
 * BA || IT resources ||
 * FM || IT resources ||
 * SK || Resources to 11 ||
 * RJ || Resources to 11 ||
 * AR || Organising objectives into 'strands' & game based learning ||