LTLRE/NATRE North Devon Hub
Winter 2014
Hub meeting report
We had a great meeting at Ilfracombe Junior School (thanks for hosting, Deb Spelman!) on the 25th November.
The meeting focus was a resources share. While there are lots creative revision resources and ideas we turned our attention to learning new specific information. This essential aspect of teaching can be quite dry at times. During our hub meeting we all had a go at an activity that appealed to kinaesthetic, auditory and visual learners as well those who love to read, write and discuss. Nobody went away empty handed. See below for more details
Next year we have some great speakers coming to lead sessions in, among other things, developing different approaches to RE with children and understanding assessment after levels. Find out more about who we are on LTLRE.org
Jim's Journey
Gill Tewkesbury has created a unit for teaching Christianity. It is a series of lessons that follow Jim on his gap year working for a Christian charity, and the challenges he faces. He writes to the class via letter, email and text with various dilemmas, and the class learn more about Jesus, the miracles and parables as well as how faith informs choices. It is adaptable so although the materials use Africa and a charity local to Barnstaple (Amigos) as a backdrop, you could link it more closely to your Geography topic, or indeed use it as a model to teach other faith traditions that you might be working on. It would also work well as an "off the peg" unit.
You can access it by contacting Gill and requesting access to her dropbox file: gtewkesbury@piltonbluecoat.devon.sch.uk
Museum of Psalms
Ten words or less
Stuck for ideas about how to teach RE knowledge? Here's an idea that works at Primary and Secondary
Groups of 4 or 5 students are given selected information from the web, text books etc. Pupils then read through and process the information as a group. They then create a teaching aid from the information in no more than 10 words. Students should use signs, symbols, flow charts etc. This encourages pupils to understand the information and prepare to communicate it to others. The group then splits up and joins another group as investigators. One member from the original group stays to teach the investigators using the teaching aid they have created. The investigators take notes and feed back to their original group. Knowledge could be tested through a presentation or class quiz.
GCSE and A Level reform
The draft subject content in GCSE and A level RS examinations for first teaching from 2016 have now been published by government for consultation. The link is below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/gcse-and-a-level-reform-religious-studies
RE Professional Development Portal
The RE Council have set up a portal designed to keep you up to date with CPD opportunities. DO have a look. http://www.theredirectory.org.uk/thedirectory/pdportal
There is a massive amount of training available so don't miss out!
Art and faith
Strictly NATRE
Five Pillars of Islam- idea for Display
Farmington Fellowships
Now open for applications for 2015-2016
Who is eligible?
The Fellowships are for teachers of Religious Education in UK secondary schools and primary school RE Co-ordinators or other primary school teachers involved in teaching RE, and teachers of children with Special Educational Needs who are involved with RE. Headteachers who wish to undertake research into either Religious Education or Values Education are also eligible to apply. Applicants should have had at least two years in their present post.
How much will it cost?
The Fellowship will cover the cost of tuition, board and lodging where appropriate, essential local travel and, by negotiation with the school, the salary of a replacement teacher up to point 6 of the main pay scale.
What subjects may be studied?
Fellows are free to study any aspect of Religious Education they wish but preference will be given to applicants whose work can be seen to be of direct value to the teaching of RE in schools. Occasionally the Institute, in conjunction with one of its partner universities or colleges, may advertise for an RE teacher to undertake research on a specific topic which is relevant to RE.
The closing date for applications for the academic year 2015/2016 is 26 January 2015.
NATRE Spirited Arts
Winners of the 2014 competition have been announced! Take a look at http://www.natre.org.uk/about-natre/projects/spirited-arts/art-in-heaven/2014/
and get inspired for next year!