Achievement | Centre for the Use of Research & Evidence in Education (CUREE)

Use of drama and story telling techniques to improve writing at KS2, with an emphasis on boys' achievement

Aim: To investigate strategies for helping KS2 pupils, particularly boys, to overcome barriers to writing. In particular to explore whether: Using drama and storytelling techniques can enable pupils to bridge the gap between what is spoken and what is written; A range of oral communications skills including persuasion, description and narrative can be transferred to the written form through shared and tiered writing sessions; and The existing influence of T.V. and video viewing can promote the transfer visual images into the pupils writing.

Exercise for learning

Aim: To introduce the INPP daily exercise programme and to assess whether it had an impact upon reading. To train support staff to implement the daily programme. To inform and involve parents in the project.

Using computers to improve performance in science

Aim: To ascertain whether computers can improve the results of students in a Year 10 science programme and whether students in other subjects can benefit.

Improving written vocabulary through paired spelling

Aim: To investigate paired spelling as a means of improving written vocabulary.

Teacher confidence and teaching and learning in data handling

Aim: To examine the effect of teacher confidence on pupil confidence and hence achievement in the teaching and learning of mathematics with particular reference to data handling.

Effective questioning: stepping-stones to meta-cognition?'

Aim: There were two main, linked, aims of this project. The primary aim was to investigate the role of effective questioning by the teacher in a History class. The second aim explored the usefulness of this meta-cognitive strategy in enhancing higher-order thinking skills in the classroom. These are the skills that characterise higher achievement at Key Stages 3 and 4 (11-16 years of age).

Homework and Study Support in Year 7

Aim: To identify ways in which teachers can enhance student learning through homework, by examining homework, perceptions of it in Year 7, and support systems both in school and at home.

The impact of writing and questioning frames on the teaching and learning process

Aim: How do writing and questioning frames within a School Improvement Project impact on classroom practice and more effective teaching and learning?

The enquiring school: Using action research to enhance Key Stage 1 pupils' speaking and listening

Aim: This project was essentially about what it is that supports a school to become research-engaged. There were two dimensions to this investigation: (i) The aim of the specific research activity at school level was: To investigate the impact of rhyme and rhythm on the development of speaking and listening skills in Key Stage 1 (ii) Beyond the specific research at school level, the overarching aim was: To investigate the features of research engagement in the school which were significant in supporting and enabling the research activity.

Effectively Teaching Infants Mental Arithmetic

Aim: To examine the problems children encounter in arithmetic and to decide whether a programme of activities using visual images developed by Catherine Stern in the 1940s could be used by teachers to improve pupils' mental arithmetic.