29 replies to this topic

[Helen]

I've been thinking a lot recently about the value of worksheets. When I started teaching, the market was absolutely flooded with photocopiable material, and we couldn't buy the stuff fast enough! Problems began to arise in school because all the teachers were staying late (ie later than their usual late!) in order to photocopy stacks of worksheets for the next week. The Head started to restrict the copier's use, and only gave out one ream of paper per term. Then, we all found other ways to teach the children, and there has been a huge shift in the reverse direction. I'm now at the point where I'm almost scared to use any at all, and Steve and I have now started to call them "things we don't call worksheets!", hence the title of this thread. When I was part of the LEA advisory team, we used to say to course participants "If you can think of an alternative way to teach x, and not use a worksheet, then do it."
The reason for posting this is to find out what other practitioners do; do you have worksheets (eg colouring, dot-to-dot, handwriting-type patterns etc) freely available at the graphics area? This way, children who want to complete them, can, and those who don't, are not persuaded against their will. Or, do you have a blanket "No worksheets here!" policy? Or, is there something inbetween?

[Anne]

We made a decision over a year ago not to use worksheets in our nursery as they were often too closed, the outcome restricted and they didn't prove whether the children had grasped the topic or were just good at drawing lines or copying the other children. Instead we use white boards a lot (they photocopy well) , or make marks in shaving foam or flour. In mark making the children are all encouraged to have a go!! Our youngest children might make scribbley wool patterns for example or wriggley worms where the practitioner is looking at pencil grip or encouraging them to start their writing at the top left .The results have been encouraging .There is more emergent writing going on and children are much more confident in mark making activities.The mark making area has loads of resources ,pens ,pencils,crayons,note books diaries,shopping list paper no worksheets.On the wall there is an alphabet and some key words that the children might want to use . We did think about whether templates were appropriate or not ...the jury's out on that one.
At the same time we abandoned the use of pre- cut shapes for drawing ,painting and making ,as they restricted creativity . Hope our positive experiences are encouraging for anyone else thinking of doing the same.

[kate]

I've just typed all this and pressed the wrong button.

I don't personally like worksheets or use them very much interstingly only for maths??? which makes life harder in some ways, but means that I can differentiate to my heart's content. However, colouring in can be good for fine motor control and children do love it...and many have colouring books at home, ut some would say that they are wrong too.

I think that you have got to think carefuly about why they are being used as opposed to anything else. They are a good back up source, but I feel that some people use them as the basis for ther work ratheer than the other way around. The NLSand NNS have a lot to do with this as companies have jumped on the band waggon.

I look forward to hearing the discusion on this one.

As with all things, moderation is the key and they are very good for cribbing ideas!

[H]

We use the 'worksheets' from the Jolly Phonics programme - but use these more as a resource to send home to show parents what the children have been learning in school and an ever so subtle way of educating our parents. in our writing area we have a weekly timetable of activites where the resources are changed daily (or as often as we rember) to give the children a variety over the week, included in this are colouring sheets, pattern sheets etc so linked to number and alphabet work e.g colouring sheets showing pictures of the sound of the week etc. alongside this there is also a selection of pther papers so the children have the choice.

Sarah

[Susan]

I remember the Banda machine too! but could never master the technique! thank goodnes for the photocopier.
however, saying that we do very little in the way of photocopying, prefering to use white boards for alot of tasks and playing!! We don't have the budget for paper for photocoying either but its almost impossible not to give photocopied homework. I try to keep that to a minimum too.

I do think there can be a place for said colouring sheets though, as many children do enjoy this, and a place for templates, to encourage hand eye cordination.

We are trying to encourage the children to colour in using a range of handwriting patterns.

Does all that make sense?

Susan

[mundia]

I remember the banda too, and I still have some masters (now how sad is that?)
We dont use worksheets as such, but I do agree with the colouring as an available choice from time to time. I think what matters is being aware of what they are doing. When I was maths coordinator, I was dead against worksheets for maths when it was of the type 'colour 3 fish' or 'colour the squares red' because that isnt maths and the children rarely know what they are doing other than 'colouring'
But I do lots of things that involve cutting things out- like 5 speckled frogs or 2 dicky birds. The children love to do these and if you ask them to draw the pictures themselves, (some of them choose to do that) they often lose the will to live before they finish. As they become more confident they are more likely to 'do one themselves'

[Linda McDowell]

We still have colouring sheets, templates and tracings simply because the children enjoy them. If they were left on the table all morning then we wouldn't bother but, especially when we put colouring sheets out, we get a lot of boys wanting to be involved. So I am not going to stop something that encourages them!!!
We have white boards and pens, chalk boards, little books etc. as most people do. And pencils and paper in the home corner and role play area. We also have pens with fluffy bits and feathers on or put those funny little characters on top of the pencils which makes them more interesting.
I think that whatever the children enjoy should be of importance and if that is colouring etc. then so be it. I have to be honest that I often sit and colour in as I find it quite therapeutic!!
Linda

[sue zubair]

Hi Everyone

I feel worksheets do have a place when they are used as a follow up activity.This is providing there are other pre-writing activities available e.g. whiteboards. I agree with Linda, as we use colouring sheets for the reason that they are popular!! :D , and so long as the children have the choice then I don't see any problem.

[Alison]

Work sheets are wonderfull they make parents think that their children have learnt something during a session!

sorry for the sarcasm!!!!

but I do find parents value them thinking that they represent their childs ability and many parents think that their child has spent a morning doing something worthwhile rather than just playing in the home corner.

maybe there should be a simple book for parents explaining what good practise is and how worksheets are only a small part in the learning that takes place during a session. time and time again I explain to parents that children learn through play but they still ask their little ones "what did you do at playgroup today?" which in code means "how many paintings/ worksheets did you do?" and the worst part of it is that out side parents discuss who does the most paintings like it is a competision

I have two children in my group who come in at the start of the session run to the crayon table scribble on a piece of paper then run over to me at the desk to write their names on bearly a minute after they have walked into the room, then as they run off they sigh with releif that they have got that task out of the way they can get on with the session and play. its obvious that they have realised already that at the end of the session mum will ask "have you done any pictures today?"

[Linda McDowell]

Alison,
have you seen the poem in the Research forum?? I suggest you either give a copy to all of your parents or post it very conspicuously on a notice board. Perhaps they will get the message then!!
Linda

[bubblejack]

To Alison,
Yes I know exactly what you mean about parents wanting proof of work. I have a cheap digital camera that I use to take pics of the children playing. I print them and stick them in a scrapbook,write down the steppingstones/learning goals that the children are gaining from this activity. At the front of the book I have a little booklet listing the learning goals. All extra work I know but I feel it helps to involve parents in their childs learning. We do lots of drawing,writing,creative activities as a group on a large sheet of paper that we display near the door.If parents really want to take the large recycled model or group collage home at the end of the week they can.

[Alison]

Hi bubblejack

thanks for the idea its a great suggestion I sadly dont have time but it is underconsideration

I know of several groups that keep photos as part of their eveidence to show OFSTED and they have said its a great help

I never thought about parents..... how thoughtless am I?

Linda I have seen the poem its very good I have also posted the one that I have had on file the sentiment is the same

back to worksheets we dont actually provide worksheets we are too tight to use the photo copier but sometimes we provide colouring pictures and other times we will sit with a child and handwrite an impromtu work sheet relating to what they are drawing such as when a child has drawn a picture of a dog and then write simple questions like how many legs? eyes ? ears? and encourage the child to pretend to write the answer

[bubblejack]

Hello Alison,
Yes Ofsted just love photos as evidence. If they comment that they haven,t seen evidence of a particular activity I have been able to produce a photo to satisfy them. If you do decide to use photos and send them home for absent parents/friends/grandparents to see make sure you have every parents permission first.
On the suject of worksheets I have laminated the master copy. The children can use a non-permanent pen and they enjoy rubbing it off after. It saves on the cost of photocopying and if parents want proof of work I show them the ones their child was given the opportunity to use. I have seen an interesting painting sheet that dries after use ready for the next child to use. I find etcha-sketches are very handy I have them in the book corner,homecorner and at the constuction area. It's all very well for ofsted to say that children should have access to pen and paper in all areas but it's not funny when they scribble on books is it. Merry Christmas to everyone.

[Steve]

Yes photos are great things - but don't make them too easy to produce...

We recently began using our digital camera in conjunction with a really good pc connection and a colour laser printer. Now I can't stop Helen sending hundreds of pictures every day to the printer and putting them in the children's special books. We're running out of toner for the printer, paper and special book pages

So our next ofsted should go well then, Bubblejack?

Merry Christmas to you too! :D