Giving Teacher Instructions

What is an explanation station?

Do you find yourself repeating the same instruction or explanation over and over again? Why not set up your very own explanation station to demonstrate your strategy without having to actually monitor or manage the area!

The Explanation Station

• In your classroom, set up a table called the ‘Explanation Station’.
• This will be a zone for pupils to visit during the lesson if they are unsure about the strategy, even after you’ve explained it.
• Dedicate five to ten minutes prepping information for your explanation station. Set a timer and see how many variations of explanation you can prepare in that time. Some ideas may include: an instructional poster, a visual prompt or diagram with steps, a QR code with a link to a website, worked examples, a pre-recorded step by step break down of the strategy using the ‘Explain Everything’ app (provide headphones!). You might even ask support staff to sit at the table to form live explanations!
• Set up the Explanation Station prior to the lesson, informing pupils that the station will be available to use to help embed the strategy.

Why is it a good strategy?

This method allows you to dedicate time to supporting or challenging core groups of pupils without being interrupted by pupils who want to clarify the method once more. Pupils take ownership over their learning and solve their own misconceptions. Bingo!

Tip

Your most able learners could help to create strategy posters as an extension task and these can be placed at the Explanation Station for tomorrow’s lesson!