Finding 'ways with words' to engage students who change schools

Abstract

Whilst changing schools can be a daunting experience for students, it is also an important consideration for teachers who are expected to provide high quality and high equity education for all of the students they teach. This paper examines pedagogical considerations that relate to students who are newly arrived in the classroom. It investigates how teachers might identify students’ ‘ways with words’ and engage students quickly and appropriately in classroom literacy learning. The paper draws on the findings of research into the school experiences of one group of students who change schools regularly. It considers the pedagogical challenges for teachers and concludes with some suggestions for classroom practices.