We are a challenge seeking species, we like doing things that are difficult!

It is in the struggle of the challenge, when we are working our imaginative muscles that the real work of learning takes place.

We are all hard-wired to enjoy challenging, interesting things to think about.

We relish dilemmas, problems, puzzles, questions that have no obvious, immediate answer, and this applies to pupils as well.

If we are serious about providing pupils with an ambitious curriculum, we need to consider how the ‘high challenge’ is balanced by ‘low threat’.

First, what do we mean by challenge? We might make the case that it is material that will

• make pupils think

• be above their current paygrade

• deepen their understanding of previous content

• prepare the ground for new understanding

We need to do work on making sure that our classrooms are characterised by ‘high challenge’ alongside ‘low threat’.

What does this look like in practice? It means that

• we signal that we are doing difficult work

• we emphasise that difficult work is interesting

• it is fine not to know

• misconceptions are springboards for new learning

I’ll be going through the elements of creating high challenge and low threat in our classrooms, with examples for primary and secondary at the live webinar on Tuesday 6th May 4-5pm.

Available on Myatt & Co, live and recorded. Access with a group or single annual subscription.

Until the next time

Mary