Better Than Best Practice: A Casebook for Developing Dialogic Pedagogy

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This is a brand new multi-media resource to support new and experienced primary school teachers develop skills of critical reflection in order to improve teaching and learning. An integrated DVD and textbook present a range of innovative case studies comprising video clips of real teachers in the classroom, together with context and narrative, step-by-step guidance through key issues, and commentary and debate from experts and professionals in the field.

The carefully chosen clips show real teachers in a variety of often knotty situations: In literacy lessons that take unexpected turns, talking through controversial issues with pupils, grappling with assessment, to name a few. With an emphasis on the complexity and messiness of teaching, the book considers how to learn from observing good and bad practice in order to develop professional judgment. It provides guidance on how to meaningfully analyse what happens in the classroom, highlights and discusses key aspects of pedagogy, and accessibly explores theory in relation to concrete problems of practice.

The resource aims to cultivate an appreciation for the promises and problems of dialogic teaching and considers why critical discussions of practice, which raise problems and dilemmas instead of prescribing solutions, is ultimately more conducive to the development of professional judgement. By challenging teachers to consider what we really mean by best practice, it promotes an approach to pedagogy and professional development that is sensitive to and appreciative of the tensions and dilemmas inherent in today s classroom.

A valuable resource for all teachers and teacher educators engaged in critical reflection, "Better than Best Practice" provides an exciting starting point and stimulus for truly effective independent and collaborative thinking.

For course leaders and lecturers, the accompanying DVD also includes:

Complete, detailed transcripts of all of the classroom episodes

Additional professional development ideas and worksheets

Additional video clips for self- and group-analysis

For those interested in undertaking their own research, detailed technical notes of the theories informing analysis and the analytic processes undertaken