Metacognition Training with Mike Gershon


Enthuse Your Staff with Inspirational Metacognition Training

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Mike has worked in-person with over 700 schools, across the UK and around the world, supporting them with teaching and learning.

For many of those schools, the focus has been on developing metacognition. Mike’s enthusiasm, insight and experience of metacognition brings key benefits for all your staff:

  • Create meaningful change in classrooms across your school. Mike’s metacognition training asks staff to think deeply about how children think, reflect and make sense of their learning. The conversations and discussions this creates help drive meaningful change across your school, empowering teachers to recognise metacognition when they see it and to promote it with all learners.
  • Help staff critically reflect on existing practice. A key part of the training is the discussions Mike facilitates between colleagues. These discussions help staff to reflect on the nature of their teaching and to consider which aspects of their practice may already promote metacognition. Not only does this help build staff confidence around metacognition, but it also brings to the fore many of the skilled practices that are currently being used in school, and that support the development of metacognition.
  • Unlock the power of ‘Before, During, After’. One of the most powerful strategies Mike will introduce to your staff is the idea that there are always three opportunities for metacognition: before a task begins, while a task is in progress, and after a task has finished. This simple way of thinking about metacognition is a tool every teacher can use to embed metacognition in their classroom.
  • Make metacognition a central part of day-to-day teaching and learning. Mike’s metacognition training includes a wide range of practical strategies and techniques teachers can use to make metacognition a consistent part of their practice. This helps build momentum across your school as you look to keep metacognition at the top of everyone’s agenda.
  • Create independent learners in every classroom. Metacognitive learners tend to be more actively engaged with their learning. They are more independent, have a greater sense of agency, and are happier to take control of their learning. Through the training, your staff will learn how to foster independence for all learners, and how to help every learner become more metacognitive.

How Mike Will Work With You – The Process

When you first get in touch with Mike to discuss metacognition training, he will always begin by gaining a clear understanding of what your school’s needs are, where your priorities lie, and what challenges and successes your staff are currently having when it comes to developing metacognitive learners.

Mike will use this information to plan the training so it meets your needs.

The example timetable shows what a full day of metacognition training looks like.

Mike tailors the content of the main sessions so it mirrors your priorities, and is also happy to offer bespoke sessions, should your school have specific areas you are looking to develop.

As well as full-day training, Mike is also happy to offer half-day and twilight sessions.

Many schools opt for a series of linked sessions, including one or two days where Mike comes into school and works with SLT on paired observations, learning walks and work scrutiny, to support the development of effective practice within classrooms.

Mike’s training always includes a large practical element, reflecting the fact that teaching is a practical business.

He aims for an 80/20 split: eighty percent practice and twenty percent theory. This means teachers leave Mike’s metacognition training armed with a wide range of strategies, activities and techniques they can immediately put to work in their own teaching.

All sessions are interactive.

Colleagues are invited to reflect and discuss throughout the training. Mike also weaves in lots of experiential elements, through which teachers can trial strategies and techniques for themselves.

Mike firmly believes that when staff enjoy training, when they are engaged by it, and when they are enthused by it, the strongest outcomes are achieved for all.

Included in Mike’s training is access to all electronic materials used on the day, the opportunity to film the sessions for use inside the school, and a follow up call or TEAMS to discuss implementation.

Whether you’re looking for full day INSET, half-day training or a twilight CPD session, get in touch with Mike today and let him know what your school’s needs are, and how you want to develop metacognition for the benefit of your learners.

 

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About Mike

Mike was inspired to become a teacher after a successful stint coaching an under-15s football team in his home city of Leeds. Having decided that working with kids was better than working in an office, he completed a PGCE in Citizenship at the Institute of Education (now part of UCL) in London, where he was commended by the Board of Studies.

He taught in central London and Suffolk before setting up Gershon Learning Limited and going on to become one of the best known and highly regarded writers and trainers on teaching and learning.

Mike has written 40 books on teaching and learning, including numerous bestsellers. His work has been translated into Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, Vietnamese and Hebrew. His online teaching resources have been viewed and downloaded over 4.35 million times, making them some of the most popular of all time.

He’s worked with over 700 schools in-person, supporting them to develop teaching and learning. As well as writing over 100 guides to classroom practice, Mike is also the creator of more than 60 online courses. Thousands of teachers and schools have worked with Mike online, developing their understanding of teaching and learning.

He’s twice been runner-up at the BETT Awards, won a BETT Award with TES Institute, and has twice been a judge of the TES Schools Awards.

When he’s not working on teaching and learning, he likes to spend time with his wife and two young boys, read detective novels, and watch cricket … in that order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Mike is always happy to work with schools to meet their needs. He has delivered many half-day and twilight sessions for schools who have requested his support to help them with teaching and learning.
Of course! Mike travels all over the UK and overseas to work with schools.
No. Mike is happy to accommodate a wide range of staffing numbers. The smallest training Mike ever did was with a small rural primary school with four teaching staff. The biggest events Mike has spoken at are major conferences with over 1,000 delegates.
Yes. TAs and LSAs can take a lot from the training, including many practical strategies they can use with learners. It is also good to have TAs/LSAs delivering the same messages that teachers are communicating to learners.
Yes, absolutely. Many schools work in clusters, trusts and foundations. Mike has delivered lots of training events where multiple schools have joined together at a single site.
Yes. Mike’s preference is to deliver whole school training in person, as this undoubtedly gives the best experience. However, if that is not possible, Mike is happy to deliver online – and you’ll still get a great experience!
Yes. Mike is happy for schools to record his training, as long as this is only shared internally by the school. He appreciates that recordings can be particularly useful for schools with part-time staff and other staff members who can’t attend in-person training.
Yes. Schools often get in touch with specific requests. Mike is always happy to accommodate these and will discuss your needs with you to ensure the training is tailored to your context.
Yes, absolutely. Many of the schools where Mike delivers training ask him to return to provide further training, to support school improvement, to conduct peer observations and coaching conversations, and to work with senior leaders on developing teaching and learning.
Yes. Mike has worked with many FE colleges over the years and always adapts his training to take account of the unique nature of FE. This includes using practical examples that are specifically relevant to the FE curriculum offer.
Yes. Mike has spoken at many conferences over the years and delivered dozens of keynote addresses on a range of teaching and learning topics.
Get in Touch Today to Discuss Your School's Needs