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James Fitzgibbon

@mrfitzhist.bsky.social

Subject Leader for History and Politics

472 Followers  |  264 Following  |  64 Posts  |  Joined: 23.11.2024  |  1.8759

Latest posts by mrfitzhist.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Next round of β€˜Progress Points’ ready for Spring 1 Y7-9. The addition of these midpoint assessments to our curriculum has really helped tackle misconceptions early doors as well as drilling down into the spelling and definitions of key terminology. #historyteacher

27.01.2026 19:14 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Consistently using β€˜REC’ once we have reached the end of a key topic, event or concept. Students begin with basic recall (R), this is then extended (E) via an explanatory response and then teacher led chunking (C) to ensure key aspects are understood and embedded. #historyteacher

20.01.2026 19:03 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Recently, encouraging knowledge centred conversations has been a challenge. I tried a visual format of β€˜Discuss and Describe’. Students, using the icons connected to knowledge from a previous lesson/prompt Q’s, discussed Stalin in pairs, then wrote a description. #historyteacher

12.01.2026 19:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Incline knowledge recall has become a go to β€˜Do now’ task/starter for quick retrieval and a settled start. All students have questions they can immediately access but difficulty develops with confidence. Moving from multiple choice Q’s to short written answers. #historyteacher

07.01.2026 19:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trialled this last week and I think there will be a lot of β€˜visual mapping’ in the crawl to the finish line. Applicable to all Key Stages, initial connection of knowledge to the icons, push to discuss how they link and then explanation questions to finish. #historyteacher

14.12.2025 19:10 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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With assessments we’ve tried to put β€˜story’ at the centre of our recall formats. Rather than stand alone knowledge, we want students to show understanding via connections/impacts. From this, teachers have a greater grasp of where students are at and misconceptions.#historyteacher

09.12.2025 18:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Another clip sheet, this time for Dan Jones and his great overview of the Norman conquest found in the link below. Simple and accessible questions for Y7 that promote focus during clips, points for discussion and knowledge all in one place. #historyteacher

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/top...

30.11.2025 09:58 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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We started our year with homework in booklets for KS3. Safe to say, it’s not worked, from immediate destruction in bags to student confusion on where to answer questions. So we’re shifting to A3 sheets, easy to upload online if lost, stuck in books on hand in. 🀞🏻#historyteacher

20.11.2025 19:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The next set of mid-topic β€˜Progress Points’. Slight adaptation with the spelling and definitions section. Provision of definitions gives greater clarity and saves time with students having to match up. Followed by multiple choice recall and β€˜the story so far’ #historyteacher

11.11.2025 18:45 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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First round of β€˜Progress Points’ and they’ve been a good addition! They allow for the affirming of knowledge and picking up misconceptions. Tweaks needed on definitions as too much time was spent listening to a range of very similar responses. Overall though βœ… #historyteacher

15.10.2025 17:41 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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First topic homework set for Y7-9 within our new booklets. Students working through short meaningful tasks linked to bettering their understanding of second order concepts and building on knowledge developed in lessons. #historyteacher

06.10.2025 17:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Emphasising chunking content with Y11. Paper 3 Germany contains a huge amount of complex content. So infographics combined with simple task formats to start a lesson, end one or break down a difficult concept. Hopefully this approach will firm up foundations. #historyteacher

28.09.2025 13:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A Level numbers have rocketed so to has the mark load. Attempting to battle that with whole class feedback comments that are numbered and attributed as individual feedback. Combined with SPAG, exam board mark scheme, student reflection and consolidation questions. #historyteacher

24.09.2025 17:49 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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This format is fast becoming a go to for articles and extract tasks. Finding quotes, quick comprehension responses and deeper explanation questions guarantee thorough reading, triggers for quality discussion and meaningful notes. #historyteacher

16.09.2025 17:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Already we’ve used some of the clip sheets from last year’s bank with Y9 and Y10. Brilliant for focused viewing, triggering debate and reflecting back on as a summary of key knowledge. Also logistically a meaningful cover work task. #historyteacher

14.09.2025 16:07 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Worth adding that all staff are provided with a terminology and definition crib sheet. To ensure all are engaging with the same content. Reinforced with KO’s.

07.09.2025 12:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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First set of β€˜Progress Points’ all set to go for KS3. Mid unit, we’ll review the spelling of key terminology, definitions, core knowledge and linkage of events. From this we can correct misconceptions/effectively reteach before the summative assessment. #historyteacher

07.09.2025 10:04 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Building on our KS3 homework format we’ve compiled tasks into one booklet. Purpose/logistics are outlined to students and parents. Whilst for teachers, workload is minimised via no requirement to remember to print/set homework tasks/highlighted teacher reviews. #historyteacher

02.09.2025 18:02 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Y9 was in desperate need of remodelled knowledge organisers. Chronology, Key Figures, Terminology and Core Content all in one place for students to refer to during lessons and revision. Looking to ensure they are utilised more throughout curriculum this year. #historyteacher

28.08.2025 18:15 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Revisited our β€˜Curriculum in Objects’ initiative. Initial idea of student led inferences remains in place but we’ve switched to connected closed questions to build confidence and frame the concepts and understanding we want to take forward into the topic. #historyteacher

15.07.2025 19:56 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A labour of love but our Y7 KO’s are completed. We move onto trying to box off Y8/Y9. Chronology, Key Figure, Terminology and Core Content all in one place for students to reflect on and refer to during lessons and in preparation for assessments. #historyteacher

09.07.2025 18:00 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Something we’re considering are β€˜Progress Points’ half way through a unit. Ensuring students have a grasp of key terms, foundational knowledge and a sense of narrative of how events link/impact. Provides insight on what to revisit/prepares for summative assessment #historyteacher

01.07.2025 17:46 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Looking to adapt how students engage with extracts by varied approaches to guarantee thorough reading. Start with scanning for quotes, read to answer comprehension questions and then combine the extract with own knowledge to provide explanations. #historyteacher

24.06.2025 18:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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This year we’ve developed a range of β€˜Clip Sheets’ which have helped to make each snippet more meaningful. Students have quality short answers to reflect back on, the set questions promote wider debate and logistically they’ve been excellent for cover work. Win! #historyteacher

23.06.2025 19:14 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

No problem at all.

18.06.2025 20:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hi Luke, thanks for the great feedback, still not finished but getting there. Yes all on PowerPoint.

18.06.2025 19:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Still not finished, not sure it ever will be but we’ve made a lot of progress in developing our KS3 curriculum. Connected second-order concepts, guidance on outcomes and key vocabulary all identified for students, parents and staff to be aware of. #historyteacher

18.06.2025 18:13 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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Only Paper 3 to go and again there is so much knowledge to retain. These KO’s focus on who were the key figures of the topic and importantly a chronology of events, β€˜the fallout’. Great as a one page reference for prompts and reminders before the exam. #historyteacher

08.06.2025 06:32 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Still chipping away at KS3 assessment. Varied multiple choice formats provide a confidence boost for students whilst rigorously assessing knowledge. This builds to a historical skill/second order concept response. Review of knowledge/writing enhancement to finish. #historyteacher

02.06.2025 18:10 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Bonkers they have to access so many question stems!

22.05.2025 17:02 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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