Talk

Mixed abilities work really well in literacy - they help each other along and it's easy to spot those struggling -

Have a traffic light system for maths - I think we used chili for hot pepper for medium and I can't think of the other one sorry!!!

The pairs thing may not work as DD always got X and he had bad breath!! Can you do moving pairs? Do one child doesn't get the same one each week?

Today has been utterly awful. I've never known 5 year olds like it.
And Ofsted are in tomorrow.

Anyway.

Thanks both. Something absolutely has to change. I'm going to give more thought to this whole choosing your level business. I've asked a similar question to my original OP on a teaching FB group and lots of people have suggested self selection. I honestly wouldn't have considered it but it seems to work well for others.

I need to think it through more!!

Another thing I loved was a ladder for each child with 10 steps - each had a counter to move up the ladder

The children were given minuets per job well done - nice manners or anything else you want to include

At 3 o'clock the minuets were given as free play

You could see instantly if quiet phoebe hadn't been noticed - you could see the triers etc

We also had a class ladder - for say shouting out - if we (ever) got to 10 they lost a class marble - they needed a jar full to earn a treat at the end of term - usually the normal DVD!!! It worked wonders

Praise the good - reward the workers -