Tutorial Friendly & Fair Teaching

Introduction video

For more information check out our other introductory videos here.

1. Form of address

Each perspective and each module begins with a bolded paragraph in the third person plural: ….. teachers… to indicate that this module is for all teachers.
Immediately following the first paragraph is a paragraph in the first person singular: …..I….The sentence is worded so that it seems like you are speaking and you are already applying the perspective. You can imagine through this sentence what you will accomplish if you incorporate this module into your teaching style. This is meant as an affirmation (do not confuse this with a quote).
This is followed by an italicized quote with source citation.
Next, a question about your current approach; this serves as a baseline. In this question, you describe your current way of working regarding this module. Interpret this question as follows: “What am I already doing well regarding this module?”
Then a question about your future approach. This question is about the changes you want to make or have already made yourself. Interpret this question as follows: “What improvements/additions do I make to my teaching.
The content then continues in second person: ……you……As if a coach is explaining FFT to you.

2. Order of work

We invite everyone to find their own way through our course material. We recommend this order of working:

First read this page in its entirety. Then you’ll understand why we present our information in a specific or particular way and why we have adjusted the layout accordingly.
Then read the overarching introduction to the course.
Choose a perspective to start with.
Periodically have a look at our Overview. Read this image related to the five perspectives from bottom to top. There you see the consistency of all elements of Friendly & Fair Teaching.
To choose another perspective, read our goal and fill in our questionnaire. Also read the notes to the overview

To avoid getting lost in all this information, use the breadcrumb trail at the top of the page that starts with the text “You are here. If you want to know which page you are on in the middle of a page, move the mouse over the tab of the browser and you will see the title of the page.

On the right side of this page, you will see a menu that allows you to reach all the angles and modules. If you use your mobile, you can reach all the pages with this link.

3. Reflecting on your teaching

Friendly and Fair teaching divides information into five perspectives:
Establishing a friendly tone, Establishing fairness, Planning lessons, Observing learning and Behaviour management strategies.

Each perspective contributes to a good lesson.

The 5 perspectives of Friendly and Fair Teaching

Figure 1:

‘Establishing a friendly tone’ is at the base of this image. Creating a positive learning environment starts with being friendly.

In this illustration, you see the five perspectives as links of a chain. Each link is indispensable.

Figure 2: Chain

FFT uses the colours of a traffic light. With green coloured perspectives, you create a positive learning environment. Disruptions, you handle in a friendly way with the orange/red upper link: Behaviour management strategies

4. Differences: primary and secondary education

There are many similarities between primary and secondary education, but there are also differences. When we name these differences, we do so in two columns, ‘Primary education’ on the left and ‘Secondary education’ on the right.

5. Difference: preventive and curative

Preventive: FFT distinguishes preventive actions by which you create a positive learning environment that ensures less disruptions.
Curative: No matter how you teach, disruption can always occur. The way you resolve a disruption is what FFT calls curative. There is then an element of ‘healing’. As a result, the disruption are managed effectively and mostly solved permanently

More information about Preventive / Curative

6. Professional language of Friendly and Fair Teaching

Over the years, Friendly and Fair Teaching (FFT) started using professional language. On the page: ‘Professional language‘ we explain these terms.

7. Tools FFT

Friendly and Fair Teaching advises teachers to use images:

The ‘Framework‘ on the wall (Friendly + Fair).
The ‘Triangle‘ with which you indicate what you expect from students per approach to teaching.
From ‘Practice period 2’: An ‘Abacus‘ with which you indicate (even more clearly than with ‘Practice period 1’) per lesson when the maximum number of Tips for a group has been reached (your limit).

8. Fixed sections of the tutorial modules

FFT divides the five perspectives into fourteen modules.

The modules and perspectives have the same structure. With this structure, all perspectives and modules can be used independently to reflect on your teaching and for modifying an aspect of your teaching.

Table of Contents
Summary module or perspective / Affirmation / Anecdote-Citation
Approach: Here we ask about your current and future way of teaching
Introduction video
News
Examples
Introduction
Importance of-, Starting with
Content
Summary
Image of a light bulb along with suggestions you can apply in your lessons.
Video
Credits

9. Starting with FFT – Across the school?

As a teacher, you can start the FFT tutorial on your own initiative via this page or the school administration can ask several teachers to implement FFT. Read this news item

10. Credits

Michel Couzijn – Teacher Educator UvA

Michel advised FFT to ask teachers about their current and future approach to teaching. All modules and perspectives start with these two questions.