Ratio

Ratio is a guiding concept that describes how much thought is taking place in your classroom. In his article on ratio, Adam Boxer reflects on how the work of Rob Coe has influenced his teaching. The idea is simple yet powerful. Take a look at the quadrant below and consider whether your lesson places your students in the top right quadrant.

In short, learning happens when you think hard. The key to moving all students into the top right quartile is to craft questions that engage all pupils in thinking. So much questioning that I see in classrooms focuses on a teacher asking a fantastic question that only one student responds to. The key is not, therefore, simply to ask a great question but to ensure that the pedagogical approach to questioning empowers all students to engage in thinking and responding to this question.

You can use the ratio grid below to monitor the quality of education. Select your lowest performing students in class and place them on the ratio quartile that matches their level of engagement and level of challenge. You. can then compare this with students who perform exceptionally well. This provides a simple but effective focus for your monitoring activity and could help in unpacking any potential blocks to learning for your students.