As soon as you take your first steps into teaching you will come across what seems like thousands of lengthy acronyms that impact your everyday life. Teaching acronyms fill up our emails, lesson plans, classroom displays, assessment documents and training resources. They are everywhere.
Acronyms are commonly used in education as a way to help students remember key information. By using an acronym, teachers can condense a large amount of information into a short, easy-to-remember phrase. For example, the acronym “VARK” stands for Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic – four different ways that people learn best.
By remembering this acronym, students can ensure that they are taking in information in a way that is most effective for them. Additionally, acronyms can be used as a way to add humour or levity to a lesson. For example, the popular science acronym “GNAT” stands for “Greatest Number Always Talk.”
This acronym encourages students to be active participants in the class and to avoid letting the loudest voices dominate the conversation. Acronyms can be a useful tool for both teachers and students alike – they can help to make complex information more manageable and can add an element of fun to the learning process.
Consider this article an idiots guide to each and every teaching acronym I could think of. I will endeavour to update the article as new acronyms appear.
Related: For more, check out our article on Acronyms ECTs Need To Know here.
Student Acronyms
Teaching acronyms that are used to describe students
EAL
English as an Additional Language.
ESOL
English for Speakers of Other Languages
SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disability.
SEN
Special Educational Needs
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADD
Attention Deficit Disorder
EMA
Ethnic Minority Achievement
PP
Pupil Premium
FSM
Free School Meals
EBD
Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
HAD
Hyperactivity Disorder
LAC
Looked after Children
MA&T
More Able and Talented
LA
Lower Ability
HA
Higher Ability
GD
Greater Depth
MLD
Moderate Learning Difficulties
SLD
Severe Learning Difficulties
G&T
Gifted and Talented
SpLD
Specific Learning Difficulty
Assessment Acronyms
ARE
Age Related Expectations
WT
Working Towards (Age related expectations)
WA
Working At (Age related expectations)
AfL
Assessment for Learning
AT
Attainment Target
CAT
Curriculum Attainment Target
M&E
Monitoring and Evaluation
PANDA
Performance and Data Analysis
PANDAS
Performance and Assessment Documents
PI’s
Performance Indicators
Training Course Acronyms
ITT
Initial Teacher Training
INSET
In-Service Education and Training
NPQH
National Professional Qualification for Headship
NPQSL
National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders
NPQML
National Professional Qualification for Middle Leaders
HE
Higher Education
GNVQ
General National Vocational Qualifications
NVQ
National Vocational Qualification
PGCE
Post-Graduate Certification of Education
Curriculum Acronyms
PSHE
Personal, Social, and Health Education
RE
Religious Education
PE
Physical Education
ICT
Information and Communications Technology
IB
International Baccalaureate
BTEC
Business and Technology Education Council
FE
Further Education
DT
Design Technology
MFL
Modern Foreign Languages
NC
National Curriculum
Intervention Acronyms
FFT
Fischer Family Trust
FAQ
Q: What are some tips for teaching acronyms?
A: There are a few things to keep in mind when teaching acronyms. First, make sure that the acronym is easy to pronounce. Second, provide a clear and concise definition for the acronym. Finally, give students plenty of opportunities to practice using the acronym.
Q: What are some common acronyms that students should know?
A: Some common acronyms that students should know include ASAP (as soon as possible), IEP (individualized education program), and GPA (grade point average).
Q: Are there any acronyms that are specifically for educators?
A: Yes, there are a few acronyms that are specifically for educators. These include SEL (social and emotional learning) and RTI (response to intervention). Additionally, Common Core State Standards are often referred to by the acronym CCSS.
Q: Is there any way to make teaching acronyms more fun?
A: Yes, one way to make teaching acronyms more fun is through games and activities. For example, you could have students come up with their own definitions for various acronyms or create a story or skit that incorporates some of the acronyms.
Additionally, you could have students work in pairs to teach each other new acronyms and quiz each other for recall. Finally, you could also provide rewards for correct answers or correct use of acronyms during discussions. This will help students remember them better and make the learning process more enjoyable.
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