Five reasons why you should use structural strips | feature

1. It saves on photography

1. It is cost effective

Everyone is feeling the pinch for funds, so it’s important to use your copy budget wisely. Although students love having a pretty worksheet to stick in their books, it doesn’t make sense to glue paper on top of paper. Structured strips, on the other hand, use the empty space in the margins of their books to prompt students to write on the page. There are usually five or six skeleton slides per sheet, so a class of 30 is taken care of using just six sheets of A4. This means that not only do body ribbons make your school business manager happy, but they’re also environmentally friendly (and better when printed on recycled paper).

2. They support literacy

2. They support skills in chemistry classes

In a world where answers appear at the touch of a button or via voice command, all students benefit from a focus on reading and writing. Developing literacy among our students It is the responsibility of all teachers, not just English or humanities teachers. Although structure strips encourage independent writing, you can use them in less obvious ways to support reading and writing, such as helping with reading for purpose, for example. In a typical lesson, I will lead students in taking turns reading sections of the textbook or support materials aloud, spelling out any words they find difficult, as well as Oracy helps build reading and writing skills. They then work independently to complete the structure bar, before sharing their answers. In this way, a single construction lesson can support reading, writing, listening and speaking – the four pillars of literacy.

3. Prevents dead pages on blank pages

3. They overcome the fear of the blank page

For some, a blank page is a new opportunity; For others, it is terrifying. This is one reason the classic worksheet is so comforting for students: it’s not as intimidating as a blank page. Structure strips provide a bridge between writing short answers on worksheets and longer writing. By providing structure to students’ work, they help students overcome the rigors of blank pages without restricting their answers too much.

A surprising result of using structural tape in the classroom is the sense of pride students feel after they are done

4. They develop stamina while writing

4. They develop writing skills for long answers

In an increasingly digital world, many students find extended writing physically and mentally challenging. Many students lack the concentration, and even physical motor skills, to write lengthy answers. This is often evident in mock exams where handwriting deteriorates in long answers or, more worryingly, is left completely blank. One way to change this is to provide more opportunities for writing alongside other interventions. Structure strips provide support and challenge while sections allow a short break while retrieving the correct information, but they also require a significant amount of writing and focus on the task.

5. They promote pride in a job well done

5. They build confidence and pride in a job well done

A surprising result of using structural tape in the classroom is the sense of pride students feel after they are done. Many students were keen to show me their work at the end of the lesson, proud to have produced a full page of quality work. This was especially noticeable for those who typically find it difficult to produce a full page of work.