What is WAGOLL (What a Good One Looks Like)?
WAGOLL, which stands for ‘What a Good One Looks Like’, is a strategy that provides students with clear examples of high-quality work. By showcasing exemplary pieces, teachers can set clear standards and expectations for their students, making abstract success criteria more tangible and understandable.
How do you use WAGOLL in teaching?
In practice, WAGOLL is used by presenting students with a model example that demonstrates the key features and criteria of a successful task or assignment. It helps demystify what good work looks like and provides a concrete reference point for students to aim towards. Typically, it can be used at the beginning of a lesson to introduce a new concept or task, or during the learning process to reinforce expectations.
Using WAGOLL to support literacy
In literacy, WAGOLLs can be particularly effective. For example:
- Narrative writing. Present students with a well-crafted story that highlights key elements such as a strong opening, character development and a compelling plot. This can help students understand the components of a successful narrative.
- Persuasive writing. Show an example of a persuasive letter or essay that effectively uses rhetorical devices, strong arguments and a clear structure. This can guide students in crafting their own persuasive pieces.
- Poetry: Share a poem that exemplifies the use of figurative language, rhyme and rhythm can inspire students and provide a template for their own creative writing.
Resources you might like to try:
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| Story openings – dialogue, action or description | Figurative language |
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Using WAGOLL for primary teaching
WAGOLL is not limited to literacy; it can be applied across various primary subjects:
- Maths: Demonstrating a well-worked solution to a complex problem can help students understand the necessary steps and methods involved. For instance, showing how to solve a multi-step word problem or a complicated division problem.
- Science: Providing a high-quality example of a science report or experiment write-up can guide students on how to document their observations, hypotheses, and conclusions effectively.
- Art: Showcasing a piece of artwork that meets the lesson’s objectives, such as the use of colour, texture or perspective, can set a standard for students to follow.
Resources you might like to try:
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| Long division questions | Simplifying ratio worksheet | Multiplying fractions by whole numbers |
WAGOLL in secondary teaching
In secondary education, WAGOLL can be adapted to suit a variety of subjects:
English: Presenting a high-quality analysis of a text, complete with well-supported points and critical insights, can help students understand how to structure their essays and develop their analytical skills.
Resources you might like to try:
- A speech to change the world: persuasive speech analysis
- Exploring beginnings
- Non-fiction text examples
Maths: Providing exemplary solutions to complex equations or geometric proofs can help students understand the logical steps required and the presentation of their work.
Resources you might like to try:
- GCSE revision - worked examples and practice questions
- Circumference and area of circle
- Vectors review
Science: Showing a well-written lab report or example exam question answers can serve as a guide for students’ own work.
Resources you might like to try:
- Energy changes in chemical reactions
- Pressure in fluids
- Rainforest invertebrate survey: using standard form
MFL (Modern Foreign Languages): Sharing examples of well-constructed paragraphs or dialogues in the target language can aid students in understanding grammar, vocabulary usage and sentence structure. Model answers for exam tasks is also a helpful way to prepare and support GCSE students.
Resources you might like to try:
- ¿Qué hay en la foto?
- Mis vacaciones en España
- How to describe a picture in French
- Holidays and travel – sentence builders for GCSE French
- Wohnorte: describing the place where you live
Geography: Presenting a high-quality case study or geographical analysis that includes clear data presentation, analysis and conclusions can help students grasp what is expected in their own work.
Resources you might like to try:
History: Providing examples of well-argued essays or source analyses can demonstrate to students how to construct coherent arguments and critically engage with historical sources.
Resources you might like to try:
