A Toolkit for the Effective Teaching Assistant


Book Description

If you’re studying for a Foundation Degree or seeking Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status, this is the book you need on your shelf. Written by a team teaching on one of the UK’s largest Foundation Degree programs, this book contains guidance for students and Teaching Assistants (TAs) on working with colleagues, supporting pupils and supporting learning. In this fully revised edition, the content has been expanded to include five new chapters on Distributed Leadership for the TA/HLTA, Behavior Management, Inclusion (linking with the Every Child Matter agenda), Understanding Children’s Health and Well-being, and Supporting Curriculum Subjects.




Key Issues for Teaching Assistants


Book Description

This book is designed to support Teaching Assistants in the important and unique role they play in the education of children. This new edition includes a range of additional material and reflects developments in the recent UK context and legislation that relates to participation and diversity. It raises issues concerning values and professional practice for Teaching Assistants, emphasising inclusive approaches and the importance of understanding the perspectives of learners throughout. Each chapter contains an overview of topical debates, current research, a discussion of issues relating to values and professional practice. Every chapter raises questions and suggests reading for further reflection. This highly accessible resource includes contributions from leading researchers and experienced education practitioners. It introduces a range of issues, with a focus on inclusion and the key role of teaching assistants, such as: understanding inclusive education: school communities and participation Special educational needs and inclusive practice supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children ethnic diversity and attainment the influence of gender on the achievement of boys and girls working with teachers and parents religious diversity and inclusive practice including and supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transsexual (LGBT) students welcoming and understanding asylum seeking and refugee students disability, human rights and inclusion. This book will enable Teaching Assistants to develop a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of inclusive education. It provides an essential resource for Teaching Assistants and all those working in Education.




Human Resource Management in Education


Book Description

Debates the fundamental question of how far effective human resource management policies can enable schools and colleges to transcend the paradoxes of the global reform agenda. This title analyzes the relationship between leadership, the classroom and results.




How to Be a Brilliant Teaching Assistant


Book Description

How to Be a Brilliant Teaching Assistant draws on knowledge from very experienced teaching assistants and Susan Bentham’s own extensive research to explore the common denominators that unite all brilliant teaching assistants. The book explores becoming a brilliant teaching assistant as a journey and not an end point, and provides support that will help you along the way, whether you’re just starting out in your career or you’ve been an experienced teaching assistant for years. This accessible book covers all aspects of the teaching assistant role, such as: Key roles and responsibilities Meta-cognition and understanding children’s learning Delivering high quality lessons alongside teachers Developing useful subject knowledge Undertaking research and professional development Illustrated with activities, discussion points and anecdotes, this book is a source of support, guidance and inspiration for every teaching assistant engaged in the ongoing process of becoming an outstanding professional.




Cross-Curricular Teaching in the Primary School


Book Description

How can teaching across the curriculum improve children’s learning? How can you plan meaningful, imaginative topic work? Cross-Curricular Teaching in the Primary School helps teachers plan a more imaginative, integrated curriculum by presenting in accessible language a rationale and framework for teaching across the subjects. Illustrated throughout with examples of effective topic work in successful schools, this book provides guidance on the underpinning theory and strategies to facilitate cross-curricular work with young children. Issues covered include: how children learn developing the curriculum and lesson planning teaching and learning in an integrated way at KS1 and KS whole school approaches and team teaching for cross-curricular teaching the role of support staff in cross-curricular teaching improving children’s thinking skills supporting children with special needs using new media and drama to facilitate cross-curricular learning assessing cross-curricular learning. Cross-Curricular Teaching in the Primary School provides much needed support for busy student and practising teachers. Packed with practical ideas, it offers an accessible guide to all aspects of introducing an integrated curriculum.




Dyslexia in the Primary Classroom


Book Description

This book is an important resource for all primary trainees. It provides an explanation of what dyslexia is and how it affects a child′s learning, suggests simple activities which can be used to screen children ready for referral and outlines some easy-to-follow activities addressing different learning styles. It is full of practical suggestions on how to teach reading, spelling and mathematics, develop writing and help with classroom organisation for children displaying difficulties in these areas. The Primary National Strategy is considered throughout and clear links are made to the Professional Standards for the Award of QTS.




Primary English Across the Curriculum


Book Description

This book supports trainee teachers working towards primary QTS in teaching primary English across all areas of the curriculum. Focused on teaching a more integrated and inclusive curriculum, this text draws out meaningful cross curriculur links and explores how the teaching of English can take place across the whole curriculum. It examines how a teacher′s effective use of English is essential in supporting learning in all subjects and considers the role of the teacher in promoting English. Chapters cover topics such as language, literature, EAL and thinking skills. Incorporating the latest thinking in primary English and including exemplars of current good practice, this practical guide encourages trainee teachers to explore learning and teachig in new ways. About the Transforming QTS Series This series reflects the new creative way schools are begining to teach, taking a fresh approach to supporting trainees as they work towards primary QTS. Titles provide full up to date resources focused on teaching a more integrated and inclusive curriculum, and texts draw out meaningful and explicit cross curricular links.




Education for All


Book Description

There are two key questions at the heart of the ongoing debate about education and training for all young people, irrespective of background, ability or attainment: What counts as an educated 19 year old today? Are the models of education we have inherited from the past sufficient to meet the needs of all young people, as well as the social and economic needs of the wider community? Education for All addresses these questions in the light of evidence collected over five years by the Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education and Training: the most rigorous investigation of every aspect of this key educational phase for decades. Written by the co-directors of the Nuffield Review, Education for All provides a critical, comprehensive and thoroughly readable overview of 14-19 education and training and makes suggestions for the kind of education and training that should be provided over the coming decade and beyond. The authors acknowledge that much has been achieved by the respective governments – massive investment in resources; closer collaboration between schools, colleges, training providers, voluntary agencies and employers; recognition and promotion of a wider range of qualifications. They are also optimistic about the good things that are going on in many secondary classrooms – enormous amounts of creativity; courageous efforts to meet problems; a deep concern and caring for many young people otherwise deprived of hope and opportunity. But they argue for a radical reshaping of the future in the light of a broader vision of education – a greater respect for more practical and active learning; a system of assessment which supports rather than impoverishes learning; respect for the professional expertise of the teacher; a more unified system of qualifications ensuring progression into higher education and employment; the creation of strongly collaborative and local learning systems; and a more reflective and participative approach to policy. Education for All should be read by everyone working in – or with an interest in – secondary-level education in England and Wales and beyond.




The Cambridge Primary Review Research Surveys


Book Description

The Cambridge Primary Review Research Surveys is the outcome of the Cambridge Primary Review – England’s biggest enquiry into primary education for over forty years. Fully independent of government, it was launched in 2006 to investigate the condition and future of primary education at a time of change and uncertainty and after two decades of almost uninterrupted reform. Ranging over ten broad themes and drawing on a vast array of evidence, the Review published thiry-one interim reports, including twenty-eight surveys of published research, provoking media headlines and public debate, before presenting its final report and recommendations. This book brings together the twenty-eight research surveys, specially commissioned from sixty-five leading academics in the areas under scrutiny and now revised and updated, to create what is probably the most comprehensive overview and evaluation of research in primary education yet published. A particular feature is the prominence given to international and comparative perspectives. With an introduction from Robin Alexander, the Review’s director, the book is divided into eight sections, covering: children’s lives and voices: school, home and community children’s development, learning, diversity and needs aims, values and contexts for primary education the structure and content of primary education outcomes, standards and assessment in primary education teaching in primary schools: structures and processes teaching in primary schools: training, development and workforce reform policy frameworks: governance, funding, reform and quality assurance. The Cambridge Primary Review Research Surveys is an essential reference tool for professionals, researchers, students and policy-makers working in the fields of early years, primary and secondary education.




Reassessing the Impact of Teaching Assistants


Book Description

Over the last decade, teaching assistants (TAs) have become an established part of everyday classroom life. TAs are often used by schools to help low-attaining pupils and those with special educational needs. Yet despite the huge rise in the number of TAs working in UK classrooms, very little is known about their impact on pupils. This key and timely text examines the impact of TAs on pupils’ learning and behaviour, and on teachers and teaching. The authors present the provocative findings from the ground-breaking and seminal Deployment and Impact of Support Staff (DISS) project. This was the largest, most in-depth study ever to be carried out in this field. It critically examined the effect of TA support on the academic progress of 8,200 pupils, made extensive observations of nearly 700 pupils and over 100 TAs, and collected data from over 17,800 questionnaire responses and interviews with over 470 school staff and pupils. This book reveals the extent to which the pupils in most need are let down by current classroom practice. The authors present a robust challenge to the current widespread practices concerning TA preparation, deployment and practice, structured around a conceptually and empirically strong explanatory framework. The authors go on to show how schools need to change if they are to realise the potential of TAs. With serious implications not just for classroom practice, but also whole-school, local authority and government policy, this will be an indispensable text for primary, secondary and special schools, senior management teams, those involved in teacher training and professional development, policy-makers and academics.