PGCE

School of Education, Queen’s University Belfast

PGCEPRIMARY PLACEMENT: OBSERVATION GUIDANCE

Dr Karen Kerr

OVERVIEW OF TODAY’S SESSION

1) Classroom Management

2) Lesson structure

3) General teaching strategies (including the use of ICT)

4) Literacy and Numeracy

5) Meeting the needs of all children

6) Other adults

7) A word of caution!

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

• Gaining the attention of all the children in class:- at the beginning of end of lessons and/or tasks – how does the teacher do this

(e.g. use of voice, use of props, use of position in the room)?- during a lesson/task to remind them of something or when there has been an

accident or an unforeseen interruption?

• How does the teacher prepare the children for transition between activities? - What does he/she do to ensure smooth transition between activities/tasks?

• How does the teacher prepare and plan for different forms of learning?• activities/tasks in the classroom? • practical work? • activities/tasks outside the classroom?

• What sorts of things does the teacher do to prepare children for group work/paired work?

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

• Gaining the attention of all the children in class:- at the beginning of end of lessons and/or tasks – how does the teacher do this

(e.g. use of voice, use of props, use of position in the room)?- during a lesson/task to remind them of something or when there has been an

accident or an unforeseen interruption?

• How does the teacher prepare the children for transition between activities? - What does he/she do to ensure smooth transition between activities/tasks?

• How does the teacher prepare and plan for different forms of learning?• activities/tasks in the classroom? • practical work? • activities/tasks outside the classroom?

• What sorts of things does the teacher do to prepare children for group work/paired work?

Think about planning, introduction to the

activity, instructions given, dealing with health and safety!

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

• How does the teacher set expectations for behaviour? (e.g. reminders, rewards, sanctions, boundaries)

• How does the teacher deal with low level disruption? • constant interruption by one/more children? • constant low level noise when children are meant to

be focused? • Is low level chatter always a negative thing? If not,

why not? And in what situations?

• How does the teacher prepare the children for leaving the room? For example, at break time/lunch time/home time? (lining up, table by table, collecting belongings)

LESSON STRUCTURE

• How does the teacher plan for a lesson?

• Outline of lesson – beginning, middle and end?

• How the teacher keep the focus on what they want the children to know by the of the lesson?

• How is it connected to previous and future lessons?

GENERAL TEACHING STRATEGIES

• Use of ICT: classrooms are a different place today! Think about ICT is being used to enhance learning. Is this always the case?

• Questioning- high and low level

• Differentiation – a term used to describe how approaches and materials are differentiated to meet the needs of different learners!

LITERACY AND NUMERACY

• Basic literacy teaching (use of phonics/sounding out words)

• Basic numeracy teaching

• Remember that not all of the children you teach will be working at the average level for their age!!!

MEETING THE NEEDS OF ALL CHILDREN

• Can you spot any children with additional needs? • These might not always be academic/weaknesses• Think about behavioural needs• More able children• Different children’s backgrounds!• Every child is different, thank what makes this job so

interesting

• How does the teacher support/encourage?

• How do teachers encourage interaction between children?

• Differentiation is more than dishing out different ‘worksheets’!!

OTHER ADULTS

• Who are the other adults involved in a child’s learning inside and outside the classroom?

• Working with classroom assistants• Working with other agencies• Parents• The home work argument?!

A WORD OF CAUTION

1) Each school (and classroom) is a micro-community with different ways of doing

things – different policies, different ethos, different procedures

2) Remember that not everything you see will be good practice so observe critically

– like in any job, there are days I reflect and think I could have done something better

– no one gets it right all of the time and we all have bad days!

– it is a crazy, amazing job with so many personalities and backgrounds all in one room,

including your own!!!!

– We are working with children and young people

not robots

– Remember it is the start of term!!!

3) Take notes and ask questions (pick your moment)

OVERVIEW OF TODAY’S SESSION

1) Classroom Management

2) Lesson structure

3) General teaching strategies (including the use of ICT)

4) Literacy and Numeracy

5) Meeting the needs of all children

6) Other adults

7) A word of caution!

QUESTIONS AND ?

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