This survival guide for primary teachers gives practical advice on the common questions all new teachers have. The author has addressed such issues as promoting positive behaviour, different learning styles, and grading and assessment, as well as paperwork, substitutes, volunteers, field trips, and communicating with both parents and administrators.
`This book is aimed at class teachers of Reception to Year 3 seeking ideas to develop their pupils' speaking and listening skills. The author describes each activity in an easy-to-follow format with links to the relevant curriculum targets. The most valuable part of the book is the commentary from the author's own teaching experience. This provides some useful insights, such as the fact that the flow of children's ideas was improved while they had a discussion while engaged in drawing. The book is easy to read. It... provide[s] a practical guide to some tried and tested speaking and listening activities which may be useful for the beginning Foundation or Key Stage 1 teacher' - Special! Do the children in your class need help with language and listening skills? Lots of ideas and suggestions for activities using and encouraging talk in the classroom make this book a lively, practical guide to encouraging young children to develop their verbal reasoning skills and to communicate more effectively. There is advice on how to tie in these activities with the various curriculum subjects and the following are covered: - setting up a talk corner - using story bags and story boxes - using Circle Time and playing games to encourage talk In each activity there are directions for helping children with Special Educational Needs, working with Teaching Assistants (TAs) and other adults in the classroom, planning and assessing work and finding suitable resources. A selection of photocopiable material is included and all the suggestions and ideas in the book have been tried and tested by the author in her own classroom. The focus of this book is on young children aged 5 to 8, but the activities can be adapted to suit those younger or older.
Help children with learning difficulties or learning disabilities excel in the general education classroom! Help struggling students avert failure before it becomes chronic and destructive to their self-esteem and motivation! Drawing from the collective experience of professionals and parents who have successfully worked with students with learning disabilities and difficulties, and including the latest information from IDEA 2004 and NCLB, this revised edition of I Can Learn provides a wealth of best practices and policies specifically designed to help these students not only participate in but also excel in the general education classroom. Readers will discover: Characteristics of specific learning and performance difficulties and disabilities Strategies to improve learning skills such as listening comprehension, ability to pay attention, mathematical reasoning, and reading word recognition Strategies to enhance spelling, verbal and written expression, test-taking, and appropriate social behavior Information about the referral process, determination of eligibility for special services, and provision of services to students with specific learning disabilities School practices that support the success of all students This clear and concise reference offers educators and parents the support and tools they need to reduce special education referrals and help all students experience successful outcomes!
'The book is a good introduction to anyone taking on middle leadership in the primary sector, and will be useful to heads and deputies who are considering how to organise their schools in the face continuing change and increasing accountability' - Times Educational Supplement In recent years, there has been an acknowledgement of the need for teachers to develop management and leadership skills in addition to specialized subject knowledge, to achieve a state where they possess transferable skills that can be employed in co-ordinating any area of the primary curriculum. This book will provide trainees, NQTs and experienced teachers with the management and leadership techniques that they will need in order to develop, with appropriate experience and opportunities, into subject leaders or effective members of a senior management team. The emphasis in this book is on the practical techniques and strategies of curriculum leadership. At all levels of experience, from establishing a direction through working with resources to leading and motivating colleagues, this book deals with the theoretical, practical and technological issues facing teachers as they create and manage curricula. This book is an invaluable resource for trainees and teachers at every level as they confront the rapidly shifting demands of their profession.
Activities to Help Children Aged 4-9 to Manage Loss, Grief or Bereavement
When a child faces a problem with health or disability we are quick to offer support or change our expectations. Sadness, distress, anxiety, whether transient or long-term, can have significant effects on every child but they are invisible and the support or adjustments might not be in place. In this great resource Margaret uses stories about 20 different life events to: illustrate the range of feelings give permission for the expression of feelings encourage empathy towards others demonstrate that loss is a common experience for us all. The work balances an acknowledgement of the need to express sorrow and sadness with an opportunity to consider how to do something positive for oneself or helpful to others.
'This book is a joy to read. It is full of good sense and, what teachers always hope to find, lots of good, practical ideas...This is a valuable resource and every staffroom should have a copy' - Gifted and Talented Update 'Smith's research interests in inclusive and gifted education are reflected in her publications and this book is no exception. This is essentially a user-friendly practitioner's text, aimed at primary school educators...I would recommend this as a useful addition to the practising teacher's repertoire of resource texts' Susen Smith, former primary school teacher 'The suggestions here, many of them photocopiable, are clearly tried and tested. All primary teachers will find them helpful' - Michael Duffy, The Times Educational Supplement `A very useful aid to any staff room bookshelf. Easy to read, use and understand- National Association of Gifted Children Newsletter `A must read for all teachers. This book not only sets out very clearly the needs of Able Gifted and Talented pupils, but also helps teachers reappraise their classroom practice and the role of the learner' - Johanna M Raffan, Director of NACE, National Association for Able Children How can we provide challenges for the gifted and talented primary school pupil in an inclusive classroom setting? Using tried and tested examples, this book shows the busy teacher how to challenge able children in their mixed-ability class - where time and resources are usually limited. The practical tasks will show you how carefully designed activities can cater for a range of abilities. The book has sections on: - creating a working environment that helps more able pupils to thrive; - varying the way you ask pupils questions; - thinking about multiple intelligences and ways to develop them; - developing different levels of challenge in classroom activities; - allowing pupils some choice in the activities they do; - advice on how to run whole-class research projects. A glossary of key terms and a range of photocopiable material are included. Class teachers, GATCOs, Teaching Assistants, Learning Support Teachers, trainee teachers and LEA advisers looking for practical teaching ideas to challenge gifted children will find this book ideal for use in their settings.
Activities to Help Children Aged 4-9 to Manage Loss, Grief or Bereavement
When a child faces a problem with health or disability we are quick to offer support or change our expectations. Sadness, distress, anxiety, whether transient or long-term, can have significant effects on every child but they are invisible and the support or adjustments might not be in place. In this great resource Margaret uses stories about 20 different life events to: illustrate the range of feelings give permission for the expression of feelings encourage empathy towards others demonstrate that loss is a common experience for us all. The work balances an acknowledgement of the need to express sorrow and sadness with an opportunity to consider how to do something positive for oneself or helpful to others.
`This book is aimed at class teachers of Reception to Year 3 seeking ideas to develop their pupils' speaking and listening skills. The author describes each activity in an easy-to-follow format with links to the relevant curriculum targets. The most valuable part of the book is the commentary from the author's own teaching experience. This provides some useful insights, such as the fact that the flow of children's ideas was improved while they had a discussion while engaged in drawing. The book is easy to read. It... provide[s] a practical guide to some tried and tested speaking and listening activities which may be useful for the beginning Foundation or Key Stage 1 teacher' - Special! Do the children in your class need help with language and listening skills? Lots of ideas and suggestions for activities using and encouraging talk in the classroom make this book a lively, practical guide to encouraging young children to develop their verbal reasoning skills and to communicate more effectively. There is advice on how to tie in these activities with the various curriculum subjects and the following are covered: - setting up a talk corner - using story bags and story boxes - using Circle Time and playing games to encourage talk In each activity there are directions for helping children with Special Educational Needs, working with Teaching Assistants (TAs) and other adults in the classroom, planning and assessing work and finding suitable resources. A selection of photocopiable material is included and all the suggestions and ideas in the book have been tried and tested by the author in her own classroom. The focus of this book is on young children aged 5 to 8, but the activities can be adapted to suit those younger or older.
Teaching Peer Support Skills to Children Aged 6 to 11
Peer buddy systems have been demonstrated as very successful with older students. Positive effects are recognized for the individuals befriended and also for the whole community. Margaret has used her vast experience with younger children to develop a programme which achieves these outcomes at the stage when they are learning the skills of friendship and cooperation. Using her popular style of differentiating activities and teaching for two ages groups, 6-8 and 9-11, Margaret has provided an exciting, innovative and challenging programme which enhances the citizenship curriculum and the atmosphere of the school.
