I will be working in year 6 with a TA 5 days a week, all day. Should I get her to do target group work in maths and english in the afternoons for those that will struggle to make the magic level 4 that everybody wants?
Anonymous
13/9/2010
Answers
Although I understand the pressure on you to realise the magic Level 4 grades in maths and English you do need to be really careful not to remove the ‘joy of learning’ from your everyday teaching and learning repertoire. If you do decide to get your TA to work with your lower ability pupils in the afternoon, then you could do this in ‘diguised’ fashion. In other words, make the numeracy/literacy work fun. This could be done in the usual manner through exploration/topic work. Alternatively, you could incorporate the requirements of these NC levels by turning the process into a game (Bingo, Countdown, Snakes and Ladders, The Price is Right etc.) It will take a considerable amount of planning to adapt these games so that they are ‘fit for purpose’. Could that someone be the TA? Alternatively, you could alternate the process so that for a couple of afternoons, they teach the higher ability group whilst you work with the lower ability group on the numeracy and literacy issues. Having done this, you switch groups for the other couple of afternoons. By doing this, these pupils will not feel a ‘perceived’ lack of status by being asked to work with TA whilst the ‘real teacher’ works with the main body of the class.
Answers
Although I understand the pressure on you to realise the magic Level 4 grades in maths and English you do need to be really careful not to remove the ‘joy of learning’ from your everyday teaching and learning repertoire. If you do decide to get your TA to work with your lower ability pupils in the afternoon, then you could do this in ‘diguised’ fashion. In other words, make the numeracy/literacy work fun. This could be done in the usual manner through exploration/topic work. Alternatively, you could incorporate the requirements of these NC levels by turning the process into a game (Bingo, Countdown, Snakes and Ladders, The Price is Right etc.) It will take a considerable amount of planning to adapt these games so that they are ‘fit for purpose’. Could that someone be the TA? Alternatively, you could alternate the process so that for a couple of afternoons, they teach the higher ability group whilst you work with the lower ability group on the numeracy and literacy issues. Having done this, you switch groups for the other couple of afternoons. By doing this, these pupils will not feel a ‘perceived’ lack of status by being asked to work with TA whilst the ‘real teacher’ works with the main body of the class.