Teaching assistant essay sample

1. The national curriculum is a framework that is used by maintained schools in England.

The National curriculum is the agenda for teaching and learning in schools. The national curriculum is used to establish the subjects being taught and the knowledge, skills and understanding required for each subject that is being taught to pupils, between 5-16 year of age. All children must receive a full time education that is age appropriate and that they are capable of doing. It should be balanced and with that meaning, it should be of all educational varieties, English, Mathematics, Science and Re and Physical education. It should be mentally challenging but only for the age that it is aimed and taking into account that some pupils have special needs so they need more time to achieve that. There are also targets and standards set out those children are required to reach for their age group. For each age group in schools there are key stages which are part of the national Curriculum which is designed for a specific age group.

The curriculum covers what subjects the children should be learning and it is set out over different key stages and in those key stages are the levels of what those children should achieve at the end of every key stage. The national curriculum is set out so that everyone has a firm understanding of how it works and it’s simple to follow. It gives you a great understanding of the knowledge that children of all ages gain from using the curriculum and that all the children are getting a fair education and they are all learning the same things within a time frame and will get variety of subjects. At the end of all key stages they have what is called sats (Standard Assessment Tests) and with those tests, the school use them to see what level the children are progressing and what areas they may need extra help. The national curriculum is reviewed constantly to make sure it meets the requirements and the needs of children in schools.

2. 5 key factors that influence learning:

1. Parents can have a great influence on the way their child approaches learning. If the parents are positive about learning and teach their child the importance of doing well at school, it can have a positive effect on how the child views school and the importance of doing well a positive approach from parents can help their child learn the skills needed to ensure they continue learning into adulthood. Helping their child to achieve a better way of living and continue this into their future teaching them that hard work pays off. Parents that encourage and praise their children to do well in school also teaches that child that they are valued and that the parents are interested in their schooling and progress. Grandparents can also help by encouraging them . They can help with the knowledge they have gathered over the years. Maybe by helping them with their homework on a World War 2 project and showing the child old army photos would stimulate their interest. Teaching them the importance of a good education and how this can help them get a good profession when they leave school.

2. The school environment has an influences learning.
A school that offers a wide range of learning materials, books, computers to keep children stimulated. The school can provide children with interesting displays that allows them to explore art, materials, other countries, cultures, food, fashion and religions and so on. Children that are unhappy and get bored at school can soon lose interest and fall behind. This can lead to frustration and changes in behaviour and can lead to other problems. Having a good support network at school is important so that children can get help with learning difficulties.

3. Peers also have an influence on each other if a child is fitting in well with peers and has positive friends that enjoy learning, this can have a positive effect on them too. They can support each other in lessons and share ideas, and enjoy learning together. Children can be very competitive and having peers that work hard can push them to try even harder in lessons and work to their full potential.

4. Rewards can influence learning, using positive praise and making that child feel valued and listened to will give the child confidence. Positive comments by their teachers in their school books, stickers and star charts Is a good way of making the child feel really good about their achievements? 5. Also the teachers and staff have an influence on the children and how they learn, Keeping them motivated and interested in the subjects they are teaching. Engaging each child equally . Giving one to one teaching support for pupils’ who need extra support can influence learning, giving that individual child the attention they require.

3. Comment on the role of the teaching assistant whilst supporting the planning and evaluation of learning activities Teaching assistants can help plan and evaluate learning activities by firstly having a clear description of the activity and what is involved. TA should have a clear understanding of the purpose of the activity and have the confidence in their role as teaching assistant to assist pupils confidently and effectively. Teaching assistants should have a clear plan of action and what their part is in the lesson. They should have all the information needed and to always ask the teacher if they are unsure of anything. They need to check that they have the materials needed for the activity . They also need to plan the lesson well to fit the activity into the timetable.

The teaching assistant should find a place in the classroom that has the space to seat her group. She can help set out tables with equipment such as pencils, rubbers, rulers and paper etc. ready for the lesson to commence. The teaching assistant must remember at all times to remind children of safely and behaviour in the class and what is acceptable. The teaching assistant should make clear notes and report these back to the teacher. If there are any particular concerns regarding practical implementation I will share the planned activities with teacher by giving constructive feedback on the ideas and options that are being explored. If there are difficulties I will bring them to teacher’s attention.

4. What feedback might a teaching assistant be expected to provide and in what form and to who might they be required to deliver it?

Feedback is the simplest means of improving education, providing information of how and why pupil understands and misunderstands and what steps pupil must take to improve. It has much significant impact on learning, so it has been described as “ the most powerful single moderator that enhances achievement” A teaching assistant maybe asked to give feedback on how a lesson /activity went and how the pupils responded to it. She may be asked to give feedback oral or written form which should be clear and constructive and include strengths and weaknesses of the activity in question. She should also add how the lesson could be improved and how effective the resources were and how the pupils responded to the activity. These should then be discussed with the teacher or other work colleagues in a diplomatic way.

As a teaching assistant I would be required to offer feedback to the students as well as the teachers for an evaluation of teaching process. When I would have to give feedback to children I must keep in mind that it is highlighting the strengths and shortcomings of the activity along with providing solutions by which they can improve their work. I would ensure that feedback to pupils is given while the work that has been assessed is still fresh in their minds and it is meaningful. In this way pupils could be able to see their learning in a new way and they can gain increased satisfaction from learning. While giving feedback to teachers I will provide them with information about how well an activity went and the pupils’ response to it. I would respond with a realistic and fair judgements on the success of activity taking into account the agreed evaluation measures and contexts within which the activities took place.

5. Explain how a teaching assistant might recognise problems that might arise whilst supporting individuals and how this can be managed. The teaching assistant may come across problems whilst supporting pupils in class. The pupil may show signs of losing interest by gazing around the room, fidgeting, trying to distract other children, and losing concentration. The teaching assistant needs to be aware of this and help the child refocus on the task. She needs to make sure the children have the correct information needed and that they have clear instructions to follow. If the child has lost interest, the teaching assistant should quickly recap to help that child gets back on track. Also by making sure they have the correct work space, where they have the room to move around and can lay out all there books and equipment for the lesson, and are not getting distracted by other children.

As a teaching assistant I have to provide support to the pupils to overcome problems arising from the above mentioned causes by focussing on my role to provide assistance for them. I would use the strategies agreed with teacher to help pupils in developing effective learning by ensuring that every pupil is clear of task with complete information. I would ensure that learning resources and environment complies with teacher’s directions. I would also provide support to pupils to follow instructions and get them motivated by using praise so that they can focus on task. I would regularly monitor pupils’ response towards task and will modify the activities, teaching and learning materials as agreed with teacher to achieve incremental progression. If there are any disruptions I would deal with them quickly and effectively in accordance with school policies. Any concerns the teaching assistant feels she cannot deal with should be discussed with the teacher.

6. How would a teaching assistant assist pupils to follow instructions and keep focused and motivated?

The teaching assistant can assist pupils to follow instructions by keeping them in simple terms for that specific age group. She should try to use words that the child is able to understand . She can ask pupils if they have understood a certain instruction and translate them or explain them clearly. She can also remind children of the teacher’s instructions if she notices a child is losing concentration and is looking confused. She can also ask the children if everyone has understood the instructions clearly and prompt anyone she feels is slow to start on the topic. The teaching assistant can help shy pupils and prompt them to use the resources needed in the learning activity, giving them an helping hand if they are unsure. She can keep the pupils motivated by the use of positive praise and good eye contact and using positive reinforcement.

The teaching assistant should also keep the lesson interesting to keep the pupils interested and focused. To keep them focussed on the task I would support them by dividing lesson around number of different activities by providing them opportunities for all students to learn through their preferred styles. Pupils usually learn more at the beginning and end of the lessons, so I would ensure that learning is divided into short activities. To keep them motivated I would show honest appreciation about a pupil rather than exaggerated responses. I would respond with encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their own actions. I would ensure that good behaviour is always praised and rewarded being fair to all. Sometimes it is more important to give more time and attention by listening carefully so that student is encouraged without being dependent on praise.