Children's Learning in Primary Schools―A Guide for Teaching Assistants

What does learning look like? What are different subjects really about? Why are transferable skills so important? How can we overcome the difficulties that children encounter in their learning? And what questions and prompts are likely to prove useful in helping children to get the most out of their lessons?

The over-arching role of Teaching Assistants is to support teaching and learning in schools. To do this effectively, they need to understand the curriculum content of all the subjects in which they provide support and know what learning outcomes are sought. This accessible book provides an overview of the knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes that children learn in each subject in their primary years.

Written with the non-subject specialist in mind, and drawing on research and best practice in the classroom, this extremely practical book aims to provide the reader with the information they need to:

• deliver focused lessons to individual pupils, groups, or the whole class;
• concentrate on the most important elements when making classroom resources;
• make valuable assessments of the children’s learning, and keep useful records of their achievements, progress and difficulties;
• take a full part in discussions with colleagues – selecting objectives, devising interesting activities and delivering exciting lessons in each of the subjects.

Including a wide range of examples and activities, this book will prove an invaluable companion for all students working on STLS and Foundation Degree courses, and Teaching Assistants currently working in primary schools.

Mike Cowdray is a former Assistant Headteacher. He has over 30 years' teaching experience in nine primary schools across the north of England and has led a wide variety of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, and Design and Technology.