Learning to Teach in the Primary School: (Learning to Teach in the Primary School Series)

This comprehensive new textbook provides valuable support to student teachers on primary ITT, BEd and PGCE courses. It provides a sound and practical introduction to the teaching skills as well as the underlying theory. Written by experts in primary school teaching, the book is divided into twenty-three sections and covers: becoming a teacher exploring the nature of learning planning for learning approaches to the curriculum recent developments in primary education diversity and inclusion assessment partnership in practice your professional development. Each chapter contains a brief introduction to the key concepts, issues and skills, and provides learning activities in the form of tasks. Annotated lists of further reading are included for students who want to explore topics in more detail. This major textbook is essential reading for all students training to be primary school teachers, including those on BA (QTS), BEd and PGCE courses, as well as those on flexible PGCE courses, those on Graduate Registered Training courses, and those studying Education Studies.

Table of Contents:
Introduction.  Section 1: Becoming a Teacher  Primary Teaching: A Personal Perspective.  Professionalism and Trainee Teachers  Section 2: Exploring the Nature of Learning and Teaching  Looking at Children.  Looking at Learning.  From Learning to Teaching.  Developing Your Teaching Skills  Section 3: Planning and Managing Learning  Approaching Planning: Medium and Long Term.  Approaching Planning: Short Term.  Managing Classroom Behaviour.  Managing Group Work.  Organising Your Classroom for Learning.  Planning for Learning Outside the Classroom  Section 4: Approaches to the Curriculum  The Aims of Primary Education.  The National Context for the Curriculum.  The Scottish Context for the Curriculum.  The Curriculum  Section 5: Recent Developments in Primary Education  Creativity in the Curriculum.  Thinking Skills.  Learning through Dialogue.  Citizenship in the Primary School.  Gifted and Talented  Section 6: Diversity and Inclusion  Inclusive Approaches.  Providing for Differentiation.  Education for Cultural Diversity and Social Justice.  Responding to Gender Differences.  Responding to Linguistic Diversity  Section 7: Assessment  Assessment and Learning: Summative Approaches.  Assessment and Learning: Formative Approaches  Section 8: Partnership in Practice  Managing Other Adults in the Classroom.  Collaborating with Parents.  Working with External Agencies.  Attendance and Child Welfare Issues  Section 9: Your Professional Development  Applying for Jobs and Preparing Your Induction Year.  Your Legal and Ethical Responsibilities.  Continuing Your Professional Development