Nvq_Supporting_the_Teacher

1. Describe how you might contribute to a lesson given to a group of seven year old children learning to play percussion instruments. As a Teaching Assistant supervising a group of seven year olds who are to learn to play musical instruments, I would first make sure these instruments are available, clean, safe and ready to be used for this lesson according to the school policies regarding material safety and hygiene. When children are trying to play with these instruments I should ensure they are correctly held and used. Any music sheets related to playing must be prepared and available in the classroom in advance. Pupils who have difficulties playing or holding the instruments must be supported. It is important to be a good role model by showing children how to hold and play with these instruments. I should make sure all the children follow my instructions, repeat my instructions and focus on me while I am demonstrating the instrument. I am required to supervise the children from the beginning until the end of the lesson. I should make sure they understand the teacher and follow the instructions. I can monitor the class and then make an observations written report that can help track the activity, behaviour, difficulties, preferences, cognitive skills and progress of each child. 2. What might be your role in organizing, using and maintaining the learning resources, materials and equipment' My role as a Teaching Assistant in this lesson, regarding organization and material, is to ensure everything is ready for the lesson before starting it. All music sheets must be printed and ready (including possible written instructions). All the material should be checked for safety, hygiene, cleanliness, good state and put in the right place as agreed by the teacher. When the lesson is finished, I must ensure each material is back to its original place, and not broken or damaged. Any marks should be reported to the teacher who will take further action. During the lesson, I must make sure the material is appropriately used and held by the pupil and is not being damaged. It is also important to keep an inventory of the material. 3. What aspects of safety would you consider' Before starting the lesson, each material should be checked for its safety. This material is not meant to cause any harm or injury to the children. Also its state. The instrument should be not broken or damaged. Hygiene. Children can put some instruments in their mouth, co I could clean the mouth pieces. Availability. The instruments should be accessible and the amount of instruments should be sufficient for the number of children in the class. Ready before the lesson starts and put in the right place. Some instruments require electricity. In this case it is imperative to check electric cables for safety before, during and after the lesson. During the lesson, it is important that all children understand and follow the instructions related to using the instruments. If they don’t know how to use or play the instrument, a demonstration should be given to ensure the playing is safe. In some cases, if the children try to beat each other with the percussion instruments, my role as a Teaching Assistant is to intervene and stop this behaviour, repeat the rules, separate the children from each other to stop them poking each other and report this to the teacher. 4. Describe how you can act in class in order to be an effective role model for the standards of behaviour expected in pupils. In all my interactions with pupils and even with the teacher and staff, as a Teaching Assistant I should show good example of positive behaviour expected in the school to be able to support a high quality education to all pupils. I must be aware of myself and be aware of the school policies, as well as the government ones to develop a professional approach to my work and perform my duties efficiently. One of the keys to be an effective and responsible role model is to start by building good relationships with pupils, based on high levels of strong communication, respect, warmth, listening, support and responsiveness. The good role model is not only focused on the pupil’s behaviour but their learning as well. An example is when dealing with speakers of English as a second language is to talk slowly and clearly and wait for their response. I could also read stories for them and be a model of good English language. 5. What strategies might you employ to encourage pupils to behave appropriately' Describe how you might react to incidents of bullying and violence. As a Teaching Assistant, I play a strong role in promoting a positive learning environment within the school, inside and outside the classroom. My role is to demonstrate good standards of behaviour and deal with any situation of conflict, bullying, racism, or violence appropriately. I should support the teacher in creating and maintaining this positive learning environment when working with children, not only individually but in groups, which helps pupils develop positive social behaviour and respect for each other. It is important to stay away from negative strategies of shouting, frightening or threatening children. These techniques cannot be effective, in the contrary they can trouble pupils and just be a power assertion attitude instead of logical interventions with explanations 6. Describe how you might appropriately observe the physical abilities and skills of a nine year old boy.