Classroom Organisational Skills

        After year 9, students were put into ability groups of foundation, intermediate and higher. Their first three years at the school and their end of year exams were taken into account when grouping took place. Grouping is especially important when it comes to secondary education because if a child with little ability is given work that is too academically difficult for them, they can fail whereas if they are given work which they are able to keep up with they can pass. Each group takes different exams which are based on their ability, therefore everyone if given a chance. During my placement I worked with all three groups and also marked test papers which showed that all students were in the right ability groups. However if a student felt that they were finding their work to easy they were given the chance to move to a higher group and be monitored for two weeks by their teacher. If the teacher felt the pupil was academically capable of keeping up with the work they were able to stay. I felt this was an upside to academic grouping because it just shows that students also have their say which ends in them succeeding. If ability grouping did not take place, students would find themselves either struggling or finding their work too easy, it also makes lesson planning easier for teachers because in a higher class the criteria being taught would be for what would appear in a higher exam therefore intermediate students would not need to know some of that criteria.

In some of the classes I taught in the seating plan was boy/girl and this was because freedom of seats were given in the beginning and it was taken advantage of by chatting and bad behaviour, a seating plan made by the teacher was then put into place and it was clear that it improved the behaviour and concentration of the pupils because they came to realise that the classroom was not a play ground and they had to be able to concentrate without distractions in order to learn. In other classrooms random seating plans had been made by the teacher according to the register, they were changed once a month so that the students got to work with different classmates and not just the same ones all the time. This had a positive effect on all students learning because they were able to interact and learn with different people who’s knowledge and ability is different to their own, so where they would be helping one student they would be learning from another. It was very easy to see that students who had the freedom to sit where they want were very easily distracted where as those with a seating plan were less distracted. Each classroom also had the same layout of two students to one desk, this made it easy for the teacher to quickly walk around the classroom and keep an eye on every pupil. If all students are sitting on perhaps a long row of four or five tables it makes it difficult for the teacher to accommodate to each student and quickly walk around the classroom, it also makes the classroom more cramped. All students face the teacher and distractions are quickly noticed by the teacher.

In all classrooms I helped out in and observed it was clear that there was respect for the teachers from the pupils. The teachers had built relationships with their classes which made the atmosphere in the classroom a relaxed learning environment. Students felt free to ask questions and interact in the lesson. It is impossible to say that all students like their teachers by it is important for a teacher to be able to show that they care about every students education, students feel more at ease with a teacher when they understand the teachers job is to be there for them and to help them learn. In the history of education we have seen that teachers have been more like dictators where no relationship is present between pupils and teachers, pupils are silent and they just listen and write whatever teachers say, I can positively say that this would not be successful in schools today because pupils tend to misbehave more and it is important that they interact with teachers in order to learn. During my placement teachers made the classroom a fun environment for the pupils and it was clear to see that the pupils were enjoying their lessons. The teachers also showed a sense of humour with the pupils and many pupils came to see the teachers after the lessons. Whilst walking through corridors during breaks and lunches pupils regularly said hello and greeted their teachers when they saw them which shows the level of respect they have for their teachers. Teachers need to make aware to their students that as well as being teachers they are emotional and caring this also helps to build relationships with students because they feel they are able to confide in their teachers. Many students seek out support and attention from their teachers and this is a clear management strategy because it can be used to reinforce desired behaviour as well as build self esteem and more positive relationships between themselves and students. Students also gain an interest to learn when a teacher is passionate about what they are teaching, a good teacher always shows a concern for students as well as respect. When a teacher takes the time to personally know and acknowledge a student they feel more emotionally at ease in a classroom and this is when their best learning behaviour occurs.

In conclusion to my essay I feel that my placement helped me to understand the importance of being a teacher and what is required. I applied what I have learnt on my course into practice and it proved successful. My placement confirmed that teaching is what I would love to do and I have the skills required to do it.