Interview Help Please

[ShannyLou]

I've NC'd but really need some help!

I'm currently a TA and have applied to do teacher training. I've been invited for an interview where I have to teach a 15 minute lesson to yr 6 on fractions (middle ability).

It's such a short lesson. I don't know where to start! Any ideas very welcome!

Make it interactive, cutting up cakes, chocolate bars etc. Keep it reasonably simple - just halves and quarters. Ask the pupils questions to ascertain any prior knowledge and a couple at the end to ascertain learning from the lesson.
Have a simple lesson plan written down with learning objectives and expected outcomes. They won’t expect you to know everything, that’s what the PGCE is for.
Don’t forget to smile! Good luck.

Don't you think halves and quarters are too simple for year 6?

I'd say for a middle ability group 1/2s and 1/4s will be a little to simple.

Tes.com has some good ideas

Wouldn't one of your colleagues loan you a lesson plan?

My DD in yr6 is doing multiplying fractions this term, agree with pp that halves and quarters is too simple.

Do some research on what's expected and get your head around it.

15 minutes is quite short. A cake divided into halves and quarters is one thing - you could divide it further and ask them what that would be - which involves more fractions. And ask them if they had thirty people to a party ....

I was think of doing a quick input on simplifying fractions and then make a game? Maybe matching or snap?

A game is a great idea. Have a lesson plan that divides the time into beginning, middle and end. The beginning should establish what they already know. The middle should teach them something. The end should reinforce what they've learned. Don't worry too much about whether they actually already know what you're teaching - you can't predict their exact scheme of work. What they'll mostly be looking for is the way you interact with the children, your ability to plan a coherent lesson, and to some extent your flexibility. But I would also talk to a year 6 teacher at your school for some tips on appropriate level for the group.

That sounds very simple for year 6. DS is year 5 and is past halves and quarters. He's middle to top maths ability.

Try using paper shapes, e.g. Folding a square in half and quarters, etc. Lots of different shapes to try. Makes it very visual. Draw a pie of their choice (or a pizza with different toppings) and tell them what to draw, e.g. One half must be pepperoni, one fifth is cheese, etc. Use the students to split themselves up in halves and quarters, etc. I've only taught fractions to younger children though and we did plenty of colouring in of shape fractions and drawing them on whiteboards, etc. Good luck!

I think these ideas are too simple for year 6 but i also think they will be looking for an understanding of how children learn, how lessons are structured and your interaction with them rather than proving new learning has taken place in these 15 mins.
I would aim for having one clear lesson objective, intro and model it for 5 mins, children practise for 5-7 mins, recap their learning for 2-5 mins.
Good luck!

You need to find out what’s on the maths curriculum for Y6, for a start.

Wow, I don’t think a lot of these posters have been in year 6 maths lessons. Your idea of a game is a good one. I’ve done simplifying fractions as dominos where instead of putting 5 dots and 5 dots together, the ones that “match” are 1/2 and 3/6 etc.

On your position, I’d go and talk the year 6 teacher at your school and ask for advice.

Here is the national curriculum for maths: www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-mathematics-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-mathematics-programmes-of-study#year-6-programme-of-study

If you go down to fractions, you’ll see that year 6s should be working at a much more complex level (ie multiplying and dividing proper fractions, simplifying them using common factors and converting them to decimals).

There’s loads of free lesson plans and teaching resources online which you could have a look at to get some ideas. More reliable than asking Mumsnet!