TEACHERS - could I get some advice about my placement

[saadia]

I am on a serial school placement as part of my part-time Primary PGCE (2/3 days a week), The focus is on group teaching which I am struggling with because I have to teach my group in the same room with the class teacher - following her plans but tweaked by myself. We are in Y2.

The class teacher talks through the lesson mostly so I am reluctant to talk at the same time but do have to. The children are naturally distracted because she is their usual teacher. Can anyone suggest strategies for keeping my group focussed and for making this arranegement work because I am struggling to see how I will manage, TIA

My suggestion would be to set your group up so they are facing the opposite direction from that of the main class. So, if teacher is at the front near the white board with her group you would be near the opposite wall with your group - if they can't see her but have a good sight line to you it will make it easier for them to focus on you.

yes that is a good idea - thank you SE13mummy, will try it.

IMO you need to use your voice to get the group focused on you. You just have to go for it and talk as loud as you need to and if necessary make a point of showing off to the class teacher how you can vary the tone of your voice to gain your groups attention when necessary and talk quietly when you know you have their attention.The class teacher will hear every word you say but that is her job as your mentor. Do talk to the class teacher about this.

Thanks Loo, we have discussed it. She said it was a bit distracting but she will get used to it.

I do need to work on making my voice more authoritative in general though so I guess it will be good practice. Next lesson is on Friday so I will try it out - it's really helpful to know what other teachers would find acceptable. The class teacher has said that it is OK if my group do different activities wen I start doing my own planning so this will hopefully get her used to that as well.

I am a TA but I often take year 1 whilst the class teacher takes year 2 ( we are a mixed infant class) I follow the teachers plans and objectives but I deliver it in the way that I am comfortable with. I do some of the following to get there attention not just with my voice as me thinks that they get board with having to listen to me:

1. I clap a rhythm and they clap it back to me.
2. I sing 'everybody do this do this everybody do this just like me, - with this I have an action.
3. I also do hands in the air hands on your heads hands on your shoulders etc starting loud then getting quiter and quieter until they are still.
4. Sometimes I just do an action like tap my nose which they then copy.
5. If I see that they are getting board and restless I have started to do brain gym style activities.

I agree with the other peoples ideas too.

When my mum trained as a teacher they did voice coaching style activities.

Finding your voice though takes time.

Also I would say try to forget that that the teacher is there.

thank you thecloudhopper, I think I will have to somehow block out the teacher. These are really good ideas to try out - feeling more confident already.

Maybe you should speak to your tutor. Couldn't you be teaching the whole class while she observes you or helps individual groups within the lesson? I think this sounds like a silly situation. Alternatively you could be responsible for one section of the lesson and she could be responsible for another. You could do the starter and plenary for example, she could do the main bit. How can anyone concentrate at the moment? Poor you! You could try the professional mentor in school.

Hi smokeandmirrors, thanks for your suggestions.

I did bring it up with the Uni tutor and she said that the focus was on group teaching - plan, teach, assess and evaluate for a group. She also said that other students had managed it, but my guess is that they were in classes where everyone was working in groups so they weren't so obtrusive. I'm not sure if I should say anything to the school mentor, having already been told by class teacher and Uni tutor that this is the way to do it.

The teacher I am with teaches the whole class throughout and gives them a lot of direction. I have also discussed it with her and suggested areas in the school which are very open-plan where I could teach but it must go against a school policy to let me take the class elsewhere. I also asked if I could take a starter but she has not come back to me on that and I don't want to delve into that before getting some group-teaching practice.

Sounds as if you'er handling it really well!
Good luck!