Can anyone give me a bit of advice for an interview lesson please.

[mayathebee]

Hi,

I am coming to the end of my PGCE and applying for NQT posts - please don't tell me to run for the hills! I'm aware I must have a screw loose . I've had 2 interviews so far. The first was awful, the second was much better but they said I was just pipped to the job by a slightly better candidate.

I have interview 3 this week and I'm really hoping I can finally land a job. The lesson I have to do is a GCSE revision lesson with a mixed ability group (I assume they will be year 10s). I'm just not sure exactly how I write LOs, and structure a lesson to show progress, for a topic they have already done. I'd appreciate any tips. I'm probably overcomplicating this as I'm still wiped out from a weekend of paperwork followed by an interview today.

Do you know the exact board?
Find past papers and exam mark schemes?
How long do you have? Whole hour?

To show progress why don't you give them an exam question at the start, get them to do it in timed exam conditions and then put it to one side and at the end of the lesson get them to add to it in a different colour pen so they can see how they have improved their answer?

What's the topic?

I agree with @PotteringAlong - some sort of 'baseline'/'what do you already know?' task at the start of the session (maybe a section of an exam depending on your subject), followed by some learning and then some way of proving they've improved by the end.

I always refer back to Blooms Taxonomy for objectives for observed lessons. So maybe something like,

All will identify...
Most will apply...
Some will evaluate...

If you can tell us the subject/topic we might be able to be a bit more specific/useful

Thanks for all the ideas!

I had left it very unspecific because I didn't want you to think I was asking you to plan the lesson for me but it's for AQA GCSE biology and I can choose immune responses, nervous system, cell biology or organisation. I have 30 minutes.

I had been thinking about

1. getting them to do an exam question at the start (6 min)
2. reviewing key vocabulary (matching activity) (3-4 min)
3. building models of nerve reflex and synapse with lots of labels/info (in pairs each do 1 model then teach partner) (10 min)
4. improve their answer (peer review/improve if time) then mark using mark scheme and examiner report. (10 min)

It should just about fit in to 30min I think. I'm not sure how I'll differentiate (support sheets and challenge question for modelling task). I've done the modelling task with classes before and it is good for helping them to remember details but it might take too much time for this lesson.

Oops - obviously I have chosen the nervous system for the lesson.

What do you mean an exam q to start? Do you mean look at it, pull apart, the other activities to cover the topic then plan answer at end? I wouldn't start an interview lesson with students doing a question from the board.

Definitely 'what do you know'

Speak to a partner - then raised hands to put info on the board

Can you do something practical?

The children should be engaged in the lesson

Yes, starter could be 'talk to a partner' or 'note what you know on a post it/whiteboard' then your matching / modelling and then finish with the written bit (& peer assess if time?)

I'm not sure which I meant superram but you are definitely right about not starting an interview lesson with an exam question. I'm getting myself in a knot thinking about how to show progress. In a normal unobserved lesson I'd probably get them to RAG rate how confident they were with vocabulary, describing reflex arc/synapse and using understanding to answer 6 mark question at start. Do the matching activity and models, then give them a six mark question with answer to evaluate and improve (skimming over any section they all felt confident on already). RAG rate again at end. I haven't done many revision lessons during my PGCE.

Sorry, cross-posted.

GreenTulips - for the modelling I get them to make a reflex arc or synapse using play doh and pipecleaners on a whiteboard then annotate with keywords/steps which they enjoy. Even my year 10's love play doh.

YogiYoni - thanks again. Notes on a whiteboard should work.

Well surely the

This is what we know and this is what we now know is the evaluation?

one question they usually ask is what's the most important part of a lesson - and it's not they the 'learnt' something but were actively engaged in the lesson - they learn more from doing that listening

As a science teacher what you've said sounds good. It's just a taste and as a pgce student they won't expect too much, especially this late in the year. Show enthusiasm. Greet children at the door. Give them stickers for their names, good luck!

You could use a 'line of confidence' to show progress...give them a title and a line on the board/table (label not v confident one end, v confident other). Get them to write own name on post it and stick on line to show how confident they feel in answering question. Then do a knowledge task and a skills task before revisiting line, move postit along if feel more confident...could then set qu for h/w...
Shows progress, gives you names to call upon during lesson, builds to exam, showcases your skills, could do a bit of group and individual.... would that work?? Good luck!!

Well I totally changed my lesson plan at the last minute and was up all night planning and printing but I got the job . Thanks for all the advice and for letting me use you all as a sounding board.

Yeah! Well done I hope you are really happy in your new post.

Congratulations

Well done!! Roll on September with your own room and class!!