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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Interview observed lesson - help needed!

5 replies

danishfootperil · 08/10/2021 16:28

Hello! I’ve been asked to prepare a 30 minute “English/reading lesson” for a yr 1 class, inc 2 with 1-1 support. “Welcome to use a book of (my) choice”. I’m struggling to think of a book/activity that will be pitched appropriately in terms of challenge and offering a short, engaging activity. Any suggestions welcome - interview is on Monday!!

So far considering retell/rewritetype activities involving Mr Gumpy’s Outing/Bear Hunt/Brown Bear Brown Bear/Tiger Who Came to Tea. Thanks!

OP posts:
autumnkate · 09/10/2021 17:53

My Year 1 son came home buzzing this week after a lesson on Oi Frog… they all had to come up with some examples of their own which he found hilarious. I don’t teach primary though so might be way off xx

danishfootperil · 09/10/2021 18:27

Thank you xx

OP posts:
DriveInSaturday · 10/10/2021 11:29

I don't work in KS1 so I can't offer direct help, but I wouldn't do Brown Bear or Bear Hunt with Year 1. Brown Bear is not challenging enough and Bear Hunt, while lovely, is also a staple text of nursery and reception.

Look at the reading expectations for Year 1 and make sure that what you plan links to an aspect of it. Be explicit about what you are teaching - 'Today we are going to read this book, 'Oi Frog, by ???' and we are going to learn about rhyme.' (to use autumnkate's example).

Good luck.

It's too late for this interview, but in future it's fine to ask things like what books they have read recently so that you can avoid them - it also gives you an idea of what sort of level to go for.

thecatfromjapan · 16/10/2021 20:24

Are they going to have time for a re-write?
It's a very short amount of time, plus re-writes take preparation over several sessions - & surely many of them will have missed a great deal of school, so are they really all going to be able to write?

The best advice I ever had for interview lessons was to keep things as simple as possible. Simple, simple, simple - and engaging. You want them to learn something, to feel happy and confident sharing what the know/have learnt with you, and to give them lots of opportunities to show you where they're at/what their understanding is.

Definitely look at the year 1 objectives and pick a simple target. Then choose a great book - children's literature is so great because the language is often fabulous & engaging, scaffolded with brilliant pictures.

There are so many objectives and interesting language features. Rhymes are fun - & phonically interesting (will the children pick out how rhymes 'work' - with the first sound changing & the last sound remaining the same? It's tricky but enormously rewarding for young people).

Adjectives are always great for children this age. It's so crucial to build on their excitement and enrich language.

And grammar - those crucial full stops and capitals, especially for proper nouns.

You could read a story, then as a class 'correct' a (very, very short) letter from a character.

I would suggest really simplifying your expectations of what they can manage. They're very small and they don't know you. Think of different ways that they can engage & demonstrate what they know/their engagement, other than a big 'task' at the end.

Do you have time to visit a children's bookshop? The classic children's books are classic for a reason. I'd suggest looking through a selection and choosing one that really grabs you with its language/story.

thecatfromjapan · 16/10/2021 20:35

You know, we did a great grammar lesson with 'Owl Babies' during my PGCE, so I'm not sure that any book is 'too simple'. I think children's classics are amazingly rich. 😁
The Snail and the Whale is fab, Beegu is amazing (& hugely popular for teaching - but I think it's too early for it to have been used in a scheme of work for this group, yet!), The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch is fun (what could jump out of the basket? - inference), Handa's Surprise is another classic & lends itself to adjectives for the animals and fruit (although that's not ideal without a basket of fruit to support that).

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