Eteach ECT Community Newsletter 22nd May

Welcome! This fortnight we are exploring what it means to be a reflective practitioner, looking at how to support EAL learners and searching for teachers to work a four-day week (no, it's not too good to be true!)

How to become a reflective practitioner

What is a reflective practitioner?

All good teachers should reflect on their practice from time to time and adapt their teaching based on their findings. We often have the opportunity to do this during lesson observations and appraisals but it isn't always common in our everyday practice. Being a reflective practitioner means making a conscious effort to look back and analyse your teaching in order to improve and develop your skills as an educator, and this can really allow you progress and thrive, meaning that your students will benefit immensely.?

What are the benefits?

Teachers who are constantly reflecting on their practice are therefore constantly updating and improving their practice. This is so important for educators in today's ever-changing society.?Reflective practice allows teachers to adjust and respond to any issues that may arise, and create a more positive learning environment by adapting their teaching to accommodate factors that may influence their students' learning. It also promotes reflective learning and the idea of being a life-long learner to pupils, meaning that they will be more adaptable individuals who are open to working on their own personal development.?

Steps to becoming a reflective practitioner

One of the best ways to start your reflective practitioner journey is to keep a journal of your thoughts about each lesson, or even each teaching day. This doesn't have to be written down formally - it can just be notes on your phone or a quick Post-It. Make sure you record your thoughts and feelings about what went well and what could be improved, as well as how the students reacted to your teaching.?

Another method of reflective practice is recording your lesson (cringe!) and watching it back. Although this may be uncomfortable, as so many of us hate watching ourselves on video, it is a really useful tool to observe your strengths and possible areas for development. Similarly, you can invite a colleague to observe you and have a discussion about how it went afterwards. Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone can be beneficial and lead to great professional development opportunities.?

What are you looking for when reflecting?

Whichever methods you choose to reflect, it helps to have a set of criteria to look for, like a checklist for effective teaching. Look for factors such as: levels of engagement in pupils, the amount of misconceptions throughout the lesson, any possible barriers to learning, opportunities for participation, the amount of pupil talk versus teacher talk, the level of questioning and the number of pupils who met the learning objective. Analysing these factors and thinking about how you can improve next time will allow you to reflect in an impactful way and aid professional development.?

It's worth it - I promise!

Amongst the busy workload and craziness of school life, it can be difficult to make time for purposeful reflection. However, if you make it part of your everyday practice it will soon become second nature. Start with short reflections in a notebook or on your phone and build up to recording yourself. But, remember - reflective practice means nothing if you don't actively take steps to analyse and improve, so be sure to use your findings effectively and prepare to feel your confidence as a teacher grow.

Classroom Secrets

Classroom Secrets?is such an amazing hub for EYFS and primary teachers, with both free resources and membership packages available to download as much as you like. Founded with the aim of reducing workload, everything is designed by teachers for teachers. Each resource offers differentiated options for pupils, created in line with the National Curriculum objectives. There is also early morning work, practice SATs papers and printables for displays.

Classroom Secrets Kids is also now live, with online games and activities for primary-aged children and a weekly online learning timetable to structure periods of home learning.

There are individual membership options and school membership packages, starting at ￡1.48 per pupil per year. With a blog and a weekly teachers podcast also included for free, Classroom Secrets really is a one-stop shop for primary educators.

Fancy working a four-day week?

How would you like to work a four-day week with full pay? It may sound too good to be true, but we have an amazing school in Wigan who have a number of secondary roles to start in September. The school is Ofsted rated 'Good' and they are committed to ensuring that all pupils reach their full potential through high-quality learning experiences. There is a big emphasis on creating a positive working atmosphere for all and senior leaders are keen to provide opportunities for teachers to build on their professional development. The school would like to get the ball rolling and they are beginning to interview for these roles this week. Please get in touch ASAP if you are interested by emailing [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch to guide you through the application process.?This is such an exciting opportunity!

Teaching strategies for EAL pupils

Learners with English as an additional language (EAL) face the huge challenge of not only meeting the objectives in the school?curriculum, but learning a new language whilst doing it. Most children cope with this amazingly well and manage to pick up the English language very quickly, but there will always be barriers to learning. Here are some tips on how to meet the needs of learners with EAL:

Use visual aids

It's important to use images and videos to reinforce ideas and concepts in lessons, which will help EAL learners understand lesson content without having to understand the language. Simple steps such as labelling everyday items around the classroom will allow them to extend their English vocabulary quickly.?

Put things in context

This one actually benefits all learners. Putting new concepts into context helps our understanding of how to apply skills in real-life situations. For learners with EAL, this is essential for them to make connections and therefore comprehend what they are being taught.

Encourage group work

Children learn quickly when they are interacting with their peers. Group work or partner talk can allow EAL pupils to practise their speaking skills in front of a smaller audience, allowing them to grow in confidence before speaking in front of the whole class. Pairing EAL learners with 'role models' who can demonstrate effective speaking is beneficial in terms of learning the language and it is also a good chance for new pupils to develop friendships and learn about what life is like in England.?

Allow for misunderstandings

It can be frustrating not understanding the language being used in the classroom and EAL students may have a tendency to misbehave as a way of dealing with this. There will also inevitably be misunderstandings due to the language barrier. Be patient and try to empathise with how they might be feeling. Reassure and encourage them frequently to build confidence and develop resilience to the challenges they are facing.?

Provide appropriate challenge

Some teachers might assume that because a child cannot speak English, they need support in other areas of the curriculum. It is crucial to assess pupils' understanding accurately in order to tailor your teaching to their abilities and provide appropriate challenge. Every child deserves to reach their full potential, regardless of the barriers they face.?

Celebrate their home country

Although you might think it is beneficial for EAL learners to practise speaking English as much as possible, they should be encouraged to

use their home language and share information about their culture with the class. They should be given the chance to celebrate their home country wherever possible so that pupils are encouraged to respect their language and identity. It is very important that you remind pupils to pronounce names correctly and be respectful of any differences.?

Communicate with home

Just like any of the students in your care, you should make an effort to communicate with parents and carers as frequently as possible. You may have a member of staff who can translate in your school and there are external services available to provide translation in some areas. There is, of course, also Google Translate. Share any successes or concerns either in-person or through letter/email and provide a list of useful resources that can help them support their child at home.?

Applying for your next teaching role? Eteach can help!?

We know that many of you are in the process of applying for jobs at the moment. If you need any support with finding roles, writing your personal statement or coming up with ideas for interview, please do get in touch through our Facebook group or email us at [email protected].

Join our ECT Community Facebook group