To consider the working with support staff

Aim

To consider the working with support staff

Evidence and reflection

A large scale research project found evidence that, despite much innovative and effective practice, students who received the most support from TAs consistently made less progress than similar students who received less TA support.

Reflecting on your own experiences, consider why this might be the case.

Extension

Considering the ways in which TAs are employed in your school, do you think that there are grounds for making changes? What are your reasons for your conclusions?

More in this chapter

• To examine the classroom environment
• To plan resources to support specific learning activities
• To produce a classroom plan
• To evaluate routine activities to maximise time for teaching and learning
• To monitor an individual student to estimate active learning time
• To evaluate the variety of learning objectives, tasks and activities
• To consider the affordances and constraints of a particular piece of software
• To analyse the involvement of students in whole class parts of lessons
• To consider the pros and cons of group working
• To consider grouping strategies from the perspective of the students
• To consider the involvement of parents and carers in the classroom and school