Induction

All trainees should have received their induction to the school. If not, it must be completed this week. As part of this process, trainees need to familiarise themselves with the content of the policies listed on pages 6 and 7 of the Professional Development Journal and follow the guidance on page 5. This is in addition to the school’s own induction processes.

This Week

The Weekly Expectations are outlined in the handbook (p.34). Please do remember that these are for guidance and CMs should guide trainees through them at a pace that is appropriate for their learning.

If not already done so, trainees need to remember to complete the Policies and Procedures exercise in the Professional Development Journal (p.5) to familiarise themselves with the school’s policies and guidance, especially on safeguarding and e-safety. Pages 6 and 7 of the PDJ should be printed out, completed and signed by trainees and CMs, as it was for SP1.

Weekly Theme

This week’s theme is Questioning and Modelling. This week’s FIA target will have been set at the end of Week 1 (17-21 Nov), during the Weekly Review Meeting, and should be the focus of this week’s formal lesson observation.

There are also two activities for the trainees to complete this week which can be found on this page. The third activity is optional but it is suggested trainees complete this with their Class Mentor if they didn’t do so in SP1.

Video-based Reflection

As a reminder, all formal lesson observations must be recorded on the devices provided by the university. Further details can be found in Appendix F of the handbook (p.32) and in this post under ‘Formal Lesson Observation’.

Trainees can select any aspect of their practice for both teaching moments 1 and 2 because there is no placement theme next week. The FIA (for week 3) will similarly not relate to a placement theme but must be developed as a result of the teaching moment 2 reflection.

However, trainees who are going to Kenya should select teaching moment 2 on an aspect of adaptive teaching and set a FIA from it for Week 4, which is the week when they are back.

In reflecting on their teaching moments, trainees should do so using the ‘Why?’ Challenge as outlined at the mentor briefing and the placement lecture. Further details can be found on this page.

A special update will be posted shortly containing further details about this week’s reflection like it was done for last week. It is hoped that making separate posts will prevent trainees from missing important information related to completing a video-based reflection.

Weekly Review

Please refer to pages 8 and 9 of the placement handbook for full details. The specifics for this week’s agenda are as follows:

1. Discussion about the reflection on the targets trainees have been working on: This will include discussion about the FIA on questioning and modelling.
2. Discuss the trainee’s teaching moments: Teaching moment 2 will relate to any aspect of practice unless the trainee is going to Kenya, in which case it should focus on an aspect of adaptive teaching.
3. Identify the FIA and action plan (and other targets): The FIA for week 3 should stem from teaching moment 2. Other targets can be set as appropriate but all must be achievable within the week and for those trainees in KS1 should continue to set targets in the teaching of phonics if still appropriate to do so
4. Compare the trainee’s teaching moments with those of the CM

Target Setting During SP2

As a reminder, all targets and action plans need to be achievable within the week and each week a Focus Improvement Area is identified (see The Weekly Review on p.8 of the handbook).

Targets and action plans should include addressing areas within:

• the Preparedness to Teach Survey
• the Trainee Progress Tracker
• the trainee’s subject knowledge (if appropriate)
• areas of practice observed by the CM this week

Planning

Trainees should start to become familiar with any planning from which they will be creating lesson plans. Please could CMs therefore take time during this week to model the planning process to their trainees.

Reminders

• Update posts: All posts can be viewed directly on the updates page.
• Briefing Video: CMs unable to attend the briefing meeting can view it on the briefing video page.
• iPads: These should be used each week to record the formal lesson observation. More details can be found here.
• Professional Development Activities: Trainees continue to complete the PDAs. Click here for an electronic reference copy of the PDJ.
• Primary Entitlement Document: CMs and trainees should read the Primary Entitlement Document.