7.+Early+and+Middle+Years+Experience

During my short teaching career I have had a range of wonderful teaching experiences that have helped with my development in both Early Years Literacy and Numeracy strategies. These include:
 * EARLY YEARS **

-Working closely with the Literacy and Numeracy Co-ordinators at Sandringham Primary School and Grovedale Primary School. -Administering Observation Surveys and other forms of Assessment with reception children. -Administering Running Records. -Taking structured lessons in the Literacy Block (this was run a lot like the Early years literacy block in Australia) that included creating learning centre activities, guided reading groups (Using Ruth Miskin), small group focus lessons where children are grouped according to like needs and whole class share time. -Taking structured numeracy lessons where activities were, practical, hands on and relevant to the lives of the students. These lessons included small group focuses where children are like needs grouped, and these groups are fluid and change according to the students’ next point of need.



I have had many wonderful experiences in Middle Years classrooms especially teaching 5/6 this year, that have enabled me to develop key understandings in the areas of:
 * MIDDLE YEARS **

- Constant Assessment. - Rich assessment tasks that demonstrate understanding and put learning into context. - Teaching at the point of need. - Focused, explicit teaching for small groups. - Fluid groupings that move as the need is required. - Whole class sharing. - Individual work. - Extended work for particular students. (gifted and talented strategies) - Intervention and special assistance for some students. (booster classes) - Open ended tasks that encourage creativity and diverse ways of thinking. - Learning styles and individual needs. - Importance of multi-literacy classrooms. - Importance of the home - school relationships. - Importance of communication skills and building positive relationships. - Inclusion of Thinking Oriented Curriculum including De Bono’s six thinking hats, Habits of Mind and Gardiner’s Multiple Intelligence. - Development of thinking strategies. - Importance of learning experiences that are outside of the classroom and relate to the students lives. - Ability to ‘think outside the square’ to achieve maximum student engagement. - Understanding of growing needs of adolescents.