Our Fortnight Working with BSME Schools
Wednesday & Thursday 22nd & 23rd February 2017 Pearling Season International School, Doha Day 1: Teaching Assistant Training Day - Communication A full day of workshops focusing on establishing great communication with children, teachers and other TAs. With role-play activities, sharing strategies for remembering key information the day was highly interactive. PSI School had invited TAs to attend from Gulf English School, Hayat Universal Bilingual School and Newton International School making the training not only more cost effective but also adding a diverse mix of TAs with broad experiences. TAs left with ideas for motivating learners using growth mindset strategies and positive interaction skills. Day 2: Teaching Assistant Training Day - Being a Brilliant TA: Outstanding Support in the Classroom With the same delegates from Day 1 we could now build on the communication skills developed during the previous day to focus on the TAs role in developing consistency in teaching and learning strategies, positive behaviour management and assessment for learning. TAs left the day with ideas to improve their understanding in the rationale behind teachers’ planning, quality questioning techniques and the ability to lead powerful learning conversations. 'The presenter was amazing!' 'Thank you for giving very clear and useful tips to be a super TA' Monday & Tuesday 27th & 28th February 2017 St. Christopher’s School, Bahrain Two Days of Audit & Consultancy Prior to the visit key paperwork had been reviewed including Teaching Assistant job descriptions, handbooks, existing CPD programme and performance management documentation. The two days then focused on observing TAs working in the classroom, meetings with key personnel to consider how the role of the TA could be developed further, how teachers improve their work with TAs and next steps for CPD including supporting the school in delivering elements with resources they already have in house. The two days ended with a feedback meeting to present and discuss findings with the Senior Leadership Team. A full report and recommendations then followed a few days later. "We have thoroughly enjoyed your visit. Excellent support & advice from the TA College." Wednesday & Thursday 1st & 2nd March 2017 Nadeen School, Bahrain Day 1: Audit & Consultancy Observations of Teaching Assistants in the classroom, with particular focus on their role and the impact they are making to teaching and learning. Discussions with Key Stage Leaders regarding the expectations of the Teaching Assistants followed by feedback and next step discussion with the Senior Leadership Team. Day 2: Audit led Training Day From the information collected during day one, the training day focussed on building consistency in the classroom, leading learning conversations and quality questioning. The day also focused on structuring the support given to learners, knowing how to support, when to support and the language to use to develop independence. Nadeen School invited other TAs from British School of Bahrain, Al Wisam School and St. Christopher’s School to attend to training. This added good quality discussion and a great balance to the group. "simply, the best training course I've ever been on!" Friday 3rd March Meeting with the Lead Teaching Assistant from Dhahran Grammar School in preparation for our visit to Saudi Arabia next month.