How To Be An Outstanding Primary School Teacher

What is meant by outstanding teaching? What makes the best teachers stand out from the rest? How can I develop my own practice to become an outstanding teacher myself? Whether you are training to become a primary school teacher or you are newly qualified and striving to improve your practice, this fully updated second edition of Becoming an Outstanding Primary School Teacher will support, inform and inspire you on your quest for excellence. Throughout, Russell Grigg draws on theory, research and case studies of real classroom practice to discuss what it takes to become an outstanding primary teacher today. This bestselling guide has been comprehensively revised to reflect the latest changes to the curriculum, including the National Curriculum in England for 2014 and Scotland’s Building Curriculum for Excellence. It has also widened its scope to appeal to trainee and serving teachers, reflecting the new Teachers’ Standards. Key topics include: defining and measuring outstanding teaching; understanding the theory, nature and scope of the curriculum; developing thinking skills in the classroom; understanding and meeting individual learning needs; using ICT to improve pedagogy; behaviour management; monitoring, assessment, recording and reporting. Becoming an Outstanding Primary Teacher will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students, including those on school-based programmes such as Teach First, as well as more experienced teachers seeking inspiration.

This book features lots of easy-to-introduce activities and techniques that will propel satisfactory and good lessons into the outstanding category - not just when being observed, but all the time. And the best news? This book tells you how to do it without spending lots more time planning, researching and preparing 'out of this world' lessons. There are dozens of starters and plenaries and useful websites, and the author's own website offers resources to save you even more time. A must for all primary school teachers who want to become outstanding, not just for the inspectors but for every child they teach.

This book features lots of easy-to-introduce activities and techniques that will propel satisfactory and good lessons into the outstanding category - not just when being observed, but all the time. And the best news? This book tells you how to do it without spending lots more time planning, researching and preparing 'out of this world' lessons. There are dozens of starters and plenaries and useful websites, and the author's own website offers resources to save you even more time. A must for all primary school teachers who want to become outstanding, not just for the inspectors but for every child they teach.

If you have ever asked yourself “How do I become an outstanding teacher?” then this is the book for you. Combining state-of-the-art practices with deep insight from many years’ experience of teaching, the book develops and explains how to change practice and attain excellence as a teacher. Seven core themes are embedded in a four level hierarchy of practice that guides the reader from the fundamentals of successful teaching to the highest levels of accomplishment. The book offers: • A ‘one-stop-shop’ providing a structured and supported approach to becoming an outstanding teacher • A unique action planning feature at the end of each level, creating a platform for your personal development • A range of guided reflection activities, to help develop your skills and understanding of the many aspects of teaching The unique focus on your individual development and creating an authentic identity as the foundation for excellence makes Outstanding Primary Teaching and Learning essential reading for the every trainee teacher or those wishing to enhance practice. “There are a few educational texts that you do not want to put down, and this is one! The book will encourage, motivate and inspire trainee teachers, recently qualified, early career and established teachers to reach the heights of their potential. If becoming an outstanding teacher seems like an unattainable goal, this book will convince the reader otherwise. The author speaks to the reader, coaxing and encouraging, as if she was there by their side. She follows her own advice by creating innovative and stimulating sessions, but in text form. The accessible structure with reflection sections, activities, prompts, checklists, further reading, and thought provoking quotes and extracts, provides an interactive resource, for all those who aspire to be the best possible teacher for their pupils. In simple terms, an outstanding book, that provides a pathway through the minefield that education can be.” Dr. Tracy Whatmore, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, UK “An easy to read book with sound practical advice underpinned by theory which every trainee teacher or early career teacher can dip into for guidance. It captures the essence of primary teaching through the metaphor of a coat and I’m sure readers will adapt their coats accordingly as they journey through the book.” Professor Vini Lander, Edge Hill University, UK “Outstanding Primary Teaching and Learning” is an absolute must-read for teachers of any age or experience who would like to become more outstanding in their practice. Written from a unique and highly reflective perspective of pedagogy as an art, a proactive and inspiring approach is taken to journey the reader along a personalised path, enabled through highly constructive and reflective opportunities. Sally Hawkins inspires with her clear passion to primary teaching and learning, and considers all aspects of that which it takes to develop “outstandingness”. With her methodical yet holistic approach to pedagogy, “Outstanding Primary Teaching and Learning” takes a thoughtful and academic approach to deconstruct the constantly evolving machine that is primary education, into useable ideas and concepts. As a current PGCE student, I have found this to be an enormous asset to both my reflective practice in the classroom, but also through the contextualising of a complex and ever-changing education system.” Alexander S Phipps, Postgraduate Student, Institute for Education, The University of Chichester, UK “Although this book is aimed at trainee primary school teachers, it will be equally useful for secondary school and more experienced teachers. By contextualising her examples around the analogy of ‘the perfect jacket’, Sally clearly outlines the complexities and challenges of modern teaching. However, through the systematic approach that she adopts and the examples she gives, she makes these challenges both achievable and desirable. She de-bunks some of the myths around ‘outstanding’ teaching and provides readers with clear frameworks and reference points from which they can evaluate and develop their own teaching. Sally’s writing style is both personal and humorous, which will engage and motivate busy teachers. She seamlessly combines the latest theories and applies them to classroom practice. By including regular reflection tasks, this book can become a valuable accompaniment to trainees regular mentor meetings. Those who engage with Sally’s questions and follow her recommendations, will develop a deep understanding of the role of the teacher and will develop a substantial toolkit to draw upon in the classroom.” Mark Bagust, Associate Headteacher, Cantell School, UK

Being prepared to teach every subject in the curriculum is an essential skill for all primary school teachers, and good lesson planning is a critical tool for coping with the workload, as well as for wowing your pupils, your colleagues, and Ofsted inspectors. In his new book, Stephen Lockyer provides a breakdown of lesson planning strategies, plus a range of practical and original ideas to use with your class. Using real primary classroom anecdotes, as well as helpful diagrams, tick lists and tips on how to implement planning techniques day-to-day, Lesson Planning for Primary School Teachers is a complete toolbox for primary school teachers who want to develop their key skills and strategies for lesson planning.

This book is an essential companion for all primary trainee teachers, whatever their training route. It focuses on the school-based experience and provides both practical strategies and opportunities for reflection, so trainees are challenged to critically evaluate their learning in order to improve attainment and ultimately succeed while in their school settings. The book reflects current educational policy and embraces key national priority areas including behaviour, inclusion and the teaching of phonics and early mathematics. Other chapters look at professional partnerships, planning and assessment, employability and, crucially, how to move from good to outstanding teaching. Case studies enliven the text and present a range of perspectives for consideration, while critical questions engage the reader and promote a deeper understanding of the text. This second edition of Primary School Placements has been fully revised throughout and in particular provides an increased focus on evidence-based practice and is referenced to the latest national curriculum.

This book is an essential companion for all primary trainees in schools, whatever their training route. It provides both practical strategies and opportunities for reflection, so trainees are challenged to critically evaluate their experiences in order to improve their attainment and ultimately succeed in placement. The book covers trainee placements from their onset through to completion, whether on a traditional training route or an alternative such as Teach First. It reflects current educational policy and embraces key national priority areas including behavior, inclusion and the teaching of phonics and early mathematics. Other chapters look at professional partnerships, planning and assessment, employability and, crucially, how to move from good to outstanding teaching. Case studies enliven the text and present a range of perspectives for consideration, while critical questions engage the reader and promote a deeper understanding of the text.