Teaching Assistant - Teaching Expertise

Semantic knowledge is the ability to understand narrative. This includes the ability to understand the meanings of words in different contexts, as well as a knowledge of the meaning of relationships between words. The activities listed here will help develop semantic knowledge

Attachment theory is explored here by Steve Mynard, who summarises some of the research and suggests ways that you could use this in your setting

The Effective Early Learning (EEL) Project, aims to improve the quality of children’s learning in early years settings. Pauline Cox explains the project's aims. read more

Pauline Cox explains what was involved in taking part in the Effective Early Learning (EEL) Project

Phonological awareness is the ability to be aware of sounds within words and to be able to break down words into syllables and into phonemes. The activities listed here can help develop phonological awareness and can be used in lessons for the benefit of all children

Visual discrimination is the ability to recognise similarities and differences between visual images. The activities listed here can help develop visual discrimination skills and can be used in lessons to benefit all children

Visual memory is the ability to recall information that has been presented visually. The activities listed here can help develop visual memory and can be incorporated into a lesson for the benefit of all pupils

Auditory memory is the ability to recall information that has been given orally. The activities listed here can help develop auditory memory and can be incorporated into lessons for the benefit of all pupils

Listening is the ability to attend to sounds across a range of stimuli. Use these activities to help pupils with listening and attention difficulties

Word finding is the ability to access vocabulary from the long-term memory. These activities can help develop word finding skills and can be used in lessons for the benefit of all pupils

Auditory discrimination is the ability to detect similarities and differences when listening to sounds. The activities listed here can be used to strengthen auditory discrimination skills and can be incorporated into a lesson to benefit all children

Spatial awareness is the ability to be aware of oneself in space. Awareness of spatial relationships is the ability to see two or more objects in relation to each other and to oneself. These activities will help develop spatial awareness skills and can be used in lessons for the benefit of all pupils

Rob Sanderson of Wigan Schools Library Service offers some practical advice for building an early years library. read more

Former head Roger Smith looks at ways of promoting creativity in schools, arguing that the concept needs to have its place at the centre of the curriculum. read more

Visual perception is the ability to recognise, interpret and organise visual images. The activities listed here will help develop visual perception skills and can be incorporated into lessons to benefit all pupils

Visual comprehension is the ability to listen to information that has been given orally, then remember it, understand it and use the information across a range of tasks. These activities can help develop skills in this area, and can be incorporated into lessons for the benefit of all pupils

On Martin Luther King Day, suggestions from Year 8 and 9 students at Benjamin Britten High School. read more

Many schools would say their students have a voice, but do they really? What about at Whalley Range? read more

This seasonal assembly for infants looks at the carol service or carol concert – an annual fixture in many schools

Use all the openings possible to encourage your children to express themselves through the written word, says Lynn Cousins. read more

The Brain and Learning. read more

What is inside a learner's head? read more

Angela Youngman finds out about a scheme to improve communication in early years settings through the use of sign language

The environment around you can have a profound effect on how you feel and function and whether you feel creative, focused and relaxed. Creating an energetic environment around you can have positive effects on your health,efficiency, enjoyment and speed of completing certain tasks. read more

Writing frames undoubtedly have their uses, but they can also limit the creative talents of the more able, writes Frank Bruce read more

From a selection of teaching tips by Clinton Lamprecht. read more

The human brain learns best when it has a variety of ways to take in new information. The key is to provide children with a smorgasbord of methods to sample new information, because the brain searches for novelty.

Susan Norman explains non-conscious learning. Do you know what's going on in your classroom when your back's turned? Or even when it isn't? read more

Restorative Justice (RJ) is an alternative approach to behaviour and relationship management in schools

Traditionally, teaching used to primarily teach pupils and then test them. The 'chalk and talk' methods and 'auditory modes' of instruction have now been widely discredited. In fact, one of the main reasons why some schools fail their OFSTED reports is because the conventional teaching methods they adopt do not meet pupils' learning needs.

Is Your Teaching Meeting Children's Learning Needs? read more

Improving your time management skills means being aware of the things that eat into your time and prevent you getting on with the important and urgent tasks. read more

Build a sense of community responsibility and belonging, supported by reconciliation and the identification of positive ways of resolving difficulties and tensions. read more

An alternative approach to behaviour management

Andy Bowman reflects upon some of the learning preferences he has observed in his class, and discusses the steps he and his colleagues have taken to begin to support these

Mark McKergow explains how to develop soundtracks for your classroom – and highlights the benefits read more

If pupils feel safe, secure and, above all, happy at school, they are less likely to play truant and the atmosphere is more likely to be conducive to learning. read more

10 Ways to Promote a Calm Classroom. read more

Susan Norman suggests ways of influencing students' behaviour from a NLP perspective

September can be a scary time of year if you are a newly qualified teacher (NQT) who is facing your own class, sometimes for the first time ever. This article suggests 5 simple ways to impact upon your new class

Sometimes, regardless of how much effort we put into planning, stimulating and rewarding, we will still come across the pupil who is determined to disrupt at all costs. In this instance, conflict is probably unavoidable and will have to be confronted. read more

Andy Bowman explores strategies to begin to develop independence and resourcefulness in young learners. read more

Music can be used as themain activity in the classroom todeliver subject content, as it is motivating and inspiring. Here are some practical ideas from Sarah Todd, an AST at Stanchester School near Yeovil. read more

Sadly, the number of children with back pain is increasing. In recent years, growing interest has spurred studies that support this worrying trend. Tessa Hicks explains how teachers can help protect their pupils from unnecessary pain. read more

Considering the carrot or the stick: which incentives are you giving? read more

Linda Trapnell examines the impact of TOC on playground behaviour. read more

A new review group has been set up to recommend ways of: read more

Some key findings from research on how teachers can use groups to boost young people's achievement read more

In her final article on how teachers use emotions, teacher trainer Susan Gibbs discusses why emotional safety is so important in enabling children and young people to learn. read more

Want to inject some freshness into the learning space? Richard Churches and Rogert Terry show to make a real difference in your classroom read more