Teaching Assistant free essay sample

Describe how you might contribute to a lesson given to a group of seven year old children learning to play percussion instruments. As a Teaching Assistant my role is to maximise learning, create a safe and positive environment and minimise behavioural problems. To achieve these aims communication with the class teacher is essential and knowledge of the learning objectives that are to be achieved should be understood. Prior to a lesson where children are taught to play percussion instruments one of my roles will be to set up the learning environment ensuring the classroom is clean, safe and tidy. The desks and chairs will need to be laid out in a manner suitable to allow the instruments to be used safely and correctly. The required number of instruments should be checked and all instruments should be cleaned and ensured that they are safe and in working order. Good preparation beforehand will save time and prevent boredom therefore minimising behavioural problems. For searching the internet; an activity could be carried out with the class whereby the class come up with a list of suitable search terms, having entered the each terms, the teacher and groups compare the results of the search returns from the different search strings. To encourage independence in the development of ICT skills the teaching assistant will need to select and use appropriate learning packages, access information and follow instructions, skill might include. Shutting down use of appropriate software packages  accessing and using learning programmes accessing information files/CD roms/internet using electronic communication I. E. e-mails, fax and video conferencing. The teaching assistant can support the culture of independent learning in the pupil by; providing an appropriate level of assistant to enable pupils to experience a sense of achievement. Maintaining self-confidence and encourage self help skill in the use of ICT having the ability to operate ICT equipment s afely using ICT equipment effectively as a learning resource.