Mark

How I teach children and young people who have autism

I have worked with many children with ASD (primary and secondary), including my own child. Being a parent of an autistic child helps me relate to the issues parents face. I have a calm and patient demeanor, which helps with providing learners with the support and space they need to build positive relationships. I create a learning environment, which promotes and celebrates success, whatever form that may take. Showing a genuine intrigue in a student’s interests can be a good starting point in forming positive relationships. I try to link the student’s interests to their learning and encourage them to be involved in the planning. By doing so, the students are more likely to engage in their learning and be successful.

How I teach children and young people Maths

I am trained in the maths mastery style of teaching which aims to develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts using concrete and pictorial aids. In addition, I am trained in the Precision Teaching method of planning, which aims to meet the needs of an individual child who is experiencing difficulty with acquiring or maintaining some skills. I use project or topic based learning for my teaching. This enables the student to understand the connection between their learning and the real world. An example might be to plan the building of a new football stadium or school. All the learning will then be linked to this project. I have experience of teaching primary and secondary students including Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs.

How I teach children and young people English

I trained as an Advanced Early Years teacher and gradually worked my way up the Key Stages which has given me a great insight as to how the teaching and learning of English progresses. I have experience of early years reading, including the teaching of Phonics. My early years teaching of reading and writing involves learning about books through pictures and discussing the picture. Creating stories through use of pictures and reading it to each other. This along with development of phonics will enable any student to progress into reading and comprehension of the text. For me the student has to have an interest in the subject they are reading so where possible I would find text relevant to the student’s interests. This is the same for writing. An creating writing tasks that focus on a student’s interest is key to engagement. I use project based learning for English so that the student understands the point, they experience in the real world.

How I teach children and young people who have concentration difficulties

I always ensure that I get to know children as individuals, so I can use this knowledge to create fun sessions that the children enjoy. This is an effective way to engage even reluctant learners in lessons, as well as create focus and an excitement for learning. I make the learning relevant to the real world through project based learning and linking the learning to the student’s interests. I am not afraid to halt lesson, if I feel it is in the student’s best interest, and have a break, play a game, change of scenery or talk about something different. It is also important to build up the time spent on a particular subject gradually so that they do not lose interest.

How I support children and young people who have low confidence

Helping students to boost their confidence and self-esteem is a key part of teaching. This is through providing learning that is engaging and gives a sense of achievement. Helping students to overcome self-doubt and to feel good about themselves is key in my teaching. I create nurturing environments where students can embrace challenges and grow in confidence. I build strong relationships with my students and understand their strengths and tailoring teaching methods fosters trust and open communication.