1. Enhancing skills for subject specialist mentors

2. Aims:
Consider basic guidelines to teaching observations and discuss what we would look for in subject specific observations
Analyse the subject specialist observation form
Watch video and complete the subject specialist observation form
Evaluate the session

3. Teaching Observation Guidelines:
Make your trainees feel safe
Give them control
Be prepared
Blend in
Notes
Set aside time
Feel safe – most teachers, never mind trainees, find it threatening to be observed – remember what it was like!
Control – it should be up to the trainee to book in the observation with you and let them suggest which class to come to. Let them tell you where they want you to sit etc.
Prepared – think about what you are going to be looking for, and even talk this through with your trainee
Blend in – arrive before the session starts so you can sit where it’s suitable. Sit where you are not in the trainee’s eye line or obvious to the students involvled.
Notes – Try to be unobtrusive when taking notes, as it can be offputting to the trainee.
Set aside time – try to set aside enough time to observe without having to rush off. If there’s time give verbal feedback immediately or as soon after the session as you can.

4. Some words that are linked with quality teaching:
Knowledgeable on subject matter
Up-to-date knowledge
Humour
Formative feedback
Effective questioning
Inspiring
High expectations
Praise and reward
Passion
Active learning
Enthusiasm
Differentiation
Creativity
Engaging students
Can you think of any other words that you use?
These notes are actually taken from an Ofsted document discussing good and oustanding teaching
What other words do you use?

5. Have a list of what you want to look for, for example:
Classroom environment
Aims and objectives
Recap and plenary
Learner participation
Handling lateness
Use of specialist resources
Assessment for learning
Range of T&L strategies suitable for subject
Make your own list – this is purely an example of what you could look for

6. And questions to ask yourself:
Are there aspects that could be improved to promote learning?
Is the trainee teaching at the correct level?
How many learners excel?
For those struggling is it due to subject understanding?
Is the classroom laid out to support learning within the subject area?
Were the resources subject specific and up-to-date?
How did the learners respond?
Sometimes it’s useful to ask questions you want answering before you go into the session. You could write these down then you have something to look at and work to.

7. DVD and completion of form
Watch the DVD and make notes of anything you observe, eg. about the mentor, how the lesson progresses, learning checks, T&L activities, behaviour management, differentiation, introduction and conclusion, students etc.
Individually complete the blank subject specialist observation form and discuss in groups
Feedback from groups

8. Background to DVD
Pre-Service PGCE trainee teaching basic sports to NEETS students in an FE college
Mentor undertaking subject specialist observation
Mentor Coordinator monitoring subject specialist observation

9. Mentor Meetings: Reminder…
Each trainee will need at least six mentor meetings per year
Some meetings will be based on feedback from the observations
Other tutorials will be general issues based upon the teaching of the specialism

10. Questions?