The majority of ITE students in Scotland are postgraduates with only one year to grasp the vast skills and knowledge required to become a primary teacher. Therefore, for many, school placement is a source of stress and worry. This book combines the information and support that students need to help them prepare for, enjoy and maximise the benefits of teaching placements for their professional development. It has been specifically written for the education system in Scotland, taking full account of the differences in practice and terminology that make English books of little use to trainees in Scotland.

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.

Focusing on the competence of teachers that underpins inclusive education seeking equal access to education for special needs children, this title examines teacher competence cultivation based on examples in China and excellent international experience. To give a clear picture of the context of inclusive education in China, the author first clarifies the relevant concepts and reviews the evolving policies and practices embodied in the “Learning in Regular Classrooms (LRC)” program. The study then constructs an analytical model of four key indicators that help evaluate the competence of teachers in inclusive education. Based on analysis of the influencing factors of teacher competence, the book elucidates how these factors work to determine teacher competence. Drawing on international experience, especially pre-service teacher cultivation in the US and in-service training in China, it introduces three major cultivation models and feasible suggestions and strategies to improve the competence of teachers in inclusion. This book will benefit researchers, professionals, and policymakers interested in inclusive education, special education, and teacher education.

This book charts the origins and development of teacher preparation in Scotland from 1872 onwards, covering key milestones in policy and practice, and looking ahead to the future. It is a truly comprehensive record of the historic, current and potential evolution of teacher preparation in Scotland.

This book includes full coverage of the content of professional studies modules and goes beyond to support trainees on placements and in their learning on the course.

School placements can be anxious and uncertain experiences for trainee teachers, and even for those with previous classroom experience a new school environment can be intimidating. This book is full of invaluable advice and practical suggestions that will help trainees prepare for, enjoy and make the most of this experience. It deals with the full range of issues, from finding out about the placement school to managing difficult behaviour on placement. This second edition is linked to the 2007 Standards for QTS and reflects recent documents and initiatives.