A guide for literacy, numeracy and ESOL teacher educators
Example 2 (from the Birmingham Core Skills Partnership - see
www.niace.org.uk/projects/RETRO)
Role of the mentor
What is expected:
• To allow the trainee to observe their teaching sessions
• To advise and counsel on aspects of pedagogy
• To review lesson plans before a teaching session
• To observe the trainee
• To give 24 hours notice of any formal observation
• To check lesson plans before the teaching
• To allow the trainee to teach unsupervised when it is agreed that they are competent
to do so
When giving feedback on teaching, mentors need to consider:
• The adequacy of preparation
• Context and relevance of the lesson to the scheme of work
• Objective setting
• Level of approach
• Appropriateness of learning aids and resources
• Appropriates of teaching strategies and methods
• The logic and structure of the lesson
• Communication skills
• Questioning skills
• Classroom management
• Assessment skills
• The appropriateness, accuracy and currency of the content
• A pace that maintains learners' interest and ensures their engagement
What isn't expected
• To ‘hand over' classes to the trainee from the outset
• To mark the trainee's assignments
• To summatively assess the trainee
• To deal with problems beyond the remit of the mentor
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