Sitting with the 'Backbenchers'

As someone who, (given the chance), always tried to sit in the back row of most lessons, it is amusing to find myself still loitering at the back of the class. However now there is a different motive, as it now provides the best vantage point for observing the whole range of  class teaching at WTA. 

Sitting with 'the backbenchers', is also the perfect position for this fairly nosy person, to watch both teacher and students. In addition, being able to watch an immense range of subjects and topics within just one day is fascinating. Whether Physics A' level, General Paper for S6 or Geography and English in the lower classes, lesson observation is a great spectator sport. With a whole new focus on more interactive lessons and group work, watching one teacher effectively control a class of 100+ pupils is sometimes a joy to watch. 

Within one single lesson, the competent teacher may be juggling using a laptop, textbooks, answering questions, setting up and supervising a practical - not to mention giving written notes. A less competent teacher may be battling against group boredom and mass teenage apathy, which is never fun. Unforgettable lessons over the last term include one Chemistry teacher actually setting off a fire extinguisher to demonstrate lab safety (everyone jumped out of their skin!) and a riotous debate in English on leadership with S1 students giving energetic and fiery presentations on their inspiring political role-models.

watch out for that fire extinguisher..... Teacher Daniel is about to do something memorable! 

Occasionally lessons are memorable for the wrong reasons: a low-swooping bat, zooming around during Geography, totally ignored by everyone except me. In one S1 English lesson, a girl staged a dramatic collapsing faint to avoid admitting she hadn't done her work, so she was carried out of the class. Her friends supported her story... but only until she miraculously revived in time for lunch!

Most WTA teachers are active and positive about the new changes in teaching. For some, it is an easy transition after completing teacher training; many of them are excited about the new developments. However for others, it is a big challenge having to embrace new skills in technology,in class management, to deal with new assessments, new books and completely different report-writing. Each lesson observation continues with a feedback session with each teacher to share ideas and discuss next steps into this whole new educational world.

Hiding in the back row isn't always completely successful, as sometimes I am still phased by unexpected questions directed at me. Please describe the difference between smog/fog/mist and cloud? What is a constitutional monarchy? Can you an example of a surd...? Why are English tenses so confusing? All good questions, but very often, this backbencher gets found out yet again...