This is the Introduction to Assignment #1

1. PGCE – Primary
Assignment 1 - 711697
Reflections on Teaching and Learning
in The Primary School

2. Assignment 771697

3. Aims for the session
I. To give an outline overview of the assignment
II. To consider some core ideas about pedagogy
III. To consider some core ideas about teaching and learning
IV. To have a clear ideas about what we are doing including
I. An outline for the assignment
II. Where to find source materials
III. Where to find support
Assignment 771697

4. On the table …
I. Assessment Guidance Notes
II. Planning Grid
III. Flowchart
IV. Sticky notes
Assignment 771697

5. Outline
This is a 5000 word assignment which asks your to
critically reflect on teaching and learning in either
English or mathematics*. You need to think about the
wider epistemology (theories of knowledge) and the
pedagogic ontologies (world views about learning).
You will then reflect, using a chosen model, about how
this ‘plays out’ in your classroom (or classrooms in
which you are observing / engaging) and how your
work impacts on your own thinking and learning.
Assignment 771697
* If you have chosen English for Assignment #1 you will need to focus on
mathematics for Assignment #2 and vice versa.

6. Reminder: Expectations for level 7
Criticality
Not just describing but using evidence, building
argument and exploring limitations.
Analytical
What is the range of literature / evidence on a
subject? Where is the focus / weight of evidence?
Methodological
What is the quality of the literature / evidence? Is
is valid / reliable?
Assignment 771697

7. Assignment 771697

8. Reminder: Expectations for level 7
Wider Literature
Looking for a breadth and a depth of literature –
for the highest grades you are looking for regular
multiple citations to show wider reading.
International literature (be aware of limitations)
adds to and deepens the quality of your study.
Look at the dates unless you are dealing with
“classical” or “key” texts you should only be using
literature which is 20xx and more probably 201x.
Assignment 771697

9. Reminder: Expectations for level 7
Constructed Argument
You assignment has a given structure but make
sure you are supporting your arguments. Watch
out for:
• Assertions – unsupported statements
• Generalisations – “all” “every”
• Anecdotes – ‘this happened to me so …’
Look to created a narrative ‘flow’ with your
assignment. First person is permitted.
Assignment 771697

10. Reminder: Expectations for level 7
Situated
The core of the programme is reflective practice so make sure
that your own practice is reflected in the assignment – refer to
incidents / examples of practice in your own institution(s) /
classroom(s).
Referencing
Use the reference guide provided (UoH – Harvard)
DO NOT use another referencing style. All sources in the
references MUST be cited.
SPAG
Read and re-read (ask a friend) to check for Spelling, Punctuation
and Grammar – ALL teachers are teachers of English.
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11. Reaching for the top …
Assignment 771697

12. Assignment 771697
Short discussion on
your tables / groups
about what we have
covered – any questions
/ concerns?

13. Questions?
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14. The Assignment: Overview
Introduction: A brief outline of your situation and identification
of the topic you are going to cover (more later).
Literature Review: An analysis of the policy and practice literature pertaining to
your subject choice area. This should cover expectations, best practice, ways of
teaching and learning.
Reflective Model: A brief critical description of the model you have chosen to use
and why you have chosen this as the appropriate model.
Application: An description of two(+) cycles of learning focused on the chosen
topic
Critical Analysis: A critical exploration, using the chosen reflective model, on what
you have learned about teaching and learning in the chosen area.
Conclusion: Sum up your arguments and critically reflect on the impact on your
thinking about teaching and learning and the (potential) impact on your future
practice.
Assignment 771697

15. Learning Outcomes
Assignment 771697
LO1 Make perceptive and complex judgments, critically weighing evidence and
synthesizing understanding of information and literature relating to the
teaching of English or mathematics in primary schools.
LO2 Demonstrate in-depth, perceptive and critically informed knowledge of
how children learn, and apply said knowledge to inform planning
assessment and reflection.
LO3 Effectively and critically deploy established techniques of inquiry to enable
reflections on practice supporting professional development

16. The topic
To complete this assignment choose a topic related to
mathematics or English instruction. If you are working in in KS1
or KS2, the expectation is that this topic will be taught through a
series of lessons (between 2 and 4 lessons).
If you are working in EYFS, the expectation is that the topic will be developed
through the provision areas and/or through a series of lessons.
Choice of the topic should be made in consultation with the classroom teacher and/or
mentor, but ideally should arise out of the normal progression of the class.
Once you have chosen a topic check with me for suitability
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17. Choosing your topic
Assignment 771697
Look at medium term plans. What is coming up in English or
mathematics that you will be teaching? Use this assignment to
research that topic, developing your content knowledge related
to the topic, as well as your understanding of effective
pedagogical practices. Or, if you and your mentor have
identified a need or interest related to mathematics or English
in your classroom, you could develop a series of lessons to
respond to this need. Again, this will require researching about
the content, as well as effective teaching practice.

18. Assignment 771697
Most importantly…
Choose a topic that is part of
your regular work in your
classroom and school, and
choose a topic that you are
motivated to learn more

19. Possible Topics …
Assignment 771697
MATHEMATICS
Maths in the Early
Years
Number
Calculation
Geometry
Measurement
Statistics
Mastery
Fractions
Thinking
Mathematically in
different contexts
Mathematics and
movement
Making
Connections
Other …
ENGLISH
Reluctant Readers
Stage 1 Phonics
Spelling
Grammar
Oracy
Developing
pleasure in
reading
Fluency in writing
Fluency in reading
Discussion
Extended writing
Punctuation
Teaching Poetry
Using Drama
Other …

20. Assignment 771697
Thinking about these
topics? Do you know
what is happening in
your curriculum
planning? Which topics
appear? Or not?

21. Introduction (~200 words)
The Introduction should start with a short outline of your
situation – a little about the school but keep this short and
descriptive indicting anything that you are going to incorporate
later in the assignment that will impact on the discussion about
teaching and learning.
You should then outline the topic area that you have chosen and
why you consider this to be an important topic area for you to
tackle – linked to your institutional needs, or your personal needs.
Assignment 771697

22. Literature Review (~1700 words)
You are looking here to draw, critically, on a wide range of
literature looking at teaching and learning in the primary school
linked to your chosen areas of English or Mathematics.
Start with a wider approach to the policy and practice in your
chosen areas including national expectations (curriculum) and
any policy drive objectives as well as the literature on this topic
area.
Draw on a wide range of literature both nationally and
internationally being aware of policy and political issues.
Assignment 771697

23. Literature Review (example:mathematics)
For instance, if you are planning to teach a series of lessons focused on
adding two digit numbers, then the literature review might critically explore
theory related to the following: calculation; meanings of operations and
contexts; procedural and conceptual fluency; representations; and mastery.
From this information, you will develop an understanding of national
expectations alongside current best practice, and will apply this knowledge to
planning a series of lessons. For instance, you may choose to teach two-digit
addition with certain apparatus because that tool supports the theories related
to how to help children connect conceptual and procedural understanding for
addition.
Assignment 771697

24. Literature Review (example: English)
If you are planning to teach a series of linked phonics lessons, then the
literature review might critically explore theory related to the following:
approaches to learning to read; systematic synthetic phonics; progression in
learning phonics – ages and stages; effective teaching strategies. The
literature review should also refer to what the national expectations are in
relation to phonics teaching. From this information, you will develop an
understanding of what is considered to be current best practice, and will apply
this knowledge to planning a series of lessons. For instance, you may
choose to use particular strategies to introduce and reinforce phonic
knowledge, based on what research and national requirements state will be
appropriate and effective practice.
Assignment 771697

25. WARNING!
It is not enough to write about a particular tool (e.g.
Numicon) as a resource for teaching two-digit addition,
and then supporting this decision with evidence from the
makers of Numicon. Similarly, it is not enough to plan to
use a particular phonics scheme just because that is
what the placement school has adopted, and then to
use the justification put forth by the scheme as the
research base.
Instructional decisions must be supported by theoretical
arguments.
Assignment 771697

26. Assignment 771697
Discuss this and sketch
in some thoughts or
questions on your
assignment planning
sheet.

27. Reflective Model (~500 words)
Choose a reflective model (think back to the session on
reflective and reflective models) and justify why you think that this model
will be useful / helpful to help you critically reflect on the process of
teaching and learning.
This is the model you are going to use in the critical analysis section to
explore what you have learned from the teaching you have undertaken.
Assignment 771697

28. A simple enquiry model
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29. Assignment 771697
Discuss this and sketch
in some thoughts or
questions on your
assignment planning
sheet.

30. Application (~1400 words)
A concise description of the lessons planned and taught, and
critical reflections on the teaching and learning that occurred in the
lessons. (The description and critical reflection may be two separate sections of
the paper, or they may be combined and written in conjunction with each other.)
Explain what was planned for each day’s instruction, and then reflect on how the
lesson progressed, with an emphasis on pupil progress and learning.
Explain critical decisions about further plans for teaching and learning: in other
words, how do future plans (plans for the next lesson) need to be altered to
accommodate the learning that occurred? The subsequent teaching should then
indicate how these plans were incorporated into the future learning.
Assignment 771697

31. Critical Analysis (~700 words)
Using the reflective model you have outlined this
section is a critical analysis of the teaching and learning that has
taken place. Identify what you think were the key aspects from
the teaching cycles.
This might cover about curriculum, pedagogy, and how pupils
learnt, with evidence gathered from the teaching and with
reference back to the theoretical literature.
Assignment 771697

32. Conclusion (~500 words)
In this final section we want you to explore two key
areas
Firstly, critically explore the implications of the process on your
knowledge and understanding about the subject area you have been
teaching and the children have been learning
Secondly, critically reflect on the implications on your own practice and
how you will explore these is your future practice.
.
Assignment 771697

33. Assignment 771697
Discuss this and sketch
in some thoughts or
questions on your
assignment planning
sheet.

34. References / Appendices
Check that you have used the University of Hull referencing
system for your citations:
Hopkins (2018) or Hopkins (2018:24)
And your references
Hopkins, P. (2018) Using Technology in Primary Science Teaching.
London: Routledge.
Appendices should be included if they are items that the marker might
want to see but should not need to see. This might include an example
of a teaching and learning activity or some essential data.
Assignment 771697

35. Questions?
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36. Process
You need to start with a plan (using the planning
proforma) and start to read the teaching and
learning literature and ideas and decide which
areas you are going to focus on – this should also
be informed with the teaching approaches adopted
by your subject area in your institution.
Assignment 771697

37. Process
1. Read and then read some more
2. Using the data sources (ProQuest, EBSCO, Google Scholar ...)
3. Use the support CANVAS / website on how to search
4. Draft a more detailed outline and send to tutor
5. Act on feedback
6. Write the assignment
7. Read and check for formatting and style
8. Submit draft via Turnit In
9. Submit
Assignment 771697

38. Timescale
Jan xth, 2021Half TermNow
READING
WRITING
CHECKINGPLANNING

39. Assignment 771697
Discuss this and sketch
in a rough timetable
between now and
submission.

40. Questions?
Assignment 771697

41. Assignment 771697
Contact and Support
p.hopkins@hull.ac.uk
paul_hopkins
@UoH_SCITTs
Via the CANVAS messanger

42. PGCE – Primary
Assignment 1 - 711697
Reflections on Teaching and Learning
in The Primary School