ABSTRACT

The planning process takes time, intellectual thought, thorough knowledge of the curriculum and pupils learning needs and, perhaps most important, an enjoyment of exploring ideas. This chapter examines the questions that how can one create an ethos that encourages active learning, how can one make a teaching relevant to all and how can one foster positive relationships between both author and the children and between the children and their peers. First, one should visualise the learning atmosphere to achieve in their classroom by the end of the first term. Then, think practically about how to achieve this through careful planning, relevant teaching and thoughtful reflection. The chapter provides both practical and intellectual starting points. Consider the following situation. It is day one at the start of a new year; your new class has come in to the classroom, some children excitedly talking about their holidays, some hovering near the door, some picking up objects and investigating the new surroundings.