ABSTRACT
THE PURPOSE OF a school is to enhance learning, hopefully not only in the pupils but also in all those who make up the school’s team. Teaching is the process by which the learning is enhanced. I have deliberately put these two chapters about learning and teaching before the more practical ones. These days, TAs are so much more than dog’s bodies and paint-pot washers. To be proactive rather than reactive, some basic theories and principles underpinning the practice are really important in helping you make the most of your assisting role. To teach, you need to know how pupils learn.
