Placement Tasks

• Student teachers must acquire knowledge and understanding of theory and practical skills in curricular areas, referring to local and national guidance
• Student teachers must understand how to match the level of curricular areas to the needs of all learners
• Student teachers must understand the importance of using and designing materials for teaching and learning to stimulate, support and challenge all learners

(Standard for Provisional Registration with GTCS, benchmark 2.1.2)

Spend some time observing the learning environment. Note the following:

Is there much display of expressive arts practice in public spaces/corridors/classrooms? Are these displays related to knowledge and understanding within the expressive arts?  Specify the content of the work that is displayed.

Throughout the corridors there are a number of different displays of the expressive arts, there are also pieces of work done by the learners within classrooms. The displays are related to knowledge and understanding within the expressive arts as the captions alongside the practice have an information box saying what the learning objectives were i.e. there was a display of animals that had been filled in with scrunched up pieces of tissue paper to recreate texture as well as sheep being made from cotton wool and so on. There was a label next to it saying “today I learned how different materials can give texture to my art work”.

Is learners’ work displayed? Are there labels and written explanations?

Yes, in the shared open space there are displays of the learners’ work with labels and written explanations for the main displays. Inside the classrooms the artwork was accompanied by a related piece of written work.

What kinds of spaces/facilities are there for performances?

The library is used for rehearsals for the school plays and smaller performances, but there is also the dining hall where a stage is erected for performances.

What range of media is being used?  Are both two and three dimensions covered?  Is digital media used? What is the range of instruments that learners have access to?

Within the classroom the learners have access to scissors, glue and a range of coloured pens, pencils and paper. Due to limited space in the classrooms there is a large store cupboard in the shared open space where there is a range of paints, glitter, material and other materials for the learners to use during expressive arts inputs. There is also a store for musical instruments which can be taken home by the learners to use and practice, the instruments are mainly small brass ones for ease of transport for the learners. Digital media is used but only for the upper primary, there is a trolley which holds a number ofiPadsthe learners can use as well asMacBooks.

In consultation with your mentor identify two expressive arts lessons (dance, music,drama, visual art) to observe. For each lesson, make a note of the following:

During my time on placement I was not able to observe any expressive arts lessons as they are timetabled for a day I could not attend. However, the learners do get a scheduled block for expressive arts and the teacher who takes the class in the beginning of the week tends to integrate drama into her practice, which I could not observe due to me being able to attend only once a week. The upper primary school take part in a dance project to take part in the Kilmarnock Day of Dance where surrounding area schools take part and perform for everyone. Although I was not able to observe any of the lessons I was aware that the school does embrace expressive arts and the learners get to take part regularly.