Catherine Carden – författare

Primary teaching is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Schools are diverse and ever-changing communities where children and teachers learn alongside each other. When learning to teach, practical experience in the classroom is essential, as is learning from others and being able to reflect on your own learning and performance. Equally important is the ability to critically evaluate learning and teaching and to look at current practice in schools and in the UK and to question it. In fact, in teacher training, the questions are just as important as the answers:What is teaching?How do children learn?What is pedagogy?Does curriculum really matter?Should teachers 'manage' behaviour?How do I support children with SEND?What can AI tools do for teachers?This core text from Learning Matters tackles these questions and more. It poses questions to encourage a re-thinking of the world of schools and learning. It challenges trainee teachers to ask why,to engage with research and to reflect on their own practice and the practice in their placement schools.Primary Teachingis a core text for trainee teachers.

Primary teaching is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Schools are diverse and ever-changing communities where children and teachers learn alongside each other. When learning to teach, practical experience in the classroom is essential, as is learning from others and being able to reflect on your own learning and performance. Equally important is the ability to critically evaluate learning and teaching and to look at current practice in schools and in the UK and to question it. In fact, in teacher training, the questions are just as important as the answers:What is teaching?How do children learn?What is pedagogy?Does curriculum really matter?Should teachers 'manage' behaviour?How do I support children with SEND?What can AI tools do for teachers?This core text from Learning Matters tackles these questions and more. It poses questions to encourage a re-thinking of the world of schools and learning. It challenges trainee teachers to ask why,to engage with research and to reflect on their own practice and the practice in their placement schools.Primary Teachingis a core text for trainee teachers.

The second edition of this core text from Learning Matters asks:

What is teaching? Does curriculum really matter?  Does behaviour need 'managing'? What is a learning environment today? Does my classroom reflect the identities of all of my learners? How can I bring the theme of sustainability to my teaching?

Discussing these and many more, it covers the contents of professional studies modules and goes beyond to support trainees on placements and in their learning on the course.  Five new chapters are added for this edition discussing themes of sustainability, teacher self care, diversity in the curriculum, sex and relationships education and our new understanding of learning environments.

Learning features throughout have been designed to help students develop their understanding, broaden their perspectives, think more critically and apply theory to practice. These include:

Case Studies to apply learning to real-life school contexts.

Key Readings to encourage wider reading, broaden perspectives and offer practical ideas for the classroom.

Key Theory features introduce and summarise big ideas, theories and research.  

Critical Questions direct reflection, help students engage with what their reading and encourage critical responses.  

Classroom Links highlight good practice, provide practical ideas and show how to implement these in the classroom.

Assignment features offer helpful points to consider and practical advice for writing assignments on chapter topics, which act as great starting points.