30 min literacy lesson?

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

I have a interview as an Early Years Teacher very soon at a Primary school which is an Academy Trust School.I qualified with my EYTS this august and this is my first interview since! I am very nervous! As part of my interview process there will be a 30 min EYFS Literacy lesson that I have to deliver.

Now here's the thing, 1) It doesn't say to what age group of children the lesson will be for, i am assuming reception so 4-5 yrs and 2) i was in a private day care setting for my EYTS training where there was no formal, time blocks for teaching of literacy, rather i incorporated literacy and phonics into everyday activities or through very short circle time activities like a phonics song. No single activity lasted for 30 minutes, the children were 2-5yrs old.

so how do i prepare for this??

any ideas as to what i could do for the lesson, and how to make it last 30 mins?

As for the panel interview, what kinds of questions can i expect,from your experiences, what would you ask/have you been asked?

I would really appreciate your advice!

Salus

[Susan]

I would break my lesson into 3 parts, 5-10 mins starter/ warm up/ delivery. 10-15 mins activity to support your teaching. 5-10 mins plenary.

I would also ask re the age group and the number of children. My HT likes candidates to have the gumption to do that and they can refuse!

Have a look at "what is good teaching" to enable you to pitch your lesson appropriately.

Good luck.

[BagelFace]

Is this a school in Manchester?

[Guest]

As Susan says - phone and ask - it's a good thing to do. You could also ask to visit the school if you haven't already.

Interview questions vary from place to place, as does the style of interview - some very formal, others more of a conversation.

Expect to talk about a lesson you are proud of (that shows children's learning developing), and maybe one that you would do differently next time - why and how?

Something about how you manage behaviour, communicate with other staff and parents.

How would you contribute to the school team - what are your own particular interests and talents - creativity? IT? gardening? pottery? Could you offer an extra-curricular club?

Definitely a question about what to do if a child makes a disclosure and safeguarding in general.

Possibly a question about the kind of CPD you feel you would benefit from in particular, maybe an area to develop from your EYTS training, maybe something you feel you haven't had much experience in (PE maybe?).

 

Hope this helps, good luck and let us know how you get on! Whatever else, keep smiling!

[Guest]

Hi all,

thank you for your replies. Well I called the school today to ask how many children i should expect to plan the lesson for tomorrow and it turns out it will be for a Reception class of 30 children and based on Letters and Sounds Phase 2. I had planned for phase 1! This is my first time ever planning for this many children and i don't know if i will have any TA's or extra support during the observation. I'm just wondering what will happen when the children are doing small group activities and there's only one of me to go around and support the children...

 

any advice?

 

Salus

[BagelFace]

Hi Salus

If they are asking for Phase 2 and if they are like our Reception they will be just coming to the end of it. I would do something on CVC words using the sounds from Phase 2. Lots of activities around on different websites. You can have some differentiated activities such as writing CVC words using pics or objects / letter formation area where they have large paper and letters to form / painting letters etcc. Is it a school in Manchester? Just curious as I know of an Academy there who is interviewing this week.