Primary Teaching Methods

This text covers all the aspiring or busy teacher needs to know about the basic methods of primary teaching and provides more besides. There are sectioins on basic principles, organization, planning, working with children, teaching strategies, methods, resources, assessment and working with others. Individual topics range from being gender aware, to lesson planning, giving explanations, managing large classes, using the school compound and keeping records. All contain pratical suggestions. Student teachers in training and newly qualified or unqualified teachers should find them helpful. Experienced primary teachers should also find the book a resource to improve their professional practice, either working on their own, or in groups for in-service training. The book is divided into topics grouped in sections, each topic covering one or two double-paged spreads. Each topic includes suggestions which teachers can try out, to improve their teaching or to help them tackle some problem. Activities help teachers to reflect on their teaching and so improve it.
Some topics include background information, simple definitions of common terms, or examples of approaches other teachers have found effective. Lively illustrations are used to explain a point or show how to do something. "Macmillan Teaching Handbooks" is a highly practical series designed for student teachers and teachers at primary level in Africa. There is one book about Primary Teaching Methods, and one covering each of the main subjects: English, Science, Mathematics, and Environmental and Social Studies. All the books cover lower primary. They are designed to meet the pre-service or in-service needs of primary teachers, tackling important issues in depth, but in an attractive, easy to use form. The authors make no assumptions about previous study or knowledge, avoid jargon and use clear simple language suitable for those using English as a second language. The books provide practical suggestions for how to teach and improve teaching and learning. They keep in mind the problems that teachers face and the things they actually have to do in the classroom.