4  Working with Teachers

4.1 Undergraduate’s Role and Commitment

The key point to remember is that you are not a teacher. You are there to support the work of the teacher.

Supervision

  • You will be under the supervision of a class teacher - if you need help or advice, don’t hesitate to ask.
  • Always work in sight of a teacher or other adults.
  • If you are not working in a classroom, you must ensure you never work in a closed room alone with the pupils. This is part of good and practice.

Confidentiality

  • If a teacher talks to you confidentially about a pupil, the information must not be passed on to anyone else.

Time Commitment

  • Agree in advance with your teacher how much time you will be giving and the date and time of your Sessions. You will probably spend between 3 and 6 hours a week in the school.
  • If you are unable to make that time, it is essential to advise the teacher as soon as possible and always try and make alternative arrangements.

Undergraduate Tasks

  • The teacher decides what tasks the undergraduate undertakes each week. Discuss your area of expertise with the teacher in detail in order to help them identify a suitable task for you. Looking through the programmes of work might help you to identify areas where you feel you can make the greatest contribution.

Behaviour Management

  • Teachers are responsible for the pupils: morally; legally; and for health, insurance and discipline issues.
  • However, the undergraduate should ensure that the behaviour of those pupils s/he is working with promotes a good learning environment.
  • If you set boundaries for acceptable behaviour with children, they must always be clear, consistent, firm and fair.

Liaison with the Teacher

  • You will have the opportunity to meet the teacher in advance of beginning tutoring. You should be clear about what you are going to be doing, how this fits in with what the teacher will be doing, what to wear and how to address the teacher in the classroom.
  • Arrange to have a chat with the teacher to get some after each session and to discuss likely content of the following week’s lesson. Where this is not possible, you should at least talk on the telephone. How easily you are able to do this will depend on your individual relationship with the teacher.
  • During your normal working hours, teachers are likely to be with classes, so it will be important to set up arrangements for communicating that are mutually convenient. Teachers’ working arrangements mean that they cannot be as readily contacted by telephone or e-mail as many undergraduates will be used to.

Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from your course co-ordinator if there is a problem.