A number of teachers, taking up appointments for the first time at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and the six Primary Schools, as of September coming, have benefited from a one-week workshop on “the first days of school”.
The workshop was delivered during the third week of August by Mrs. Tamara Pradel, Curriculum Officer in the Education Department. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Distance Education. She taught for almost twenty years in the United States, St. Maarten and Anguilla before assuming her current appointment.
According to Mrs. Pradel, wife of Anguillian cyclist, Chris Pradel, the workshop was based on an instructional book written by Harry and Rosemary Wong, two American Master Teachers.
“We have new teachers coming into the system in Anguilla and the book emphasises the importance of preparing for that first day of school and why it should be celebrated,” she explained. “It states that that day is even more important than graduation day because it sets the tone for the rest of the school year. And so, the teachers have been learning how to be effective. The main points of effective teachers are that they are good classroom managers; they have positive expectations; and they plan for lesson mastery. That is what we have been focusing on. We have been having fun learning about how to set routines and procedures and the importance of practicing them.”
The Curriculum Officer added: “I think it gives those teaching for the first time the confidence that they know exactly what they are going to do during the first day or first days of school. So that’s what the workshop is all about: getting the teachers ready and giving them the support they need.”
One of the newly-appointed teachers is Sharifa Hodge, who has been assigned to the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School at West End. She spoke to The Anguillian about the workshop. “I have learnt a lot about classroom management, lesson mastery and it has been a good experience,” she reported. “I just soaked it all in before I take the first step into an actual class. The workshop will help me to get accustomed to the classroom, my teaching environment, and how realistic it all will be.”
Another new teacher, also at the above mentioned school, is Jerrwyn Fleming. “The workshop has been very effective and we had a lot of good teaching. I will endeavour to employ all I have been exposed to when I begin my teaching career,” he told the newspaper.
One of two seasoned teachers at the workshop was Indah Liburd who previously taught English Language and Social Studies at Campus B. She will now be teaching Business Studies to Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Form students at Campus A. “This workshop has helped me in formulating an overall plan to manage my classroom, and to be seamless and consistent as a teacher which is important in engaging my students and fostering learning,” she stated.
Ms. Sandra Fahie, Education Officer, Curriculum Development, made the point that: “Continuous training is one of our key things. It is therefore imperative for us in the Education Department to ensure, as best as we can, that our teachers are prepared for the classroom. This is why we introduced this workshop.”
