Often teachers are accused of teaching to the average child in the class and ignoring the child who is struggling and the child who already has the skills. This year we are priveleged to have an intern who has already completed her B.A. Degree and is studying for her teaching qualification. This has enabled us to offer extension lessons during class time.
Once a week each grade will have two extension lessons, one in Maths and one in English. During this period children who have achieved in the top third of the class, or who have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the work being covered, will leave the normal lesson and go to another class for extension. The remaining two thirds of the children will do reinforcement work with their regular teacher. The advantage is that the teacher knows the children's area of weakness and is experienced and able to remediate. The smaller group is with an inexperienced teacher, yet a highly motivated and capable educator. It is a win-win situation.
Most of the work covered during these periods is assessed, but at the relevant level. For example, if a comprehension was given, the smaller group may have a few extra question with inferences and figurative language while the larger group may have predominantly first level questions. Both comprehensions would be out of the same total and count towards the term mark.
These lessons may be used to prepare children to write the National Amesa Olympiad and the Life Sciences Olympiad which are written in August or September each year.
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