Learning Support Assistant for IGCSE, IB and EAL (Aug, 2011
–Present) at British School Manila, Taguig City
My teaching experience dates back to 1981 during which I worked as a full time teacher. However, in 2011, I was offered the position of Learning Support Assistant which I could not refuse. Although the position was slightly different from that of a full time teacher as I was not handling a full class, I took it because the benefits were too attractive to refuse.
As a Learning Support Assistant, I worked with Secondary students with neurodiversity. [ dyslexia, word processing difficulties, High functioning ASD, short term memory issues, issues in comprehension and essay writing EAL/ESL, amongst others]. At British School Manila, I support these students during in- class lessons and pull- out lessons. I am assigned to support them in the following subjects: IGCSE First Language/Literature, IB English A, IGCSE History, KS3 English, EAL for non-native speakers and transfer -students from local Philippine schools. The school where I work is currently online.This is the second year that we have been online because of COVID. Thus I had to learn how to navigate zoom and Exam.net.
My job description includes:
Familiarising myself with the curriculum, plan schemes of learning for my lessons and implement them.
Help students with lessons in class during break -out sessions, making sure they understand the task and scaffold lessons whenever necessary. I sometimes reteach the lesson, introduce new skills or reteach and reinforce skills that have been taught, but have not yet mastered.
In IGCSE English and Literature as well as IB Lang/Lit, I make sure that the students have the skills to unpack the question, know how to identify key words and phrases that are relevant to the question, identify evidence and its technique, analyse them and discuss its effect on the reader. I also enhance comprehension by teaching the students to identify key words and phrases and annotate their meanings and other comprehension skills. Furthermore, I also teach writing literary essays and commentaries. Additionally, I teach grammar and syntax to further improve structure of their essays. Aside from all these,I make sure I do an informal assessment to ensure progress in learning. For IGCSE and IB, I also teach them exam taking skills. These skills are also applicable to History. I make sure there is a transfer of skills or learning to History.
Aside from these subjects, I also teach ESL to non- native English speaking students whose English skills have not come up to the standard of the school.
Finally, I complete end -of -term and end-of-year reports, do a follow- up review on the progress of the students assigned to me and give a weekly report to my line manager. These reports include feedback on attitude to learning, progress and targets for the next term and next academic year.