I’ve produced this checklist as a means of acknowledging the fantastic work done by Teaching Assistants in schools. You could use the form as a basis for coaching and/or training but the intention is to draw attention to the positives and pinpoint areas for potential development. Feedback from schools using this checklist has been excellent and it is for this reason that it is being offered here. Thank you

ACHIEVE is an assembly presentation, equally suitable for a tutorial/PSHE activity. This is a powerful powerpoint presentation highlighting people who have overcome adversity and disability to achieve success. It is designed to illustrate that we have the power to meet various challenges if we channel our energies in the right direction. The powerpoint is editable if you wish to replace any of the examples used. Further research could be undertaken by classes/individuals to discover more detail about the personalities. Ready to go - saves you time!

A selection of Odd One Out slides to get your students thinking creatively. The great thing about ‘Odd One Out’ is that there are so many correct answers. Great for tutorials when you need a quick activity. Use ‘Odd One Out’ for starters, mini-think breaks, plenaries, etc. Boost confidence. Ask pupils to create their own ‘Odd One Out’ based on the current topic. Powerpoint can easily be added to. Updated to include current personalities and politicians. Have Fun!

PMI stands for Plus, Minus and Interesting and works on the idea presented by Edward De Bono in various books. The aim is to encourage students to consider different points of view. On the lead page, in slide show mode, select a number Now carry out a PMI on the topic shown Think, pair, square, share Clicking on the home symbol returns you to the options page This set of slides includes 10 interesting areas for discussion. This exercise is highly suitable for tutorials, PSHE and assemblies. The slides can be edited to suit your own requirements. Have fun and look out for more sets in future weeks.

The Points Builder holds lots of appeal for students who tend to be more motivated when striving to accumulate points. The powerpoint template encourages the teacher to chunk the topic into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will have a significant impact on student engagement and progress. Students could collaborate and share their answers. Check out slide 5 in presenter view, this shows how you could use different terminology to motivate learners. You could produce these slides yourself of course but it took me several hours to produce them so its probably worth a small fee to download them and get cracking! Have fun, your students will! Dave York @topteaching www.effectiveteacher.co.uk

Here is a series of slides that you’ll be keen to introduce into your lessons. There are many tricks and tips here including the disappearing spider’s web, the amazing card trick, the fabulous reminder slide ;-), etc. The slides are presented in powerpoint which can easily be added to your existing presentations. These ideas will add interest and fun to your lessons and there are some hidden gems to increase engagement and promote progress. The slides have taken many hours to create and collate so the small fee is great value. Grab this gem while you can.

PMI stands for Plus, Minus and Interesting, as discussed by Edward De Bono in various publications. The aim is to encourage students to consider different points of view. On the lead page, in slide show mode, select a number. Now carry out a PMI on the topic shown Think, pair, square, share Click on the home symbol to return to the home page This is a politics/election special which will encourage your students to discuss important topics. The resource is editable