Developing Topic Work In The Primary School

C. Sarah Tann Oxford Brookes University.

Oct 2013 · Routledge

About this ebook

First published in 1988. Good topic work is the epitome of all that is best in British primary schools. It is an all-embracing way of working and one which is infinitely flexible. It therefore requires tremendous skill and sensitivity on the part of the teacher. This is particularly demanding in terms of monitoring what the children are learning and of managing the opportunities for learning so as to maximize the benefit for each child. The purpose of this book is to support those who want to develop the potential of topic work. This can best be done by sharing the experiences of teachers who have been excited by the learning which they have witnessed taking place through topic work. The book is written at a time of intense educational upheaval: a time of review and reform concerning what our schools should be teaching and how they should be monitored.

About the author

C. Sarah Tan has experienced a wide range of classrooms, as both teacher (from pre-school to higher education) and as researcher (on the ORACLE project). For the last three years she has been working closely with teachers, children and students to learn more about topic work and to find ways of developing it. She has worked at Oxford Polytechnic since 1982 and her responsibilities include leadership of the language courses for BEd students, supervision of student school experience and module leadership on the MEd programme.