1. Teaching Assistantship
Briefing
PGDE (Pri/ Sec/ JC)
(16-month programme)
Dr Jessie Png
Assistant Dean, Practicum
February 2017

2. 1. What ? Duration : 2017 – Tuesdays to Fridays (4 weeks)
(27th March-21st April)
(Most of you will be posted back to
your contract schools)
-- NIE (to meet PP & CS
tutors – theory-practice link)
2) CT’s roles
: converse with student teacher
: observe assisted teaching (weeks 3-4)
: fill up checklist

3. 1. What?
3) Main CT & SCM’s roles : fill up Summative Report 4) NIES’ role : Conduct pre-practicum meeting with st tr : Call on school by 1st week of TA : Read student teacher’s reflections (4 in total) and give feedback (see rubric) : Keep in touch with SCM : Attend final assessment meeting …

4. 1. What? 5) Final Assessment Meeting -- What is a ‘F’ :
a) School: unacceptable Professional
Attributes &/or Attitudes (MOE’s
concerns) For examples:
No medical certificates (forging of mc can lead to termination)
Failure to participate in school programme
Issue with punctuality
Unprofessional conduct (e.g., sleeping, texting or checking facebook in class or during meetings, making derogatory remarks of students or CTs)
Poor attitude (e.g., not receptive to feedback)

5. ALL FAIL cases may be terminated.
1. What?
5) Final Assessment Meeting
-- What is a ‘F’ :
a) School: unacceptable Professional
Attributes &/or Attitudes (MOE’s
concerns)
b) NIES: unacceptable reflections
: non-submission of reflections
PASS/FAIL
ALL FAIL cases may be terminated.

6. 2a. How? Administrative Information
Details from NIE Portal
School posting
Appointment of NIE Supervisor
Contact School
Call and find out when the Principal would like to meet you in the week of the announcement of school posting
check date of staff meeting (if any) and make it a point to attend
update your address/contact nos. with school
5 Jul is Youth Day holiday

7. 2a. Administrative Information
NIE Supervisor (NIES)
contact full-time NIES to set up pre-TA conference
part-time NIES will contact you directly
find out address and office tel. of NIES.
Do not materials for NIES to Practicum Office!
may not be in your CS area
For Pri – NIES is likely to be a generalist & takes charge of student teachers within a school, rather than individual subjects
For Sec – NIES are divided into the Math/Sci and EL/Humans groups, according to CS1
Exception – those in Mother Tongue and PE
first person to contact for TA-related problems
CNY

8. 2a. Administrative Information
Documents for CTs
Letter to Cooperating Teacher(s) (CTs)
fill in the blanks in each letter before giving it to each of your CT(s)
Suggested guidelines for schools
subjects, class levels/streams and number of teaching periods (MUST include ALL subjects trained in)
observations of CTs & other teachers’ lessons
school session – up to the school to deploy
CCA involvement
number of relief periods (2 max per day) ►
because your final grade is dependent on your competency in ALL of them)
APT - download from website or photocopy extra copies for your CTs for each formal lesson observation

9. 2a. Administrative Information
Documents for CTs (cont’d)
Roles of the CT, SCM, NIES
SCM is the overall in-charge of Practicum in the school
Responsibilities of Student Teacher
read carefully and take note!
Checklist of Teaching Competencies for TA
because your final grade is dependent on your competency in ALL of them)
APT - download from website or photocopy extra copies for your CTs for each formal lesson observation

11. 2a. Administrative Information
Guidelines for schools
a total of 10-12hrs (approximately periods in primary schools, periods in secondary schools, periods in junior colleges)
observation of lessons conducted by CTs and other experienced teachers
observation of lower and upper primary/secondary
assisted teaching of 1 class of CS1 from Weeks 3 -4
at least 50% period assignment should be PE for PE students
2 relief periods per day

12. 2a. Administrative Information
Documents for yourself
Blank time-table
complete and hand in/fax/ one copy to your NIES (use NIES office fax no./ ) as soon as it is available
Do not use any other time-table formats
Blank CV and Blank Subject List
complete and submit to Principal
Weekly Reflection form
reflections should be based on all
observations done in the week. They
should be submitted to NIES for
comments on a weekly basis

15. 2a. Administrative Information
Maintain an updated Practicum file
Weekly reflections
CTs’ checklist of awareness of teaching competencies
school handouts
photocopies of MCs
Absenteeism
only Medical Certificate or Leave approval letter from Office of Academic Administration & Services (OAAS) (applied at least 5 days in advance) accepted. Personal letters not accepted.
Original MCs to Student Services Centre (SSC),OAAS (within 2 weeks), photocopy for school.
all leave must be applied thru OAAS, not school.
notify school and NIES early.

16. 2a. Administrative Information
Civil servants can call in sick without MC on two non-consecutive days
Applies to NIE student teachers , excluding full-fee paying student teachers.
These 2 days will be taken from the existing Ordinary Sick Leave entitlement and only to be taken 1 day per occasion. Should you require more than 1 day of sick leave, MC will be required for subsequent day(s) of absence.
Not applicable for absences on days of formal observation -- a Medical Certificate is still required.

17. 2a. Administrative Information
Civil servants can call in sick without MC on two non-consecutive days
Application:
Student teachers have to the SCM, cc NIES, before the start of school for that day and obtain the SCM’s written support.
Student teachers have to attach the written support to the completed NIE Urgent Private Affair (UPA) Leave Form, downloadable from NIE Portal and submit it to the Office of Academic Administration Services (OAAS, NIE) for forwarding to MOE.
Details:
NIE Portal  Services  Student Services
 Leave

18. 2a. Administrative Information
All materials borrowed from the school have to be returned on the last day of the practicum.
Thank the Principal, Vice-Principal, CT(s) and all staff (including non-teaching staff) who have helped you in one way or another during your TA.

19. 3. Code of Professional Conduct
You are a member of staff of the school
subject to school/MOE rules governing staff conduct
conform to school ethos
participate fully in the school programme (e.g., staff contact time, staff meetings, school assemblies, flag raising/lowering ceremony)
carry out relief duties (2 periods per day)
assist the teachers and contribute whenever possible to the wider life of the school

20. 3. Code of Professional Conduct
You are a teacher
use of corporate punishment is absolutely forbidden
1-to-1 counselling must be done in the open
DO NOT spend time alone with any student
be PUNCTUAL for school and classes
report to school every day at the stipulated time regardless of your timetable
Not allowed to leave school early without the prior approval of the Principal/Vice-Principal

21. 3. Code of Professional Conduct
Dress Code Guidelines
Ladies
Short- or long-sleeved blouses or shirts
Skirts, not shorter than 5 cm above the knee
Well-cut, solid coloured pants
Dresses with well structured cuts

22. 3. Code of Professional Conduct
Dress Code Guidelines
Ladies
Court shoes with comfortable heels, open-toed shoes, cling back shoes (not sandals/slippers)
cover your tattoos, remove your multiple earrings, nose/tongue stud, etc.
make sure your hair colour is natural

23. 3. Code of Professional Conduct
Dress Code Guidelines
Gentlemen
Shirts, with either short sleeves or long sleeves
Well cut plain coloured/pinstriped trousers worn with/without belt
Shoes (not sports shoes), no slippers

24. 4. Practicum Office
Location: NIE Tel no.: / 3311 Fax no.: Website:

25. 5. NIE Wellness Centre
NIE has a Wellness Centre that provides counselling for student teachers.
Appointments
Tel: