Sarah is a teaching assistant in a busy inner-city primary school. A new child, Abdul has recently arrived in the year 1 class mid-way through the spring term.

This paper requires answers of the given situations in which you have to follow a specific pattern including introduction, main body, and conclusion. Give proper references to support your statements.

Instructions 

Learning Theories and Practices

Assessment Two

Case studies analysis (1,500 word limit)

Weighting: 60%

You will explain the strategies used by education professionals in the case study scenarios that are provided for you.  You will refer to relevant learning theories to provide evidence to support your arguments and conclusions.

Assessment criteria: this assessment will cover learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 (see module study guide)

These express the criteria against which achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed:

• · Expression: proof read, spell checked, grammar and academic expression
• · Content: relevant and accurate literature is included
• · Structure: logical progression between points and sections
• · Argument: evidence-based argument
• · Referencing: Conforms to APA convention

Case studies analysis guidance:

You must use the case studies provided (pp. 3-4) for the analysis; no other materials can be used as a substitute (if this happens the assignment will not be marked).  Your analysis should be presented in the style of an academic essay and follow the conventions of formal writing (e.g. structured, continuous prose, logically organised paragraphs, academic language, citations, well-presented).

Use the slides on academic language, grammar and punctuation (on BB) to check for expected levels for presenting your work (remember there are practice exercises if you need them or ask the engagement team for support).

Tips:

• Make sure you read the question properly and fully understand what you are being asked to do
• Plan your work before you start to write the first draft, this will save time in the long run.  You can use the template on the next page or one of your own
• ALWAYSproof read your work or ask someone else to do this for you
  • Include a cover page with your student ID, title, and word count

Your case studies analysis should follow the following structure:

Introduction (1 paragraph)

Introduce the topic you are writing about (i.e. Professionals working in education continuously use a range of strategies to support and enhance children’s learning and development; these are based on robust theories), state your aim and how you are going to go about it.  Here you will say that you will be using TWO case studies of education professionals applying specific strategies with regard to a child in their educational setting and that you will relate these strategies to relevant learning and development theories we have been studying.

Main Body (3-5 paragraphs): This is your analysis and the focus of the question

Insert the first case study scenario (text in italics); this is not included in your word count. Identify the strategies used by the educational professional (do not simply repeat the wording from the case study) and then link these strategies to relevant theory we have looked at in class.

Repeat the above with the second case study.

Conclusion (1 paragraph)

Briefly summarise what you have discussed in your essay and draw your conclusions on applying theory to practice based on the evidence you have given.

CASE STUDY 1

Sarah is a teaching assistant in a busy inner-city primary school. A new child, Abdul has recently arrived in the year 1 class mid-way through the spring term.  Background information received by the school informs Sarah that Abdul was unhappy in his last school and has problems making friends; he is shy and reluctant to join in activities.  Sarah observes Abdul in the class and at break time and believes that he has low self-esteem and lacks confidence in his abilities.  She decides to implement the school buddy system and arranges for two other boys, Sam and Hasan, to play with Abdul during break times and to work with him during classroom activities.  Both Sam and Hasan moved up from the reception class and are happy and settled in school.  They are confident boys and are working at above average levels in numeracy and literacy.  As the weeks progress, Sarah notices how Adul’s participation in class has changed and he is increasingly imitating the behaviour of Sam and Hasan. He is raising his hand to answer questions and has started to approach other children in the playground. Sarah gives Abdul a lot of encouragement and praise and every day he appears more confident and happier in school.

CASE STUDY 2

Ayesha runs a community nursery in a small town in the north-east of England.  The children who attend come from a range of backgrounds; many of the parents are unemployed or on low wages, but not all of them. Ayesha has noticed that one child, Jessie, who attends the group irregularly is displaying signs of emotional distress.  She wants to play with the other children but is often loud and sometimes aggressive in her behaviour; this frightens some of her peers. Jessie demands a lot of attention from the staff and they are getting frustrated with her behaviour.  Ayesha calls a team meeting with the nursery staff to discuss strategies to help Jessie regulate her behaviour and everyone contributes to an action plan.  Background information shows that Jessie lives with her mother, who is unemployed and has a history of substance abuse, and her older sibling Kevin, who is 18 and attends a local college.  Jessie is dropped at nursery by her mother who never mingles with the other parents.  Ayesha invites Jessie’s mum and brother to come in for a chat about Jessie and discuss the action plan.  She also gives them information on some of the early years’ support services and groups available in the local community and informs Jessie’s mum that there is a coffee morning for parents every week if she would like to attend.