If you’re a trainee or early career teacher, you know how important it is to build your confidence and skills. This article shares how you can practise teaching pupils to read in a supportive environment while shaping the future of teacher education.
Mastering reading can change a child’s future, so it’s vital all primary teachers know how to support pupils to develop this skill. Now’s your chance to take part in an innovative online simulator study focused on reading instruction.
Sharpen your skills, try out new approaches and get personalised feedback – all without the pressure of being in a real classroom. By taking part, you’ll help us find out what works best to improve how we train teachers, benefiting you and future trainees.
What’s involved?
Over a Zoom call, you’ll support a simulated Year 2 pupil to read irregular words using techniques that are grounded in phonics best practice. You’ll learn about and practise some new evidence-based techniques that you could try in the classroom.
A person responds to you in real time, just like a pupil in the classroom would. The responses are controlled by a researcher experienced in training teachers (not AI).
What you do makes all the difference, as the pupil responds and changes their behaviour as you instruct them. You’ll practise different techniques in a safe space and get live, tailored feedback from an expert coach who will guide you to get the most from the session.
How to take part
- Take part entirely online, from anywhere, in just 30-45 minutes. You can even choose a date and time during the school holidays that suits you.
- You don’t need any prior experience or resources to take part, except for a device to join the Zoom call. After the study is complete, you’ll get a £10 Amazon voucher.
Who can take part
If you’re a primary trainee or early career teacher, this study is for you. Learning how to teach reading is important for every primary school teacher to know.
Why take part?
People who have taken part in our study so far have told us that the simulator gave them strategies to use in their lessons. It also helped them practise applying what they learned without the pressure of being in a real classroom environment.
Here are more reasons to take part:
- Build your confidence and mastery in reading instruction.
- Get practical, evidence-based support to improve your practice.
- Build great experience to set you apart in future teaching interviews, showing your commitment to improving training for future teachers.
- If you’re a school or trust leader, this is a fantastic opportunity to support your trainees and early career teachers with innovative, research-informed development.
How to sign up
If you’re a primary trainee or early career teacher and want to take part in this study, it’s simple to get involved. If you’re a school or trust, multiple teachers can also take part. Sign up today, or email [email protected] to find out more.
