In the same way as you
would when planning a lesson, decide on your learning objectives. Keep them few
and simple. You'll have at most 10 minutes to fill, and you'll have to spend
some time giving out information.
What you choose is less important than the
ways in which you help your pupils build a positive group identity, and in
making the values and purposes of the school their own. Assemblies, are
important in supporting the social, moral and spiritual growth of your pupils.
Use music to set the
mood, turning it off is a clear signal to even the largest groups that you're
about to begin. Don't be afraid to use new technologies - a laptop and a
portable projector can produce images that everyone in a large hall can see,
and can let you share content from any medium.
Think About:
Assembly rooms are bigger than classrooms. Will everyone be able to hear
you? What about lines of sight - will everyone be able to see you? If you have
visual aids, are they big enough to be visible from a distance?
Eye contact is especially
important when you're working with large groups, so pick three or four pupils
in different parts of the room, and make eye contact with each of them in turn.
You'll look engaged with the audience.
Aim
to involve your audience. If the core of your item is a story, begin by
asking questions to help pupils focus on its subject, and remember that stories
are better told than read.
Master the bones of
the story then improvise around that structure. What you say will sound more
personal and convincing. Remember to speak more slowly than usual, too. Give
your words time to sink in.
Make pupils work. If one of your learning objectives is to get them to examine
and to change their views on an issue, begin by taking a vote to establish what
they think before your presentation, and take another after it.
Use your tutor group
or class to research and deliver their own presentation, perhaps as a short
play or interview. It's a good use of tutorial time, and will involve the
performers in real learning.
Relate the
subject of your assembly to pupils' own experience - take news items as
your starting point, or situations from soap opera (or, even better, from The
Simpsons). Help them take what they know and encourage them to think about it,
and reflect on their own experience
Finally, remember
that pupils will be going off to lessons after you've finished with them, so
don't over-excite them. Your colleagues won't thank you if they have to spend
too much of the lesson to calm them down. End your assembly with a couple of
minutes for reflection.
Ideas for Assembly Items
Assembly tips
• Keep it simple.
There is plenty of time for all-singing, all-dancing extravaganzas once you
have found your feet.
• Encourage children
to brainstorm when you are planning your class assembly. Even young children
will come up with exciting and fresh ideas.
• Child-generated
props, masks and costumes add to the fun.
• Involve parents.
Does your school usually invite parents to class assemblies? It may be a nice
idea to record the assembly on video. The children will love to watch
themselves performing, and working parents will appreciate the opportunity to
see the assembly, although some schools and local authorities have policies
that would preclude this.
• Ensure that every
child has a part to play. No one must feel left out.
• Don't get too
stressed about it. Assemblies should not interfere with classroom time.
Make sure your class behaves
Assemblies are
unfortunately rife with opportunities for enterprising individuals to create
havoc. Make sure your class understands that you expect them to file in and out
calmly, and praise those who do, as well as children who have been particularly
co-operative.
Position your children carefully. Separate any noisy cliques and
friendship groups. Position any who can be disruptive at the end of the line
and sit within calming distance. A touch on the shoulder and a stern look are
often enough to quieten a child. If not, you are close enough to remove
offenders quietly.
Documents
Reference:
Taken from TES Editorial, 2012 Advice to help you handle your first assembly TSL Education Ltd. Cited 20.10.2012. URL: http://newteachers.tes.co.uk/news/advice-help-you-handle-your-first-assembly/45539
Image: http://www.draw3d.com/mkSchoolAssembly50.gif
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