DIAGNOSING PUPILS

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31384, 1 June 1967, Page 10

DIAGNOSING PUPILS

“Student-teachers have a vital need to be exposed, during their period of training, to direct experience in diagnosing pupil needs, and planning appropriate developmental and corrective activities to assist pupils in their progress in learning to read,” said Mr G. Guy, principal of the Christchurch ! Teachers' College, in a recent i report to the Canterbury Education Board. “In the past this experience ' has been gained while students have been out on school ■ section but, with the commencement of the three-year : course, this will no longer be possible, because of the ! semester-type time-table, : placement of school practice, > and the organisation of stu- ■ dents Into their various syl-

labus studies over the first two years of their course. “A trial programme was conducted by bringing a class from Elmwood School into the college library where a group of students took them individually through a series of reading tests with follow-up reading lessons. “The experiment was highly successful and the carrels in the library proved entirely suitable for this testing-teach-ing programme. “Mr D. B. Doake conducted this experiment and as he will not be able to use the library ■ carrels for such work in 1 future, he has demonstrated : the necessity for having study ! carrels set up in another room where they would be most . useful for this purpose and ■ would be a valuable amenity ■ for individual study.”