Teachers are the experts! - Why you can't beat teachers when it comes to delivering PSHE lessons
Okay, we get it. PSHE can be tricky. Lots of the content changes quickly, and new issues always crop up. It can sometimes be embarrassing for teachers and pupils, and it's rarely a curriculum area where teachers have had much specialist training.
Considering how you can 'bail out' of teaching this subject might be tempting. Is there a button we can press, and AI takes over? Can we follow the lessons provided in a portal-based system? Do we invest in self-appointed experts to deliver lessons via video or even come into school to work with our students? Do we even have the budget for this?
I'd urge you to stop, take a breath and think again. Give me two minutes to convince you why teachers should be firmly in the driving seat when delivering PSHE and personal development lessons.
If you are familiar with the Chameleon PDE philosophy, you will know that we are all about empowering teachers to deliver engaging and relevant PSHE lessons confidently. We provide everything you need to do this, but ultimately, every setting and student group is unique.
This means only you have the expertise to deliver an ambitious, adaptive, and student-focused programme. Here are the top five reasons why I believe this.
1. Awareness of your students
Only you know the students in your school. You will understand their needs, their best learning style, and how to adapt lessons to ensure you modify content to meet those particular student needs. Adaptive learning is key. No matter the effectiveness of the marketing messages, a one-size-fits-all approach cannot do this.
2. Role modelling
Teachers are great role models, and PSHE lessons are the ideal place to demonstrate some of the behaviours that your students need to develop. Someone presenting themselves on screen as an effective role model can work occasionally to emphasise a specific topic or give a different perspective. Still, there is no substitute for teachers as role models. Results from our unique 'How Are You' student voice survey demonstrate how great staff role modelling links to highly rated PSHE lessons.
3. Expert facilitation
You have spent years honing your craft. You know all about pedagogy and can apply these skills to any lesson. Your teaching expertise and knowledge of your student groups will enable you to impart the knowledge they need effectively. You will also be able to facilitate activities that allow the development of skills, values, and attitudes. These are as important as knowledge but less tangible, measuring learning or evidencing progress. The nuances within your teaching approach to help young people develop often come from your empathy, sensitivity and understanding towards your students. It's about people, not portals!
4. Connecting learning
It's important to keep lessons distanced and not share personal details with your students. Always use the ground rules! However, PSHE is a living, breathing subject area that permeates many aspects of life. You can connect learning to what is happening in other curriculum areas, celebrations or events in school, and even the local community. All of this will enhance shared humanity and emphasise your role-modelling behaviour. Sometimes, you can draw on your experiences or admit you don't know something and will have to find out. This helps develop the human connection that is a big part of PSHE as well as general staff and student well-being.
5. Building your expertise
Handing responsibility for PSHE to someone else limits your opportunities to become 'the expert' in this vital curriculum area. Isn't it better to have an extensive, editable resource library that provides supportive teacher notes, multi-media content, teacher CPD, and insightful student voice surveys? The Chameleon PDE approach helps you develop expertise with an easily adaptable programme that can evolve to meet student needs in this fast-changing curriculum area.
As an organisation that lives and breathes personal development, PSHE and empowering teachers, are we the experts? Well, maybe in one subject for one day, but it inevitably changes again. And, of course, we would never claim that we know what's best for your students. However, I will happily take the award for being the 'expert' on supporting teachers to become empowered and confident to develop an evidence-based, student-voice-led programme.
To find out more about our 'wrap-around' support for PSHE/PD teachers, get in touch at- info@chameleonpde.com
