Structured to support teaching assistants, this pioneering textbook provides an academic underpinning to each of the key topics studied. The book: develops the theoretical knowledge needed to enhance work in the classroom; encourages students to reflect on their own practice; is in an ideal textbook format - full of tasks, questions, summaries and reading lists; and covers both primary and secondary years. Practical, easy-to-read and written specifically for teaching assistants, this book is also applicable for any trainee teachers or students of education.