Early in my A Block experience, I realized that a major factor contributing to the success, or otherwise, of my lessons was pacing. This is an area I am looking to improve during my Block A placement. The advice given by Gererd Dixon (2011: online) is: “One of the most difficult things for new teachers is to inject rhythm and meaning into lessons. whilst recognizing the needs of slower learners in the class. “Determining the correct pace for my lessons has proven to be a struggle because it requires the teacher to understand the needs of the different learners in the room. By moving too quickly, I left the students behind, while giving them too much time led to inappropriate behavior and boredom. My task was to try to find strategies to create a balance between the two and, in doing so, create an environment in which students are not left behind and have ample opportunity to discuss their emerging ideas and conclude their understanding. During my internship, I struggled to find a way to organize time within the course, especially when I did not know my students (see week 6, paragraph 3). The problems with the pacing of the lesson started in the planning phase, where I struggled to assign the correct times to activities. I found that due to my lack of familiarity with classes, my schedules were often incorrect and my classes often exceeded limits. After a discussion with my subject mentor, I discovered that there were several strategies for working with students to improve the pace of the lesson. The first tactic I tried to implement was in planning so that there would be enough time for understanding and for plenary to conclude the lesson (see week 7, paragraph 2). Although this...... middle of paper ......f the teaching and learning process and it is something I will continue to work on throughout Block B and also when I I will enter the teaching profession. The strategies I used will be very useful in the future; however, I understand that they don't always work with all classes. A key idea that I need to get in sync with is being open to ideas and trying to adapt to different situations within the class. I will be looking for other strategies and tips in the future to further develop my understanding of classroom practice. Works Cited Dixon, G. (2011) Introduce the pace and purpose of your lessons. YOUR. [Online] [Accessed 28 December 2011] http://newteachers.tes.co.uk/news/introducing-pace-and-Purpose-your-lessons/45867Cowley, S. (2009) How to survive your first year education. 2nd ed., Continuum International Publishing Group.