Sorry SammiJane I had to reply, please take it as good discussion only.

The test they did was a multiple intelligence test and its routine for the first few weeks of school but perhaps unfortunately gets lost in high school assuming its been done earlier on.
This is a great way to build confidence but all the intelligences need to be explored, a child who thinks they are no good at maths is hardly likely to use a pie graph to represent something .... until they learn what one is. The punctuation exercise was good but it was in isolation. There was no explanation of what their functions were. Its one thing to identify something but you really need to be able to use it, and its the correct use of them that matters, why not tell them this.

I just feel that with these kids they need someone to say (literally) that they are not going anywhere and they are here to help. The way many of them spoke to the kids instantly put them on the defensive as it would anyone, child or adult. Not once did they instruct them on their behaviours or even remind them, they just assumed they knew and I think this is where mistakes are made. A lot of children don't realise its rude to sit slumped back in the chair.

There were so many incidences where these little things could have been mentioned. Not once did I hear gratitude from teachers thanking them for listening, taking part, being tidy etc ...what you give out comes back

the isolating of Dale in front of his peers was dreadful, how humiliating for him not only in front of people he was trying to impress but on tv. The manner in which he spoke to him and all of them was harsh, if another adult spoke to me like that i'd want to leave, kids are no different.