Abstract
<jats:p>This article examines the role of the academic discipline “Pedagogical Skills” in the development of professional competencies among trainee primary school teachers. The relevance of the issue is demonstrated, as it stems from the transformative changes in Ukraine’s education system and the current requirements for the professional training of primary school teachers. The list of professional competences for prospective primary school teachers, as defined by national standards and the programme for the specialism, has been clarified; the development of these competences is facilitated through the study of the subject ‘Teaching Skills’. These include linguistic and communicative, psychological, emotional and ethical, evaluative and analytical, and innovative competences, as well as competence in pedagogical partnership and the capacity for continuous professional development (lifelong learning). The aims, objectives and thematic content of the course are described. Examples of forms and methods of teaching activities that ensure the development of professional competences in future primary school teachers are presented. The effectiveness of problem-based lectures and visualisation-based lectures, training sessions, pair and small-group work, the case study method, role-playing, SWOT analysis, the scribing method, pedagogical cafés and workshops has been assessed. The focus is on the educational potential of art therapy techniques and interactive teaching methods (“Take a Stand”, “Discussion Web”, “Microphone”, “Brainstorming”, “Aquarium”, “Decision Tree”, “Microphone”, “Socratic Dialogue”, “Press Method”, panel discussion, “Idea Mat”, etc.). It has been demonstrated that the described approach to teaching the subject ensures that trainee primary school teachers acquire the theoretical knowledge and practical skills that form the basis of the professional competences set out in the educational and curriculum guidelines.</jats:p>