The Recitation
One hour meetings of 10-30 student sections once a week to discuss the course concepts and work through example problems. It is not a lecture and it is not an opportunity for the TA to do the student’s homework assignment.
To give the student a chance to ask questions in a less formal and more intimate environment than the lecture. It is a time to correct misperceptions and holes in the student’s understanding left by the lecture/text/homework. It is a good time to work out many problems so the student can learn how to solve problems by example.
The TA is the facilitator
Try to make students feel comfortable
“Uncover” areas of difficulty for students and help them out
Give feedback to the professor for the course