New Year’s Day Everyone else: Woah, that was a good night! Will sleep it off and then think about New Year’s resolutions. Teacher: Oh no. I overdid it last night. Less than a week to go, must… do… planning. Valentine’s Day Everyone … Continue reading A Teacher’s Diary VS Non-Teacher’s Diary
Fact: dogs are amazing. They guide the blind, they outperform Oscar winners, they sniff out drugs. The last of these talents might be an added bonus in some schools, but it’s the soft skills I want to focus on. This … Continue reading Why We All Need Dogs in Schools
The English language is a glorious thing! Seemingly innocuous, perhaps even complimentary, statements can often harbour a deliciously deceptive subtext…here are five things teachers say and what they actually mean… Continue reading 5 Things Teachers Say That Mean Something Else Entirely
Penny S-K discusses exams, the US college admissions scandal and the determination to succeed at almost any cost in tonight’s blog. I’m not usually one for celebrity gossip, but the scandal currently rocking Hollywood has had me hooked. Earlier this week, it was announced that actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were among 40 people charged for plotting to cheat on college entrance exams. Partially because I am a big fan of Huffman’s, and partly because I am a teacher, this story has captivated me. The ins and outs of the case are for finer minds than mine, but what … Continue reading Feeling the Pressure
It doesn’t matter where you teach, there are some phrases and questions every student has uttered to their teacher and we’ve all heard them. Here’s a selection of some of the ‘best’. “Do I have to write in full sentences?” … Continue reading 5 Things Students Say to Teachers
Understanding teaching is nigh-on impossible until you do it for yourself. Even the spouses/partners of teachers don’t fully understand its intricacies – but passing comment is easy, but here are a few things you should really, really avoid saying to a teacher. ‘All those holidays must be nice!’ Holidays are amazing. Being able to take a holiday when you want it is just that bit more amazing. Here’s why. Imagine lazing on a beautiful, tropical beach in your swimming shorts/bikini and suddenly hearing a familiar “Hello Sir/Miss! What are you doing here?” as if the child is surprised you’ve been let … Continue reading Things You Should Never Say to a Teacher
What’s happening on Friday? Thousands of UK schoolchildren are preparing to walk out of lessons on Friday as part of a nationwide strike to protest global inaction on climate change. Following the example of Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old activist who held a three-week protest outside the Swedish parliament, students across the globe have been holding ‘Fridays for the Future’ strikes to raise awareness of escalating climate change and demand immediate action from politicians. The growing movement will make its way to the UK for the first time on 15 February, ahead of a planned global strike on 15 March. Greta’s … Continue reading Would You Hand Pupils the Power?
There’s probably not a teacher out there who hasn’t had that conversation. The one where you’re being introduced to someone for the first time and they ask what you do. You tell them you’re a teacher, and they smile, nod and say something along the lines of, ‘How rewarding. Knowing that you’re shaping future generations. It must be great to share your knowledge with young people.’ And it is. Mostly. Of course, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t days when I’d rather poke out my eyes with a blunt stick than stand in front of a class, but … Continue reading Teaching: A Two-Way Street
Content writer Debi, a former pastoral manager, maths teacher and head of year for over 20 years shares some quick behaviour management tips for the classroom. Returning to school in January tends to go one of two ways – the students are either so worn out from the excitement or they’re bouncing off the walls. Both apathy and boundless energy present a challenge to the new and seasoned teacher alike and if the festive holidays have left your memory a little hazy, here are a few quick bullet-point reminders to get the behaviour back on track. Be fair and consistent. … Continue reading Behaviour Management Tips for the Classroom
Christmas is cancelled! Well, the real Christmas at least…we explore the Scrooge Schools that swerve Christmas altogether and attempt to reconcile the much-loved festivals newer, less personal meaning… Continue reading Christmas is Cancelled: The Rise of the Scrooge Schools
