2019 the year of FOCUS

UPDATE! (3rd June 2019) My debut novel, Kathmandu, is out now! Click below to start reading now: UPDATE! (5th April 2019) I'm really pleased to show you this. Finally, after focusing on writing for the last few months, I received the proof copy of my book Kathmandu today. 2019 the year of focus (original article) …

Nine things to think about when you’re training to teach

I remember embarking on my own teacher training journey a few years ago. Quite honestly, I had no idea what it would involve. I knew people who were teachers, had spent some time in school, but what it would be like to be a teacher was unknown territory. With that in mind, here’s some advice …

The Healthy Teacher Project 6 – Interview with Sian Rowland

What is The Healthy Teacher Project?  Sian Rowland is a freelance trainer, advisor and writer. Much of her work surrounds creating teaching resources for education and other businesses. She was a primary school teacher for a number of years, before moving into leadership, before becoming an advisor for the Local Education Authority before working for …

Teachers – five reasons to keep, value and proritise your hobbies

Answer this honestly - how many hobbies or interests do you no longer regularly follow because of teaching? As I write it's the final weekend of the summer half term. The academic year has flown -year 6 sats are done, year 11 are on their way out and we have seven and a half weeks …

Introduction to Shakespeare lesson – My Shakespeare

I enjoy teaching Shakespeare - which is good as I cover it with all of my classes every year! This is an introductory lesson using 'My Shakespeare' by Kate Tempest. I've used this a number of times for years 7, 8 or 9. Students consider the impact The Great Man has had on our language …

How to set personal, achievable targets

As teachers, we're always talking about targets. Professionally we have them, our schools all have them (on everything from pupil attainment to recycling), out students have them - but do you have them personally?