The challenges of part-time teaching

“Well, it’s not going to be as difficult as teaching full time is it?”   That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it? I knew it, and you’re right. I taught full time for five years and I know exactly what the challenges are. After those five years, I felt burned out. So in January 2018, I decided …

Five things being a teacher has taught me

As teachers, we always talk about the progress of our students. We watch them arrive (if you're a secondary school teacher like me) bright-eyed in year 7, and grow almost unrecognizably through to year 11 and sometimes even on to the sixth form. It's one of my favourite parts of the job, which I always …

Creative writing mini scheme of work

I love teaching creative writing and young people can be so good at it. They have such great ideas which, when harnessed, creates some great pieces of work. I've already shared the Creative Writing Structure Strips which are incorporated into this short scheme of work.   I've used this a number of times, often when …

The cost of focus

  At the start of the year (now nearly three months ago) I made a pledge that 2019 was going to be the year of focus. Read 2019 THE YEAR OF FOCUS here. In 2018 I felt I was starting a lot of new projects, and enjoying working on a lot of different things, but …

How to keep your school e-mail under control

I wasn't a teacher before there was e-mail, but I can imagine that it was a different world. Not commenting on that e-mail chain about a particular student's deteriorating behaviour, checking meeting minutes at the weekend or reading back over a conversation you had six months ago. For all the good things e-mail as brought …

Five ways to proofread – both for you and your students

We all know what it's like, you post something online, or send an all-staff e-mail, then notice the glaringly obvious mistake in the first line. That happens because when you read something you've just written, you read what you want it to say - not what's actually written. This is something that affects me, both as …

What to say at parents evening

Parents' evenings can be daunting for both new and experienced teachers. The sheer number of parents each expecting your full attention, detailed answers to complex questions and an in-depth knowledge of how their child is doing. It can sometimes feel like you're the one sitting the exam! Here are a few things to focus on …

Protect the quality of your teaching by harnessing the power of NO

Saying no to something is never popular. People won't praise you for it, they won't thank you for it - however, it could be one of the most important words of your professional career. As teachers, we are great at doing lots of things, we've always got things on the go - but, I think …

The Healthy Teacher Project 9 – Mal Krishnasamy

What is The Healthy Teacher Project? Mal Krishnasamy is an education consultant and leadership coach. She has worked as the head of history, been part of a school's senior team and the management team of a multi-academy trust. I love talking with people like Mal who have stepped away from classroom teaching because their perspectives …

Live marking – what, why and how to do it

Marking is a key part of being a teacher. You couldn't do without it, nor would you want to. It's one of the most revealing and effective ways to tell where your students are with their learning and what you can do to help them. However, the idea that marking has to take you ages, …