[Insert inspirational quote about failure here] I fail therefore I succeed. Failure is the pathway to success. Learn to fail – learn to succeed. The internet is awash with aphorisms like these. A million posters about attitude and mindset capture the same common sense truth. Failure, although bitter to the taste, is crucial medicine for […]
Focusing on Failure Read More »
I have stolen this catchy title from the eminently likeable Mike Cladingbowl, OFSTED’s Director of Schools. You heard me right – top inspector praised for his sage words about teaching and learning. Here they are for your delectation: “What about teachers’ subject knowledge, the children’s sense of routine, the ability to turn direction mid-sentence, a
Infectious Explanations Read More »
Few things in education are as spectacularly emotive and ire-inducing as the choice of books we read for English Literature in schools. This last week we have seen Gove receive a full-frontal assault for the mere suggestion of removing books from the GCSE specification (did he or didn’t he – the inspector will likely call).
Whose Canon is it Anyway? Read More »
Are you looking to change the behaviour of your students, or tweak the habits of your fellow teachers – then go EAST… Make the desired behaviour Easy. Make the desired behaviour Attractive. Make the desired behaviour Social. Make the desired behaviour Timely. The ‘Behavioural Insights Team‘ is a government organisation (now working with the charity,
Etymology (noun) The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. Etymology is often often considered the preserve of the English teacher. I would argue that it is a goldmine of an opportunity (too often missed) for teachers of every subject discipline. The stories that underpin our language can
What is in a word? Etymology for Every Teacher Read More »
Please take a minute to undertake the following little linguistic task. Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Write down a few sentences that describe yourself in a good mood. Now, write some sentences that describe yourself in a bad mood. Do you notice any patterns of language? Do you employ any clichés or common
The Magic of Metaphor Read More »
What if we are not the accurate judges that we think ourselves to be? What if our natural biases get the better of us, even when we don’t expect them to do so? Does it mean we are not really very good at assessing the work of our own students? Over these last few weeks,
The ‘Halo Effect’ and Teacher Assessment Read More »
