The teacher workload crisis is hitting headlines on an increasingly frequent basis. Educators are expected to keep huge amount of plates spinning at all times, so it’s vital that they have everything they need. However, even with all of the most cutting-edge resources around, schools are all-too-often short on arguably the most rarefied asset: time. This is the issue that the team at TrainingToolz is looking to overhaul for good.
Many schools struggle to get parent / community engagement right. The nature of teaching sees us thrown into a classroom with 20 or so students; when a bell goes, we move on to another class, and then to another. Our teaching is dictated by the bell. Unless collaborative time is factored into our busy days, we tend to work in isolation; sharing a few ideas as we pass by each other, or when we get a chance to meet at breaks over casual conversations. So if we find it difficult to find collaborative time with each other, how on earth can we find the time to get parents and the community engaged?
A typically time-pressed Secondary school teacher, Rob spends most evenings planning lessons, marking work, grappling with new specifications, deciphering mark schemes and pondering issues of behaviour management. In his third year of teaching English, he enjoys his work, but increasingly feels there’s just not enough hours in the day. Oh, and he’s just learnt he’ll be picking up a GCSE Drama class in September…
With International Day of Sport for Development and Peace taking place on Friday 6th April, we wanted to share some resources and organisations to help your school up its PE and outdoor learning game today.
For schools looking to enhance teacher CPD, finding the right resources can be a tremendous hurdle. Therefore, knowing that an asset is both backed by in-depth research and popular with other schools is a real advantage. Enter Swivl, and their mission to create a culture of support in education.
All children need support both at home and at school, feeling happier and more secure when the two work collaboratively as one. This is when effective learning takes place; pupils grow in confidence and self-esteem and feel fulfilled. So, how do we as schools achieve this partnership and make it work effectively for our children?
One of the UK’s leading edu-experts went undercover at this year’s Education Show in Birmingham. Here, they weigh in on a few of their free favourites from the event...
In the current climate, cash-strapped schools are still looking closely after their expenses, and may be tempted to look at free resources. As I was strolling around the Education Show earlier this month, a few free apps jumped at me for their brilliance.
HUE's colourful cameras are instantly recognisable to any teacher who has come across them in the media, online, at an exhibition or - as is often the case - in the staff room via a colleague recommendation. Whether it's the striking shape, distinctive colours or the talk of how they are transforming lessons, these devices certainly demand your attention!
How can schools streamline their processes in order to be more cost-effective? Experts from four of the UK’s leading edu-suppliers weigh in...
It is a beautiful March day: slight breeze, sun’s out, chilly with the feeling that spring is nearly there. I am sitting at the back of a 2nd floor classroom facing a newly-qualified teacher as part of his mentoring support, observing a lesson. His target: pupil engagement. He is at the front of a twitchy, but generally well-behaved Year 5 class standing at the interactive whiteboard. The activity seems engaging - learners are invited to come up to the board and use labels to match parts of trees, comparing these to flowers and plants. Either side of the whiteboard are large windows. The one to his right faces out over the city - a great view. The one to his left overlooks the school field, with more trees than I can count.
