"Why do they have to keep on changing things?" It's a characteristic complaint from teachers and leaders in all parts of the UK, but especially in England. Our political system means we are locked into short-term cycles. Politicians come and politicians go. In education departments it means there is a revolving door of ministers, each often eager to implement their own priorities and projects. Civil servants jump, new directions are announced, plans are made ... and then suddenly the minister is promoted, moved to a new department, or dismissed. It's no wonder that lurches in education policy can feel so bewilderingly frequent and uncoordinated. And it's also no wonder that teachers can become demoralised, be left feeling deskilled, and feel cynical about the role of politicians. So how can we change this? This book collects the views of serving school and college leaders, of policy-makers, and of former education secretaries. It asks them what they would do if they were in charge, and it asks those who were once in charge what they would do differently. 'If I Were Education Secretary ...' provides a fascinating glimpse into education policy as it is now - but also a template for how it could become more powerfully coherent in the future, moving a good education system to genuinely world class.

The second edition of David Dunn's bestselling How to be an Outstanding Primary School Teacher, now updated to reflect changes in teaching initiatives and educational policy, including valuable new content on using technology in the primary classroom. This book features lots of easy-to-introduce activities and techniques that will propel satisfactory and good lessons into the outstanding category - not just when being observed, but all the time. And the best news? It tells you how to do this without spending lots more time planning, researching and preparing 'out of this world' lessons. David Dunn provides invaluable advice on all areas of classroom practice, from lesson planning to differentiation, questioning and assessment for learning. There are dozens of starters, plenaries and useful websites, and the author's own website offers resources to save you even more time. A must for all primary school teachers who want to become outstanding, not just for the inspectors but for every child they teach.

Teaching Children to Listen in Primary Schools contains a wealth of interventions to improve listening skills across the school. It is perfect for classrooms where poor listening is an increasing barrier to teaching as the resultant distractible behaviour can make it difficult for the rest of the class to pay attention. Specialist speech and language therapists Liz Spooner and Jacqui Woodcock present activities to develop children's key listening skills, as well as a rating scale to assess pupils on each of the four rules of good listening - looking at the person who is talking; sitting still; staying quiet; and listening to all the words. They offer advice on using these findings to inform individual education plans. Liz and Jacqui also look at why listening is important and offer 40 games to encourage children to become good listeners. This practical guide not only contains photocopiable resources, assessment and teaching suggestions with clear and concise explanations from professionals who directly work with children on a daily basis, but it also pinpoints the behaviours that children need to learn in order to be good listeners. Teaching Children to Listen in Primary Schools is an invaluable resource for practically developing children's listening skills. For activities aimed specifically at Early Years children, check out Teaching Children to Listen in the Early Years.

Teaching Children to Listen in the Early Years contains a wealth of interventions to teach young children the rules of good listening and why they are important. It is perfect for Early Years practitioners and settings where poor listening is an increasing barrier to teaching and growing numbers of children find it a challenge to stay focused on a task and follow even simple instructions, especially as technology proliferates. This affects young children's learning in all curriculum areas and their resultant distractible behaviour can make it more difficult for the rest of the class to pay attention. Specialist Speech and Language Therapists Liz Spooner and Jacqui Woodcock offer clear ideas for differentiation along with ideas to help children apply their improved skills, whilst supporting target setting and evaluation of progress. They also make suggestions for adapting the Early Years learning environment to maximise listening and they consider how listening can be encouraged by analysing language and expression when addressing children in the classroom. This practical guide not only contains photocopiable resources, a full-colour plate section, assessments and teaching suggestions with clear and digestible explanations from professionals who work directly with children on a daily basis, but it also pinpoints the behaviours that children need to learn in order to become good listeners. Teaching Children to Listen in the Early Years is an invaluable resource perfect for Early Years practitioners and settings. For activities aimed specifically at primary-age children, check out Teaching Children to Listen in Primary School.

No matter what you teach, there is a 100 Ideas title for you! The 100 Ideas series offers teachers practical, easy-to-implement strategies and activities for the classroom. Each author is an expert in their field and is passionate about sharing best practice with their peers. Each title includes at least ten additional extra-creative Bonus Ideas that won't fail to inspire and engage all learners. Questioning is key to effective teaching and learning, yet practical questioning strategies that are immediately useable in the classroom can be hard to come by. 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Questioning presents practical strategies, games and activities not only to help teachers improve their own questioning in the classroom, but also to allow pupils to develop an understanding of how they too can ask effective questions to develop their learning. Using philosophical approaches including ownership, authenticity, balance and Socratic principles, Peter Worley, co-founder of The Philosophy Foundation, provides guidance and ideas on how questioning can help pupils reach the next step and activate their own thinking. He also encourages teachers to reflect on their practice and the effect of questioning on children's progress. The ideas in this book are applicable to all subjects in a primary teacher's curriculum and are ideal for establishing good questioning strategies and a solid understanding of this core element of teaching.

This exciting new book from the bestselling authors of The Science of Learning takes complex ideas around teaching and learning and makes them easy to understand and apply through beautifully illustrated graphics. Each concept is covered over a double-page spread, with a full-page graphic on one page and supportive text on the other. This unique combination of accessible images and clear explanations helps teachers navigate the key principles and understand how to best implement them in the classroom. Distilling key findings and ideas for great evidence-based teaching from a broad range of contemporary studies, the book covers the research findings, ideas and applications from the most important and fundamental areas of teaching and learning including: Retrieval Practice Spacing Interleaving Cognitive Load Theory Rosenshine’s Principles Feedback Resilience Metacognition Written to support, inspire and inform teaching staff and those involved in leadership and CPD, Teaching & Learning Illuminated will transform readers' understanding of teaching and learning research.

The 'Carrying on in Key Stage 1' series supports the continuing growth and development of independent learning and practical activities, which are features of early learning. The aim is to encourage teachers in Key Stage 1 to build on the best of practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage, balancing adult directed tasks with learning that children initiate and develop themselves. The activities covered by the series are the ones children often say they miss most when they move into Years 1 and 2. Water offers ideas and guidance for providing children with a wide range of interesting challenges to use this fascinating, free resource in a variety of ways and using a range of tools and equipment, extending their work in other subjects through motivating practical activities. The authors are all experienced educators who have worked in schools, settings and local authority support services, and are now in high demand as writers and trainers.

The 'Carrying on in Key Stage 1' series supports the continuing growth and development of independent learning and practical activities, which are features of early learning. The aim is to encourage teachers in Key Stage 1 to build on the best of practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage, balancing adult directed tasks with learning that children initiate and develop themselves. The activities covered by the series are the ones children often say they miss most when they move into Years 1 and 2. Sand offers ideas and guidance for providing children with a wide range of interesting challenges to use sand, gravel and other natural materials to explore, construct, imagine and experiment. It supports development in literacy, numeracy and creativity through active play and problem solving. The authors are all experienced educators who have worked in schools, settings and local authority support services, and are now in high demand as writers and trainers.

There are a lot of redundant processes in schools. We need to take a hard look at these and consider whether they are adding value to the core purpose of schools. We need to apply Greg McKeown's 'disciplined pursuit of less' in order to create the time and space to do deep, satisfying work on the curriculum. This means that there will be some hard choices and recognise that if we cannot do everything, we need to move to a space which acknowledges there will be trade offs. This is more than a workload issue, it is about focusing our efforts on the most important agenda item in schools today - the development of an ambitious curriculum for every child, in every school.

Establishing a teaching routine that works may be tricky, and this book offers you a tried and tested teaching routine that will be invaluable for educators and school leaders in different settings. With the aim of taking you out of your comfort zone and to constantly review your teaching style, you will be challenged to understand when things are going well and when things need change through reflection and feedback on your practice. You will be guided on how to set clear expectations at the start of every lesson, understanding the journey of the learner, collaborating, reflecting on your own practice and effective questioning. Mark Martin MBE aka @urban_teacher is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Education Practice.

When bad behaviour threatens to derail lessons and undermine teaching, it's easy to feel like you've run out of solutions. Enter: Nikki Cunningham-Smith. With her comforting sense of humour, wealth of experience and ability to see positives in even the most nightmarish of classroom scenarios, Nikki encourages early career teachers to reflect on their practice, take care of their mental health and implement behaviour management strategies that really work. Feel Free to Smile draws on anecdotes from Nikki's time as a teacher in alternative provision settings, as well as contributions from fellow professionals and current NQTs such as Ross Morrison McGill, Vivienne Porritt, Kemi Oloyede and Sarah Mullin. It provides practical strategies, tips and quick fixes for dealing with difficult behaviour and keeping your cool in testing situations. With advice on all aspects of behaviour, as well as reflective questions and space to jot down your thoughts, this book is the perfect companion if you're feeling daunted by challenging behaviour and looking for an experienced voice to help lead the way.

Literacy is a skill for all time, for all people. It is an integral part of our lives, whether we are students or adult professionals. Giving all educators the breadth of knowledge and practical tools that help students strengthen their literacy skills is the focus of Read, Write, Lead. Drawing on her experience as a mentor teacher, reading specialist, instructional coach, and staff developer, author Regie Routman offers time-tested advice on how to develop a schoolwide learning culture that leads to more effective reading and writing across the curriculum. She explains how every school-including yours-can: Implement instructional practices that lead to better engagement and achievement in reading and writing for all students, from kindergarten through high school, including second-language and struggling learners. Build Professional Literacy Communities of educators working together to create sustainable school change through professional learning based on shared beliefs. Reduce the need for intervention through daily practices that ensure success, even for our most vulnerable learners. Embed the language of productive feedback in responsive instruction, conferences, and observations in order to accelerate learning for students, teachers, and leaders. In their own voices, teachers, principals, literacy specialists, and students offer real-life examples of changes that led to dramatic improvement in literacy skills and-perhaps just as important-increased joy in teaching and learning. Scattered throughout the book are ""Quick Wins""-ideas and actions that can yield positive, affirming results while tackling the tough work of long-term change.

Much of what we do in classrooms is intuitive, steered by what 'feels right', but all too often intuition proves a poor, sometimes treacherous guide. Although what we know about the workings of the human brain is still pitifully little, the science of psychology can and has revealed certain surprising findings that teachers would do well to heed. Over the past few decades, psychological research has made real strides into understanding how we learn, but it's only in the last few years that education has become aware of these insights. Part of the problem is a tendency amongst teachers to resist being told 'what works' if it conflicts with intuition. Whilst we cannot and should not relinquish our professional judgement in the face of outlandish claims, we should at least be aware of what scientists have discovered about learning, thinking, motivation, behaviour and assessment over the past few decades. This though is far easier said than done. Every year thousands of research papers are published, some of which contradict each other. How can busy teachers know which research is worth investing time in reading and understanding? Here, David Didau and Nick Rose attempt to lay out the evidence and theoretical perspectives on what they believe are the most important and useful psychological principles of which teachers ought to be aware. That is not to say this book contains everything you might ever need to know - there is no way it could - it is merely a primer. We hope that you are inspired to read and explore some of the sources for yourself and see what other principles can find a home in your classroom. Some of what we present may be surprising, some dubious, but some in danger of being dismissed as 'blindingly obvious'. Before embracing or dismissing any of these principles we urge you to interrogate the evidence and think carefully about the advice we offer. While nothing works everywhere and everything might work somewhere, this is a guide to what we consider the best bets from the realm of psychology.

Bring myths and legends alive in your classroom. *20 myths and legends from across the UK are presented here as model texts for teaching writing in Key Stages 1 and 2; *Teaching ideas and activities are included in all chapters alongside writing tasks for your class, based on parts of the stories; *The activities support children to bring their own voices alive through their writing; *They are encouraged to imagine characters, create settings, develop storylines and weave themes and challenges into their narratives. A 'how to' guide for teaching children in primary schools to write their own myths and legends.

With foreword by Harry K. Wong Change is coming at us from all angles: technological, cultural, social, and environmental. This presents a great challenge (and a great opportunity) in schools and in the teaching profession. With Owning It, you'll discover an array of easy-to-implement strategies designed to help you excel in the myriad of modern-day responsibilities of teachers and educators: classroom leader, mentor, colleague, team member, and public professional. This book will empower teachers to own their careers, teach effectively, and develop strong relationships: Acquire straightforward strategies for dealing with everyday situations found in classrooms, schools, and communities. Understand the multifaceted role of a teacher in today's schools and how to balance the numerous responsibilities -- from classroom management to relationships with colleagues. Feel inspired and motivated to bring out the best in yourself as well as in your students. Observe creative approaches to improve teaching strategies and student engagement. Answer reflection questions to connect with and relate to the strategies covered in the book. Contents: Part 1: Owning It in Your Classroom: Strategies for Creating an Environment of Achievement Chapter 1: Revisit Your Personal Philosophy's Value Chapter 2: Make the Most of the First Five Minutes of Any Class Chapter 3: Increase Your Classroom Presence to Seem Like You're Everywhere at Once Chapter 4: Never Sabotage a Teachable Moment Chapter 5: Help Students Learn Out Loud and Still Keep a Handle on Your Classroom Chapter 6: Transform Your Perception of Data and Help Your Students Succeed Chapter 7: Think Outside the Bubble on All-Important Standardized Tests Part 2: Owning It With Your Most Challenging Students: Strategies for Succeeding With At-Risk and Struggling Student Populations Chapter 8: Bring Ethnic Identity and Culturally Relevant Curriculum Into Your Classroom Chapter 9: Close the Achievement Gap With At-Risk Students Chapter 10: Succeed With At-Risk Youth Chapter 11: Manage Disruptive Classroom Behavior Chapter 12: Establish a Negotiation With At-Risk and Struggling Students Chapter 13: Reel Parents in With Three Basic Strategies Chapter 14: Empower Students by Putting Them in Charge Part 3: Owning It at Your School and District: Strategies for Succeeding as a Member of a Staff Team Chapter 15: Turn Not Another Meeting Into Let's Get to Business! Chapter 16: Help Your School's New Teachers Succeed (and Stick Around) Chapter 17: Improve Schools by Minding Collegial Generation Gaps Chapter 18: Approach a Colleague About a Conflict Chapter 19: Five Ways to Make Shared Positions Work for Teachers, Students, and Administrators Part 4: Owning It in Your Community: Strategies for Making a Positive Impact Beyond Your School and Classroom Chapter 20: Turn Potential Foes Into Supportive Allies Chapter 21: Put the Spotlight on Your School Chapter 22: Get Teachers Into the Community and the Community Into Teachers Chapter 23: Step Up and Share Your Ideas With Fellow Educators Chapter 24: Make Blogs an Essential Support Mechanism for Teaching

Seminars and tutorials are staples of higher and professional education courses - but running them well and ensuring that they are effective is not easy. 53 interesting things to do in your seminars and tutorials provides practical suggestions, each tried and tested, for ways to develop your professional practice. The book is designed for dipping into to find ideas to dovetail with your own approach and context. Abstract: 53 practical ideas for the organisation and running of seminars and tutorials are presented. They cover: ways to begin; student-led seminars; groupwork; student participation and responsibility; evaluation; written material; and the expression of feelings. For each of the ideas, a problem or issue is identified and a practical teaching or learning method is proposed. In many cases the method is illustrated with examples. In addition, potential obstacles are considered. Overall, the ideas are designed to help reflective practitioners in professional and higher education broaden their repertoire of pedagogical techniques. Key terms: higher education; learning; pedagogy; professional education; seminars; study; teaching; tutorials.The topics covered are wide-ranging. They include: ways to begin; student-led seminars; groupwork; student participation and responsibility; evaluation; written material; and the expression of feelings.

"It is not the role of schools to solve the climate crisis or any of the other multiple crises now facing humankind. But it is powerfully their role, if they so choose, to equip young people as well as possible to deal with the consequences of the serious problems they will be inheriting from their elders, not betters." Could it be our collective failure to respond effectively to the threat of the climate emergency or the challenges of the pandemic has been shaped to a small but significant degree by the nature of the learning that happens in our schools and a failure to enable young people to learn appropriately there? That question lies at the heart of this thought-provoking new book as it unpicks the concept of deep learning for future sustainability. This combines deep understanding with action, and links both to moral purpose. It is not enough just to be concerned about climate change - awareness must lead to action. The book draws on an eclectic range of sources, case studies of actual practice, critical perspectives and opportunities for reflection. The authors argue that first and foremost it is for educators and leaders to get on as best they can in their own school context to do what is both necessary and right to secure learning fit for a just and sustainable future irrespective of governmental lead in these matters. In doing so the authors set out some clear evidence-informed principles for school development and leadership that are central to the success of that mission.

In Running the Room: The Teacher's Guide to Behaviour, Tom Bennett rewrote the book on behaviour management, and outlined the psychology and dynamics underpinning student habits. In this companion, he goes into more detail about how to apply those principles to the classroom. Addressing a wide range of circumstances, he explores popular teacher dilemmas such as: How to deal with students who are late? What are the best ways to work with parents? Managing cover lessons successfully How to tame smartphones The best way to design a seating plan How to start the lesson for the first time Dealing with low-level disruption Getting the class quiet when you - and they - need it the most And many more. Using practical examples and evidence-informed techniques, Tom demystifies the puzzles that complex behaviour often presents, and guides teachers new and old carefully to a better understanding of how to run the room they way everyone deserves.

No matter what you teach, there is a 100 Ideas title for you! The 100 Ideas series offers teachers practical, easy-to-implement strategies and activities for the classroom. Each author is an expert in their field and is passionate about sharing best practice with their peers. Each title includes at least ten additional extra-creative Bonus Ideas that won't fail to inspire and engage all learners. _______________ An essential collection of 100 practical, tried-and-tested ideas for teaching computing in secondary schools. This is the perfect resource for computing teachers at all levels, whether specialist or non-specialist, newly qualified or experienced. From rubber duck debugging to teaching algorithm design through magic tricks and even setting up an escape room to raise awareness about cyber security, this is the ultimate toolkit for any teacher looking to diversify their lesson plans or revamp their teaching of computing. The activities are research-informed and ready to use in Key Stages 3 and 4 classrooms of all abilities, requiring minimum preparation and resources. 100 Ideas for Secondary Teachers: Outstanding Computing Lessons will ignite students' passion for coding, programming and computational thinking. Additional online resources for the book can be found at www.bloomsbury.com/100-ideas-secondary-computing

'A must-read for school leaders and teacher trainers ... I wish every school leader would read this book' Dr Min Du, Teacher, researcher and international education consultant The new, fully updated edition of Ross Morrison McGill's bestselling Mark. Plan. Teach., now complete with a visual guide to the key ideas, illustrated by Oliver Caviglioli. Mark. Plan. Teach. 2.0 includes an illustrated visual booklet, a foreword by Professor Andy Hargreaves and exciting new ideas in line with current best practice, recent thinking and developments around marking and feedback. There are three things that every teacher must do: mark work, plan lessons and teach students well. This refreshed guide from Ross, bestselling author of 100 Ideas for Secondary Teachers: Outstanding Lessons, Teacher Toolkit and Just Great Teaching, is packed full of practical ideas that will help teachers refine the key elements of their profession. Mark. Plan. Teach. 2.0 shows how each stage of the teaching process informs the next, building a cyclical framework that underpins everything that teachers do. With teachers' workload still at record levels and teacher recruitment and retention the number one issue in education, ideas that really work and will help teachers not only survive but thrive in the classroom are in demand. Every idea in Mark. Plan. Teach. 2.0 can be implemented by all primary and secondary teachers at any stage of their career and will genuinely improve practice. The ideas have been tried and tested and are supported by evidence that explains why they work, including current educational research and psychological insights from Professor Tim O'Brien, leading psychologist and Honorary Professor at UCL Institute of Education.

Teaching in secondary schools requires a professional mindset, a range of skills and the confidence to face challenging situations. This highly practical and accessible book for all secondary School Direct trainees will give you the building blocks of knowledge and skill that all teachers need. It offers space to question what happens in school and advice about how to make sense of it. With examples from students who have done it all ahead of you, you will be guided through key issues faced while training to be a teacher: wellbeing, managing classroom behaviour, handling the workload, lesson planning, adapting your teaching and assessing learning, and more. Key features include: Reflections to help you to think what it means to your practice Action boxes with practical advice on how to further develop your teaching Advice on further study John Keenan is Senior Lecturer in Secondary Education at Newman University. Andy Hind is Head of Secondary Teacher Education at the University of Warwick.