The Professional Teacher
Support for teaching professionals in the classroom and beyondCategory
Managing Behaviour
The Perfect Icebreaker Activity - Call My Bluff
Here's a great icebreaker activity for the start of a new school year, to get your students introducing themselves and talking in small groups.
Rebooting Behaviour in the Classroom
Tom Bennett offers some sage advice here on the advantages of reinforcing our expectations of student behaviour in the schoolroom as a new year comes into focus.
A great present for NQTs
Tom Fay and I had a super day last week presenting at tutor2u's Outstanding Classroom Learning CPD event in London - we always come away with some great new ideas from delegates! Here's one of...
What’s the point of school uniform?
I’ve been presenting at some tutor2u revision workshops across the country for the last few weeks, and have been really struck by the different approaches to school uniforms in schools that have...
Are ADHD children just immature?
Researchers in Taiwan have concluded that often those children diagnosed with ADHD may simply be the youngest in the class - August born children were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as...
Every kid needs a champion
I think this short, 8 minute TED talk by Rita Pierson is well worth a watch. In her words, it provides a rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a...
Cheating Watches in exams
Watches that allow students to cheat in exams have been discovered for sale online - this was only a matter of time, really, given the growth of wearable Smart technology. The specially designed...
How your body language affects your confidence
I've increasingly noticed that a teacher's body language can really impact on the quality of lessons that I have observed. I remember picking up tips from my training mentor years ago on using body...
Practical advice for supporting students with autism
The National Autistic Society's website is full of really useful information to help you support students with autism in the classroom and playground - there is a great interactive infographic to...
What to do with students who don't pay attention
I love posters and infographics in a classroom - this one from Mia MacMeekin is a helpful, visual way of providing hints and tips for practical strategies on how to help all students stay focused...
Guardian Masterclasses on Managing Behaviour in the Classroom
No doubt many teachers watched Channel 4's Educating Essex with headteacher Stephen Drew and the same man in action at Mr Drew's School for Boys, and Channel 4s' Jamie's Dream School with...
Hip Keith Hughes on managing the classroom
I first came across Hip Hughes History in my teaching of US politics, and noticed this morning that he has also posted a number of short videos on managing the classroom. Much of it is simple...
Managing Classroom Behaviour in 1947
Here is a great vintage video clip from 1947 on managing classroom behaviour and improving standards - it could be something to watch in a department meeting to discuss the good points and bad...
Using nudges to improve standards
The nudge theory bandwagon has certainly been jumped on by professionals in all kinds of areas now (see my earlier economics blog post about President Obama's recent executive order on the matter),...
Sesame Street explains the difference between home and school
If you're wondering why some students might just not "get" how they are meant to behave in the classroom, then take a look at this clip from Sesame St and Ed Sheeran about living in the two...