When school leadership teams come unstuck
School leadership is fast and furious full of plot twists and unexpected turns. Decisions are made at high speeds with little or no time to pit stop for adjustments. …
Effective questioning techniques to engage all pupils
As teachers we ask a lot of questions and I mean a lot. I’ve read some reports that suggest that we ask nearly 400 a day! That is an …
Marking shortcuts to reduce teacher workload
The national picture towards marking has drastically changed since I first wrote Is Written Feedback a Waste of Time?. Gone are the days (I hope) of triple marking, unrealistic …
Quick tips to write effective multiple choice questions
The testing effect phenomenon repeatedly demonstrates that testing, instead of traditional studying, can improve long term memory retention, support knowledge transfer skills and enhancing the recall of non-tested material. …
Sorry teaching and learning, please move to the back of the queue
Recent talk from Ofsted suggests that more focus is being directed toward curriculum. Although there is still a piece of work needed on a framework, it is about time …
Want to change the world? Start by making your bed: Questions for school leaders
Nearly four decades ago Navy Seal Admiral William H. McRaven graduated from the University of Texas but what he learnt in the first six months of Seal training set …
When raising aspirations become more focused on the short term
It is not uncommon for many schools to proudly promote on their website or literature about raising the aspirations of their pupils – I do it. And many schools …
Effective use of instruction to minimise cognitive load to enhance learning
Learning is meant to be difficult; if it’s not hard then you are probably not learning. Yet, that does not mean we ignore the unnecessary complexities added to instruction …
Pedagogical Zombies
Teaching is no stranger to the littered landscape of ghastly ghouls and spirits that creep in and out of classrooms whispering spells of learning styles and multiple intelligences. Many …
How routines can automate expectations to generate more learning time
Learning to drive a car can be very difficult even for the most confident of person. Sitting in the driver’s seat, with the key in your hand, the whole …