primary

Make Every Week Science Week!

British Science week is here – a ten-day programme of science, technology, engineering and maths events and activities across the UK for people of all ages, beginning 9th March 2018. For information about events happening near your school and for great ideas for STEM activities to do in school go… Read More

How to recharge your teaching batteries

Imagine having that Friday feeling all the time? Well, you won’t have to wait much longer because the Christmas holidays are nearly here. For many teachers, the Christmas holiday is the best time of the year. Not only do you get time off, you get all the festive fun thrown… Read More

Spreading a musical virus

Karen Marshall, co-author of the Get Set! Piano series and How to Teach Instrumental and Singing Lessons – 100 Inspiring Ideas, shares her advice for encouraging children to teach themselves daily through musical games in the playground.  Spreading a musical virus Every Wednesday I work at a Primary school – teaching… Read More

10 Ways To Give Better Feedback

Feedback comes in all shapes, sizes and flavours but the bottom line is that it must serve a learning function to bring about transformation and improve performance. Feedback needs to be expansive and dynamic, not limited and static so that it focuses hearts and minds on progress. Be on time… Read More

10 Things Effective Teachers Do

Looking to become a more effective teacher? Read John Dabell’s list of the 10 things that effective teachers do. If only we could bottle the skills, knowledge, behaviours, qualities and competences required to be an excellent teacher.  The contents could be poured onto the heads of newly qualified teachers so… Read More

Equipping children for their future through music and song

Thank you to music education expert Andy Silver for this guest post. For me, education is about more than just academia: of equal if not greater importance is the development of a child’s personal capabilities and the growth of attributes for life. The question of coping in ‘the real world’… Read More

Assessment in Primary Science

There is a good, shared understanding of why we assess in in primary schools, but feeling confident about what to do to assess in science is challenging.  Teachers should use formative assessment as part of their everyday practice to help pupils achieve the learning that is set out… Read More

What happens after Science Week?

Children love Science Weeks and Science Days, when the regular timetable is relaxed and every lesson is their favourite one – science! Of course British Science Week is the ideal opportunity to do this, but you can hold a School Science Week at any time to suit your school. Whatever… Read More

Cultivating Curiosity

At the end of last year I was asked to speak at The Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) Educators Conference in Copenhagen. The theme of the conference was Cultivating Curiosity, not just from the viewpoint of inquiry as a catalyst for learning, but also in trying to… Read More