Geography teacher, writer and presenter. Currently a long-term primary supply. Also: music, urban design, and indigenous and education rights.
#LetHerLearn
I am increasingly convinced that putting children into classes who cannot behave safely or for whatever reason cannot reach basic standards of behaviour is a form of collective punishment because it prevents the rest of the class from accessing their right to education.
Advice to anyone applying for teacher training. When they ask: Do you have a car? The answer is always no. Say yes, and universities will send you to Mordor for your placement school.
#PGCE
#teachertwitter
@imgrandsure
- Crypto ad
- Gambling ad
- Another crypto ad
- Another gambling ad
- Unblockable Temu ad
- The same handful of people I follow and none of the hundreds of other people, who might as well not exist.
The single most challenging thing for me about classroom practice is apathy. Today I asked the question, 'How did you get to school today?' and a year 10 just shrugged: 'Dunno'. The refusal to engage with the question is like a reflex, and it's very hard coax more from them.
Is it bad form to cancel an interview if you know you don't really want it? I've got three next week. I'd be very happy to get two of them. The third would be a fantastic job at a fantastic school, but involves moving house, which to be honest I don't want to do.
Watching Cool Runnings this evening. It's one of those films I've seen a thousand times and I will never get bored of! What are your infinitely rewatchable go-to feel-good films?
Disappointed in my year 10s. Doing the Cumbria floods and not one of them laughed at 'Cockermouth'. They're too mature - it's disconcerting.
#geographyteacher
@TomBrawlStars
@NoContextBrits
Chorizo, paella, tapas, tortilla de patatas, gazpacho and loads of other dishes and styles of cooking. Spanish food is delicious.
When I said to my family I was meeting an internet friend my sisters were convinced she'd be a catfish and my parents thought I was going to get robbed/murdered. Turns out she's perfectly lovely and normal and we have had a great day!
Fantastic moment today. Selectively mute year 3 suddenly came alive. Had a bit of spare time so we did a flags/capital cities quiz. Turns out he knows all of them, including all the obscure ones. He pretty much ended up running it, up in front of class and giving them clues!
Why let the rain and
#thunderstorm
put you off getting outside? Here's my nephew sat in a lake absolutely loving life and watching the ducks! No such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing!
#beinganuncle
I'm off! First day at my new school. My car is also packed for stage one of my temporary move to Sussex this weekend. I've got 8 hours of driving to do today, so wish me luck!
#teacher5oclockclub
#teachertwitter
@BBCWiltshire
The idea that widening the road will fix the traffic is false, and proven by many, many projects around the world due to induced demand, among other things. This will not fix the traffic issues. I will continue to enjoy being smug on my motorbike as I ride past queuing traffic!
Some children are not school ready and will not make much progress in mainstream, and that's what various forms of alternative/specialist provision are for. They need properly funding.
@Maarten_BNL
@RichardDawkins
@AdamRutherford
In used to live in South India on a street featuring Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and others, from multiple countries. We got along well. The division comes from political furor. At a human level, we're all quite capable of being friends.
The primary I was at today was fantastic, but I feel disheartened. I know the local secondary well - it's...err...challenging. Most will go there. When these children, whom are polite and in good routines, are suddenly plunged into an environment which isn't, what happens?
@Mark_J_Harper
@Telegraph
Pathetic. We need cities designed for people - liveable, safe places. Measures to reduce vehicle dependency benefit everyone and there are myriad upsides. Car dependency isn't freedom- it restricts where you can go and forces you into owning a vehicle.
@ScottPughsley
Teaching assistants are arguably the worst-paid people in the country, especially when accounting for holidays and the demands involved in the job. Unbelievable how poorly we invest in people doing some of the most important jobs.
Exciting bit of post today which means I finally feel confident making Twitter official: My PGCE certificate arrived! Worth the blood, sweat and tears! Huge thank you to
@Geography_Emma
for being a supportive mentor and everyone at the
@BitterneParkITT
for great training.
Until I've got the certificates in my hands I'm not saying anything official about my PGCE because I'm paranoid I've done something wrong, but today was my last day on placement. I've had a really enjoyable time at my school and I am genuinely sad to leave!
I'm dreading going back to school next week. I still haven't finished my assignment. I'm tired and, thanks to some dental problems (that should get sorted tomorrow), in a fair bit of pain. It's not the teaching bit (which I enjoy); it's everything else.
#PGCE
#edutwitter
@mark_mclaughlin
@EISUnion
All teachers I know work dozens of unpaid hours and spend their own money on supplies (increasingly, this includes breakfast items for children). I got paid more working in publishing than I will as an ECT, and yet being a teacher is infinitely more demanding and responsible.
@RogersHistory
I think one of the big challenges for me is having no one to vent to at home. I live by myself, and after a tough day sometimes you've just got to get stuff off your chest because it can really eat at you.
At the pub with some of the other trainee teachers and I feel old. Especially being single, I feel like they're all getting established onto their career path and talking about becoming heads when they're my age so they can afford to have a family. Not a great feeling.
@AndieG99
And the minority aren't benefiting either - they're stuck in an environment they're obviously struggling with, for whatever reason. And it's really stressful for the teacher, increasing their likelihood of leaving the school (or profession altogether). Nobody wins.
@FeelingForSnow
I've sent the email saying I won't be there, but thank you for the opportunity. When I applied, I didn't have any other job leads, but now I have two other ones that are more local to me and as such are just a better fit right now.
Thanks for the replies everyone - pretty common consensus and I have cancelled (and feeling guilty for having accepted the interview in the first place, but this was before I got the other ones). Muting notifications on this thread now!
Regarding this mediocre 6.5%
#payrise
for
#teachers
, the fact it doesn't also include teaching assistants is unacceptable. TAs are among the most poorly paid workers in the country and do an essential job.
#teachertwitter
#generalstrike
Pleased to say that (having just checked my emails!) I have been formally offered a place to resume my
#PGCE
at! They really loved the lesson I taught on Friday.
@TabitaSurge
She's completely lost the plot and it's become the only thing she ever talks about. I really hope Rowling comes to the realisation that her army of acolytes are, for the most part, deeply unpleasant people, and decides to re-evaluate the company she keeps.
@DrJaninaRamirez
My favourite is that we pay for fuel in pence per litre, but measure fuel efficiency of our vehicles in miles per gallon, which makes calculating the cost of a trip a real nuisance.
@Ethan_LMP
I love that this was basically written as a throwaway/filler Doctor-lite episode, and it's ended up as one of best episodes one pretty much up there with everyone's favourites! Wish Sally Sparrow could have been a companion.
@amanda_spielman
What?! Why?! I genuinely do not understand this. I dropped maths at A-level and toom music instead - the right choice for me. Not saying maths isn't important, just not more important than anything else. I increasingly think UK education has utterly lost the plot.
@EveAinsworth
Amazing! I lost my leopard gecko in 2003. I found her in the bathroom about a year later, perfectly healthy (clearly plenty of critters around to eat!). She's still happy and healthy now at the age of 23. So pleased you found him!
I got persuaded to do something I never do and went out clubbing last night. Proud to say I managed to keep up with a group of 20-something TAs until 3am!
#endofterm
#holidays
@Miss_Snuffy
I am teaching history. I make an active effort to include a wide variety of voices when discussing historical issues, i.e. not just white ones. For example, I've done lessons looking at the role of the Gurkhas in WWII. This is very different to how I was taught at school.
@BBCSteveR
@BBCNews
Imagine being able to say you once jammed with Gorbachev! You've had an amazing career so far. Thanks for sharing - I value your journalism.
@EJ_McGuinness
@RSPBEngland
They shouldn't have apologised and I'm glad they've left the tweets up. I mean, they're true and calling a spade a spade (or a liar a liar) seems reasonable.
@JeanNoir3
@GretaThunberg
She doesn't have the qualifications. She does, however, quote plenty of people who do. Experience wise? More than most of us. Want to dispute her figures and claims? Counter them with other peer-reviewed studies.
@AragonUK21
@JohnSimpsonNews
@TheTeaLady33
Diversity: Not an agenda. We live in a diverse society.
Globalisation: Not an agenda. Whatever your thoughts on it, we're already globalised (and have been for a while).
Climate change: Not an agenda, but scientific fact that is being influenced by humans.
@SimonMagus
@jamesofwalsh
@MattWWoolwich
Personal freedom only exists until it starts to infringe on the personal freedoms of others. Big cars cause loads of problems, like pollution, congestion and the fact they're extremely dangerous to other road users. They're unnecessary for 99% of purposes.
@La_Biologuita
I am a combination of utterly disheartened and angry this evening. We need more SEND and other specialist provision schools, but also we need far more preventative action. Year 3 today - how on Earth does behaviour get this bad when they're still this young? Completely let down.
@DeputyGrocott
Alright, I'm going to get shot for this one (goodbye, followers!), but: Dogs. I like dogs - I grew up with dogs. I enjoy walking dogs. They are not, however, the be all and end all of existence (see e.g. every Tinder/Bumble profile ever).
@AAWoodfields
@MrDavidScales
I look forward to hearing from a generation of Astrea grads in 10 years time about their experiences. My predictions are going to be that most will not have happy memories of bare classrooms and authoritarian leaders who control them into submission.
To all you Cameroonians liking/retweeting this - hope you all enjoy watching the Olympics and best of luck to all your wonderful athletes. Prenez soin de vous tous!
@RogersHistory
After a pandemic you'd think most of us would know at least the basics of disease transfer. Apparently not some Government ministers. (Also, colds really suck and make you feel really rough - you're not doing anything favours by being around others.)
@jonburkeUK
As a teacher, I've visited a lot of school car parks. The abundance of massive cars, driven by staff and parents, is just asking for accidents. Roads in and around schools are quite simply dangerous and we really need to be doing more to reduce car usage to get to school.
@jasonhickel
US is still at it in Bolivia having backed a coup against Evo Morales (first indigenous president who had massively reduced poverty rates) and replaced him with racists who are oppressing indigenous people. Western imperialism is alive and well.
I am really, really tired. I'm basically getting home from school, having dinner and going straight to bed, and I'm still tired. Struggling to find time to exercise, do music practice or any of the other things I usually do to unwind.
@RogersHistory
De-schooling is a thing, and not one I'm entirely unsympathetic with given how corporate education is becoming, which is why subjects like the arts are relegated and hard sciences promoted (at least in state schools - private school students are allowed to pursue arts).
I know I'm late to the party, but after seeing everyone rave about the
#Detectorists
I've decided to give it a go. Five episodes in and I'm hooked! There's a real charm in people with niche hobbies who know everything about it, and the conflicts that arise.
Sadly, we said goodbye to John yesterday. He had a stroke while playing in a bowls tournament on Friday and didn't wake up. Active and healthy to the end. I took this photo when he and my nanny came to visit in April and we went on a very soggy walk around Cheddar.
Today ๐ด:
1. Prepared my year 7 assembly for Monday (first, and last, assembly of my PGCE!)
2. Lesson planning for all my classes finished up until half term
3. All year 7, 8 and 10 marking finished (year 9 left!)
4. Final PGCE assignment fully drafted and ready for tidying
Dear schools, there's a recruitment crisis on, so why do you make your application process so needlessly lengthy? When advertising on platforms like TES and eteach, all that information is there. Please respect my time by not making me duplicate all this information.
@TabitaSurge
Yeah, and teachers feeling rough as because they've caught everything going is hardly great for students either. I know we work in germ factories but please, do not send me your colds. My immune system still hasn't really recovered from covid.
@LuEliz1989
I keep telling my KS3 boys who can't resist poking each other in lessons that when I worked in primary we'd remind them about 'polite hands' and using our 'inside voices'. I'm considering rolling out the same in secondary.
Morning
#teacher5oclockclub
. Hope you're all well. I experimented with waking up at 6am yesterday and, as it turns out, that doesn't leave enough time before I need to leave, so I'm back!
@MsGHist
Not remotely. I love teaching, but I love the holidays too. I've had a really tough year and I'm just enjoying not having the pressure on me at the moment.
Had a really nice evening out with the geography department. Honestly I've had such a nice term at this school. I'm very tired, but compared to what I was like this time last year it's a big contrast - I'm mentally in a good place.
Neither of my parents are working right now, they've paid off their mortgage and in good health. They keep umming and erring about what to do next. I'm trying to persuade them to just have some fun and go travelling for a bit!
Morning
#teacher5oclockclub
. I'm tired, but there are some really interesting lessons this week that I'm looking forward to teaching. Also got rehearsal for
#LittleShopOfHorrors
tonight, which is always great fun.
@kenmckirdy
@zarahsultana
Even Boris Johnson was against the pay rise for MPs (as was Starmer). For some reason they got them anyway. Zarah donated her pay rise:
@NEUnion
Why are you continuing to push this? I'm honestly so disappointed in the teaching unions. Thought we'd show more strength. The pay offer is mediocre and doesn't address any other concerns that we striked for. We can do better, and the state of education compels us to.
Any ideas for what to do with year 6 tomorrow? Last minute change and no planning, so I've got to decide what we're doing. Chances are I'll have them next week too. I don't know the class well. They've got their class play this week, so will be distracted by that.
@MrBoothY6
@GillianKeegan
They really don't. Come visit mine some day (an SEMH school) and you'll stop blowing your own trumpet and realise that successes are all down to staff, not the government.
@RogersHistory
Yes, but absolutely not a military one. And I'd call it something else. A scheme where young people do volunteer work (perhaps splitting their time domestically and abroad) would have my support. All living expenses covered, plus a small stipend.
Good morning
#teacher5oclockclub
. I broke out the old 15 tog duvet last night as I woke up chilly! Think it's probably here to stay for the foreseeable future. Problem was emerging from the warmth this morning...
Car is packed - ready to move back home to Somerset tomorrow and start my new (supply) job next week! Very grateful to my parents for letting me stay with them, but I cannot tell you how ready I am to have my own space again.
@emma_shircliff
Really well put. Honestly this is just it. Really it's: Do you know your stuff? Are you caring? Are you professional? I can answer yes to all three. What I can't do is pretend I am some kind of magic super-teacher!
Morning
#teacher5oclockclub
. Trying to remind myself today that I can only control what is within my control, and I just have to accept other things that crop up for what they are.
@GillianKeegan
@Conservatives
No you haven't - teachers and schools have in spite of your 'efforts'. You're all pretty useless and I'm really not sure what you do.
@adamboxer1
This is just the thing - there are plenty of things about KB's politics and approaches that I dislike (and she clearly likes the attention), but there are other aspects of her approaches I really like - mastery, for example.