Mark Roberts
@mr_englishteach
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Director of Research; English teacher; writer.
Northern Ireland
Joined August 2015
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🚨New book announcement!🚨
I'm thrilled to announce that my new book, The Behaviour Whisperer, is available for pre-order at
Struggling with classroom behaviour? Coaching inexperienced teachers? Keen to fine tune aspects of your behaviour management? >
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I'm just going through the responses to an anonymous learning survey I did with my Year 8 (Year 7 in England). This is the most useful teaching feedback I think I've ever had:
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Ok, as promised, here's a thread of my top 15 non-verbal gestures for effective behaviour management:
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A little behaviour management thread on how reframing language will help teachers tackle issues in a calm, direct and effective way: (1/7)
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P5 yesterday, I was late to my Yr13 lesson.
One student had written a retrieval quiz on the board and the others were cracking on with it. Kids these days, eh.
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What can schools do to improve boys' attainment?
I've been writing and researching this for years, and here's a thread featuring 7 easy(!) steps schools can take to reduce gender gaps:
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My 9-year-old boy did a sponsored marathon (26.2 miles) cycle ride today because he wanted to help refugees affected by Covid. 5 and a half hours of a very hilly route later and he's absolutely knackered but has raised 800 quid for Shelterbox. Couldn't be more proud of him.
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During questioning teachers rarely give students enough wait time. We all know this but expecting a quick response is a hard habit to break. Today, I asked a quiet student a Q and forced myself to wait about 30 excruciating seconds while she thought it through. I didn't think...
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Ten classic errors teachers make when giving feedback...
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Big shout out to all the NQTs who are finding their feet in very tricky circumstances. You have my full admiration.
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I was going to get a response but she eventually gave me an excellent answer. To encourage more of this, I told the class how pleased I was that the student had taken so long to think before answering. If we are going to make this a norm we need to point it out to pupils.
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6 and 8-year-old got up and made us a surprise breakfast in bed. So lucky to have such thoughtful sons. Only took us 45 minutes to clean the kitchen afterwards.
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Been thinking about unseen poetry top tips this week:
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Ok, so here's the front cover for the book I've written with
@Positivteacha
. It's a beaut, isn't it?
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I'm writing a piece on what teachers and schools should do when students espouse misogynistic views, inspired by the likes of Andrew Tate. I'd love to hear from teachers and leaders about their experiences, and what's worked/what hasn't. My DMs are open.
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All teachers think they have high expectations of their students. But these expectations are difficult to define. Far better, I think, to define signs of low expectations. A THREAD on what these look like... 1/n
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New Blog: Rethinking Boys' Engagement: my talk from
#TLLeeds17
@agwilliams9
@Team_English1
#ukedchat
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All of these save your voice but most importantly, depersonalise things which helps avoid confrontation. They also generally rob poorly behaving children of the attention they often crave.
Get those gestures going! END
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Some personal news: at the end of the term, I'll be moving to Northern Ireland to work for
@Ni_Principal
. Beyond excited to join a brilliant school as the country's first Director of Research.
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I'm so excited to say that my new book, 'The Boy Question', is now available for pre-order... 1/3
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I'm really excited to announce that my new book - 'You Can't Revise for GCSE English' - is now available for pre-order at
It's a step-by-step guide to the full revision process for GCSE English... 1/3
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In my career so far, I've worked for 4 heads in 3 schools, as classroom teacher, HoD and SLT.
Here's a brief thread on what I've learnt about how SLT can best support teachers:
1/6...
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New Blog: Using evaluative verbs to add sophistication to language analysis
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Can't make it in today - my path is blocked by a fallen tree:
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I've marked 0 exam papers this year and I'd like to share this insight:
We shouldn't need to rely on (excellent, helpful) threads by markers telling us what exam boards are actually looking for.
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You know when you're in a meeting and somebody suggests an absolutely terrible idea and everyone just looks a bit awkward and there's uncomfortable silence and then somebody else starts talking and we all move on and agree to pretend it never happened? That's 10.30pm yesterday.
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Over the last couple of weeks, I've delivered lots of sessions to students and parents on study skills. Here's a thread of some of my key points:
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I couldn't decide whether to go to the bookshop or the pub, so I did both at the same time:
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I pray thee, good EduTwitter, let's retire. The day is a break; the Keyboard Warriors, abroad; And if we meet we shall not 'scape a brawl, For now, these empty days, is the mad blood stirring.
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Good Friday's ok but I've got the vision to take us to Outstanding Friday.
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It seems that sharing your thoughts about praise in the classroom encourages plenty of abusive, sarcastic and insulting tweets. Thanks to everyone who challenged my opinions politely and thoughtfully. Bored of the rude ones, so now started blocking liberally.
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Some different retrieval activities for English (can be adapted for other subjects), which you might find useful:
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What's the difference between euphemism and innuendo? Ooh, that's a hard one.
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I pre-recorded an assembly for this week, and today as I walked along the Yr8 corridor I could hear my voice booming out of every classroom, droning on about effective revision strategies. Was quite unsettling.
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Something that I've really changed my mind on over the course my career is the use of praise in the classroom. Whether it's for verbal feedback or behaviour management, I now think that routinely using praise is often counterproductive.
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They should offer a haircut with the vaccine. There'd be a 100% take up.
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Anybody else wondering how their dad is gonna cope without a weekly visit to the tip?
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A great paradox of teaching is that sometimes, you have to go slower to go faster. We speed up as we're worried about covering the curriculum but time spent mastering some essential things can free up more space in the long run. It also boosts motivation for the tricky stuff.
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One frequently proposed solution to boys' academic attainment is ensuring more male teachers enter the profession. Here's a thread on why it isn't the solution that many believe it is...
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So,
#CantReviseEnglish
has sold so well that it's had to go for a reprint. The publishers are doing all they can to get everyone's copies out asap, so no need to riot in the streets just yet!
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Am I the only person in the world who reads one book upstairs and another book downstairs?
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On the back of my recent TES piece on non-verbal communication for behaviour management, I was thinking of doing a thread of the gestures I find most useful in class. Would people be interested in reading this? Might be helpful for NQTs...
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The good thing about teaching in multiple English rooms is finding gems like this:
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Top teaching tip: when you've got the class focused and working independently, don't use the opportunity to clean your whiteboard.
Nothing offers a more mesmerising distraction than the gradual wiping away of smudges, scribbles and smears.
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Since writing the recent Tate piece, I've been thinking about alternative, positive male role models. My first suggestion is a man who is physically supreme, hard as nails, extremely successful yet modest, thoughtful and driven by deep compassion for friends: Kevin Sinfield.
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#boysdonttry
had a sudden surge in sales yesterday. It appears that people are starting to plan for the next year, thinking about improving boys' attainment and attitudes.
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@rupertevelyn
I'm currently in school supervising children. I'll let you know what I'm doing at home when I get home.
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How to write about the sky: a thread.
The beginning of my students' stories often focus on describing the weather as part of setting. Invariably, they are very clichéd. 1/n
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Improving students' narratives through extended time writing - A thread inspired by
@engteacherabro2
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If you want to meet the friendliest, most welcoming people in the world, you need to head to Northern Ireland.
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New Blog - Falling to pieces: common mistakes with AQA Language Paper 1 – Q3 Structure
@Team_English1
#teamenglish
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Inspired by my son's effort last night, today we're recreating favourite book covers today. Here's my effort:
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I'm giving away 3 signed copies of 'You Can't Revise for GCSE English'.
For a chance to win, just reply with the hashtag
#CantReviseEnglish
and tell me the most memorable excuses for not doing something - good or bad - you've heard from a student.
Last entries by Weds 9pm.
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The thing I think that's improved my teaching most over the years is suppressing my tendency to be easily bored. I always assumed students shared my need for novelty of moving from topic to topic but they really wanted me to teach the same thing repetitively until they got it.
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SLT take the lead from the head. They set the tone for everything. A great head, will model this relentlessly, but won't be faking it. They will take difficult and unpopular decisions but will always do so with respect and decency.
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*NEW BLOG 2!* Teaching Structure for the new English GCSEs
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Just remembered the time when I went into the hairdresser's to book an appt for my wife. I said "her name's Harriett... 2 Rs, 2 Ts" and the girl wrote 'Rrtt' in the diary.
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I'm compiling a list of frequently spotted Twitter cliches:
- asking for a friend
- *checks notes*
- narrator's voice
- don't @ me
- hold my beer
- what fresh hell...
- This👇
What have I missed?
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@benkarlin1
Inspector walks into my room and sits down at the back. I launch into my finest explanation of the use of militaristic language in Storm on the Island. 5 minutes later, he stands up, says "sorry, I'm meant to be in maths" and clears off.
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1. The best SLT treat staff as grown-ups, and listen to their individual needs. That they work hard and to the best of their abilities is assumed from the outset.
2/6...
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My latest
@tes
column - Ten books about Shakespeare that every English teacher should read:
@Team_English1
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Anybody else got exciting plans for the summer holidays?
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the best heads don't do this for that reason; they do it because they are caring, fundamentally decent human beings.
4/6...
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2. When teachers are given time off, no questions asked, for funerals, their children's events, etc, this will be repaid tenfold in future goodwill, BUT...
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Yr10 asked for a fun lesson today so we're going to do... 'Tissue'. The fun part will be seeing if any of them have a clue what it means.
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I used to think that by constantly circulating the classroom, helping to address misconceptions, I was supporting my students most effectively. Now I take needing to do it as a sign that I taught/explained it badly in the first place.
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My eldest often used to tell me that when he goes to secondary, he wants nothing more than to be in my class, sat at the front, putting his hand up for every question.
Curiously, since homeschooling he hasn't mentioned it once.
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I've got 3 copies of
#theboyquestion
to give away. To be in with a chance of winning one, simply retweet, then reply with the most memorable question a student has ever asked you.
I'll pick 3 winners from the best answers at 6pm on Sunday.
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16. A little bonus gesture, which needs more explanation than an image. Instead of saying "I'm going to give a warning in a minute", just walk over to the board and silently write WARNINGS on it. Underline with a flourish for additional emphasis.
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Still laughing at this review of
#boysdonttry
:
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Tomorrow I'll be discussing human trafficking with Peter Andre:
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Highlight of the teaching week: couldn't find the OHP remote in a yr8 lesson. Heard one of them say "he'll have to get up on the chair" but instead I soared up on my tiptoes like Michael Jordan and flicked it on. Was rewarded with an audible gasp.
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I hate the phrase "exit ticket". To me it implies classrooms are places to be escaped from. Give me one thing from today's lesson and I'll finally set you free.
Anybody like to persuade me I'm wrong?
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3. Help boys cope with the pernicious effects of peer pressure, which dictate it's not cool to read, write and study. Tackle traditional anti-school masculine attitudes relentlessly...
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Such a relief to be back at work today after a long period of illness. Still working my way to full fitness but the kindness shown by my colleagues and students was quite moving.
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1. 'If you do that again, you're getting a sanction' draws attention to a student and risks provoking a confrontation. Instead try 'I'm just going to remind everyone about my expectations... I don't want to have to start giving out sanctions' (2/7)
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When
@Positivteacha
and me started writing
#Boysdonttry
, we dreamed of selling 5000 copies in the first year. Today we were thrilled to find out we'd pretty much hit our target in just two months.
If you haven't yet got a copy:
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I've got an article on modelling in today's
@tes
and am delivering CPD on the same subject on Monday. Goddam right I'm going to cite myself:
"Roberts (2019) asserts..."
...
@mr_englishteach
offers the benefits of his research into modelling in class - how do you show AND tell in a way that works?
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After nearly a full term at my new school, today I'll be finally meeting and properly teaching some of my students. And my boys are finally going to their new primary school. Much excitement and nerves in the household.
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'Curriculum design is the work of everybody in an English faculty, not just the possession of one or two individuals'.
@SaysMiss
bang on the money about the importance of the English classroom teacher in the curriculum.
#senecacpd
#teamenglish
@SenecaLearn
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Someone should write a book about gender stereotypes in education, and the impact of teachers' lower expectations of pupils in certain subjects.
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2. Develop an ambitious curriculum for all students. Abandon boys' engagement approaches. Teach to the top and support strugglers. Remove optional challenge, like extension tasks or differentiated learning outcomes...
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3. First lesson with new class and student starts messing about. It's tempting to publicly admonish them. Instead, have a quiet word like "I've not met you before but you haven't created a good first impression. I want you to show me the real, polite, hard-working you" (4/7)
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It's our 9th wedding anniversary; we're not particularly romantic people:
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1. Raise teachers' expectations of what boys can achieve. Work on teachers' beliefs about ability, how this is communicated to boys, and tackle language that exposes lower expectations (e.g. "I've got a boy-heavy class")...
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*NEW BLOG* A quick word - retrieval practice through single word quotations
#engchat
#engchatuk
#teamenglish
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Publication day of Boys Don't Try? has finally arrived.
Big thanks to everybody who has ordered it so far. Can't wait to hear what people think.
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Overwhelmed by the response to the publication of Boys Don't Try? Yesterday, it reached 270 on Amazon's bestsellers chart. Walliams and Rowling have had sleepless nights. If you'd like to buy a copy:
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When imagine yourself on Mastermind, what would your specialist subject be? And what would you actually do best at? Mine is:
a) Life and work of Philip Larkin 1922-1985
b) Peppa Pig TV show 2004-2020
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Back to school today and not a bit of Sunday night dread. Full night's sleep! So lucky to enjoy my job and work at a great school.
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Can someone please explain to my kids that lunch pudding is not a thing.
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