Currently, teachers are facing a major workload crisis. This article looks at the different types of knowledge needed, how much time it actually takes to develop resources and questions why many teachers continue to insist on doing it all.
Category: For Parents
Why should we follow the Science of Reading?
This blog post looks at what the Science of Reading is and why we should follow it. We look at Nancy Young’s Ladder of Reading and Writing, Pamela Snow’s Language House, Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the Language Literacy Network.
The ABCD(E) of Motivation
Coming from a sporting background and then moving into teaching, I have always been intrigued with motivation. Many classes have left me wondering why some students have this drive to do their best, while others will do their best to avoid doing their best! I have come up with this model on motivation as a way of combining the knowledge I have gained from learning about psychology and cognitive science. I feel knowing these five principles are vital for understanding why people do what they do.
It’s not the footballers’ fault they make dumb decisions
Why do we continue to see young footballers making such poor decisions off the field? This article looks at why it is happening and what we can do to support them better.
Can students learn effectively from home?
This article looks at the difficulties that schools and families face during remote learning, as well as how we can help students learn more effectively from home.
Why Australian education needed COVID-19
Despite most people having devices that can (literally) answer any question asked of it within a couple of seconds, many schools in Australia have still been handing out worksheets and working from textbooks older than I am! COVID-19 is the disruption that education in Australia needed. Without a doubt, it is terrible what COVID-19 has…
How to make every minute meaningful
If you are not spending your time increasing your resources, then you are spending resources and losing time. So, spend your time on the things that matter.
Why I won’t hold my child back from starting school
There has been a growing debate over what age is best for kids to start kindergarten. I ask educators and parents around the world as to what they think the best age is.
How to communicate with your child like an FBI negotiator
Do you ever feel like you just can’t win with your kids? Picture this, you have five minutes before you have to leave and all of a sudden your little darling decides they no longer want to go to their friends party. Even though, they were just raving about how excited they were ten minutes earlier! How ridiculous!
This leads to you calling out their crazy behaviour and being met with a firm “No!” You then change your approach and try being understanding and yet they still refuse to leave. So, you go back to being the boss because you are the boss, right? However, you are met with hysterical screaming that would have your neighbours thinking you were a mass murderer!
Learning = Superpower
A lot of focus in education is put on the curriculum, teaching methods, the ability of the student and behaviour management. However, what is often neglected is teaching kids how to actually learn. We go straight into teaching the content, without thinking about how the students are actually going to learn.
Learning is the infinite superpower that we all have. Amazingly, our brain is able to continually absorb new information, no matter how old we are. It can learn even better when we put the magic COAT on! COAT is the acronym that I have put together that will guide my teaching in order to ensure that my students learn!