Most children in the Global South now attend school. But: This means students learn less than we would hope (issues I explored in my previous post). So what’s the good news? Well, over the last couple of decades, programmes which dramatically improve teaching have emerged in the Global South. The best approaches achieve an impact […]| Improving Teaching
Imagine a schoolchild, somewhere – anywhere – in the Global South.* How likely is it that: With each question, we should be less optimistic. Access to education has increased dramatically, but quality of education has not. Children are much more likely to be in school than they would have been twenty or thirty years ago. […]| Improving Teaching
We’re planning a professional development programme. What must our programme achieve? Should we educate, inform or entertain? Should we share ideas, teach skills, motivate teachers, or build habits? Should we – could we – do all of the above? Or, conversely, we know that a lot of professional development doesn’t work. How can we avoid […]| Improving Teaching
In many schools: We struggle to keep afloat, struggle to keep teachers, struggle to get better. Something has to give. But what? The obvious solution: do less stuff – cut workload, boost wellbeing, make time to improve. But what can we cut? Will parents object? Will Ofsted approve? What if we cut the thing that’s […]| Improving Teaching
The biggest threat to the success of a professional development programme – or any school improvement intervention – is so obvious it gets missed. Teachers are busy and schools are complicated. So what actually happens never matches what you intend to happen. New leaders of professional development are sometimes surprised by this. Experienced leaders aren’t […]| Improving Teaching
What is the name for the part of our ear that vibrates when it gets hit by a soundwave?” I dream about this question now, and the long pause which follows, as all five students avoid the teacher’s gaze. I’ve seen 89 trainee primary teachers ask it (twice each!). I’ve watched them respond to their […]| Improving Teaching
Let’s say that you want to help a teacher teach differently. Or that you want to teach differently yourself. Perhaps you’re pursuing a more efficient entry routine, more succinct questions, or clearer explanations of key points. What helps a teacher to change? We might review the evidence, plan change, practise it – and examine a […]| Improving Teaching
It’s cold at 10.30 in the morning on a December day in London, and seems even colder when you’re peering through the windows of a brightly-lit reception classroom. Forbidden from entering classrooms (Covid), we took thirty-second turns to observe. Some children were playing, some were tidying an activity away, a teacher was working with an […]| Improving Teaching
Michael dropped the pile of books a couple of inches above his desk. It landed with a satisfying thud. Just these to mark, then he could go home. He picked up the first book, flicking past titles and dates, scribbles and doodles, missed pages and loose worksheets, to the most recent work. Next, he rifled […]| Improving Teaching
Yet another planning meeting. This time, you’re choosing next year’s professional development, either: a) Instructional coachingb) Teacher learning communitiesc) Lesson study Your team …| Improving Teaching
Time and support to do your job better – what’s not to like? Something, apparently. Only 45% of teachers believe their school’s professional development provision is helping them …| Improving Teaching
Let’s say you’ve found an effective way to influence others’ actions. You wanted Year 4 to listen, or Year 9 to work independently, or colleagues to ask better questions. You succ…| Improving Teaching
Take a moment to consider this question: if we’re designing a professional development programme, what should it look like? I’ve asked many teachers this question. Usually, they mention…| Improving Teaching
Me, 2012: Growth mindset is amazing! Now I know why my students aren’t trying, and how to fix it. I’m going to encourage growth mindset in my classroom. Me, 2017: I liked growth mindset…| Improving Teaching
I’m not sure of much in education. But My Teaching Partner seems to work. It offers teachers coaching through video. It’s been rigorously tested: in primary and secondary schools, in ru…| Improving Teaching
