...The Pyramid Approach to Writing

This post sets out the Inverted or Upside-down Pyramid Approach to essay-writing, as described by one of my students. The tool can reduce the overall time spent writing by helping you to focus on the assignment brief and to maintain direction towards relevant conclusions.

It is a useful tool for the planning phase:

• to help you structure your work;
• to maintain your focus on the purpose of the discussion;
• to encourage concise, efficient communication of ideas.

...Teacher Training - Top Tips

If you are planning on training to become a teacher, then this post will help!

I invited some ex-students - recently qualified teachers - to take part in a panel discussion for undergraduate students planning to commence their teacher training in the Autumn term. They talked about their experiences and their successes as qualified teachers. Crucially, they shared their advice for students embarking on teacher training.

This post sets out a summary of their 'top 'tips' for successful completion of initial teacher training. They might surprise you!

...Evaluating Reflective Practice

Assuming you understand that reflective practice can support professional development, how do you actually go about it?  And how do you know that you are going about it correctly?  

What is 'good' or 'effective' reflection?

This post presents a framework of prompts to assist the reflective practitioner in evaluating and developing the way he or she reflects.  Using this matrix of questions may help you to develop appropriately critical reflection. This would facilitate broader perspective, deeper insight into situations, and more reliable implications for potential future action.

...Health, Support & Wellbeing

As I write this post the UK enters a third round of restrictions imposed to help control the spread of the Covid-19 virus across the country.  Since most schools do not actually shut during lockdown (despite unhelpful reports to the contrary) teachers continue to provide teaching and learning opportunities, pastoral care, and even food to their pupils.  Student teachers, too, are considered to be key workers in terms of Covid-19 restrictions. Teacher training therefore continues, to help ensure the teaching workforce is maintained...

This post draws together a range of online avenues of help and support, with school staff in mind. Please engage, share and support.

...Personal Statements

 

Applying for an NQT Post 
Writing a Personal Statement

A personal statement is usually requested to support an application for a teaching position. The statement serves to help potential employers shortlist candidates for interview.  It should summarise key skills and interests, set out strengths and experience, and demonstrate sound writing in standard English.

This brief article sets out some tips and principles to guide you to write a good statement, which is accurate, clear and economical. It includes a suggested structure - in the form of a writing frame - to support you with the process.

...Semicolons

This very brief post (requested by students) aims to exemplify conventions for the use of semicolons in standard written English, in just three simple stages.

...Literacy Websites

This is a collection of English and literacy online resources.  It is compiled for teachers with a mild focus on the primary age phases and on early reading and language development.

Click HERE to access the collections, and use Ctrl+F or the 'Search...' box in the sidebar to locate relevant resources.

(To report outdated links and incorrect categories, or to suggest new content, please 'Contact me...')

...Your Education Research Project

This brief post is based on support provided for trainee teachers at UEL, to help them complete a research project assignment.  It lists a range of self-support approaches to help students write and edit education research reports.  Some of the following tips would apply whatever the discipline being studied.