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The most popular reviews in /r/TeachingUK:
Never been a big fan of table storage, but have had reasonable success with little plastic baskets. However, I think leaving glue out for the children is a mistake, and so I ~~hoard~~ store it in a drawer with monitors to hand out when needed. I usually put a sharpener, pencils, colouring pencils, ruler, scissors and a rubber on each table in the baskets. The benefit of baskets is that everything can just be chucked in them quickly to tidy up.
It’s okay. You’ll honestly get further and be a better teacher if you take this sort of approach to your planning rather than thinking about it in terms of “what activities can I do?”
If you are, however, finding yourself really stuck for ideas about what activities you can use, try downloading a SoW from Twinkl, TES or LitDrive and go through it while writing up a list of all the different activities you see. Twinkl are quite good for this since their lessons are very varied. I’d take a look at their Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth SoWs. You’ll see all sorts there, from mind-mapping to ranking statements to exploding quotations and producing different forms of creative response.
There are also some good little books available that I used as a trainee. They are in a series called “100 ideas” and they cover lots of different subjects and topics as well as general aspects of teaching. Here’s one of their English ones: https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Ideas-Secondary-Teachers-Outstanding-ebook/dp/B00MF9WHGE/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=100+ideas+for+english+teachers&qid=1611406568&s=digital-text&sr=1-6 Here’s a more general lesson planning one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Ideas-Lesson-Planning/dp/0826483089
The Drama one is worth checking out too - quite a lot of nice things in there that you can bring into KS3 English to make lessons more active!
I find plastic document wallets like these ones really essential: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Folders-Plastic-Wallets-Documents-Stationary/dp/B07PQT9P2M/ref=asc_df_B07PQT9P2M/
It is so easy to get snowed under with paper, and these are easier to wrangle than the thin sort of plastic wallet. I keep one of these for each of my classes. Seating plan, worksheets for the lesson: it all goes in there.
Could you maybe order something like this on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janly-Clearance-Sale-Sleeveless-White-XXL/dp/B08WPK5H96/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?crid=3HNGGRTPG4DVF&keywords=short+tank&qid=1657997089&sprefix=short+tank%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-7 ?
I have loads of similar ones and they’re perfect for this kind of thing and covering low cut tops and don’t add the heat of a whole extra layer.
Similar to the other comment, depends on your school. I’d go and look at EYFS and see how they are doing now. Are they used to whole class activities yet, or small group activities? How much CP do they already have? I’d recommend picking up from where they are in July, before gradually changing the timetable so by half term it looks a bit more like “Year 1”.
This book is also a great help:
I’ve never ever had my own classroom and it’s never been a problem. One year I had 11 rooms. Way before covid. 1. Backpack 2. Plastic poly pocket book of seating plans and stick to them religiously 3. Big pencil case like this
We've got a couple of Ukrainian kids joined us. One thankfully has near fluent English, which is handy since моя українська не гарна!
The other really struggles. The extent of his English is Warcraft.
We use the say hi app to talk with him, seems to work ok (though it struggles with my Scottish accent).
I don't teach him so can't comment on resources. Think he gets a learning assistant and they're literally doing stuff line by line through the app.
As a school it's a lot of involvement from EAL specialists, and trying to get him socialising. Can be difficult with the language barrier but most kids want to get to know him which is great to see.
He comes to my geek club after school; maybe see if there's something similar you offer that your student might enjoy?
The move to evidence based practice in a very readable format is '7 myths about education' by Daisy Christodoulou. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00M0N5UQO/ref=dbs_a_def_awm_bibl_vppi_i3
A good introduction to application of cognitive science in education is Williamson's why don't kids like school. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B092TSZHCC/ref=dbs_a_def_awm_bibl_vppi_i0
Im exactly the same. Loafers have been good. New look and asos have some in a reasonable price range.
I also have a set of close toe strappy sandals for when I want a bit of a more delicate look.
Also, I got one of these dresses for christmas and I now own it in 5 colours for work: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B098WTC5QV/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_W8M4RNE5YW2TKSM1GDED?psc=1
Super comfy, no ironing needed AND IT HAS GOOD SIZE POCKETS
IT Manager here, all of my teachers love these models that we started buying a few years back - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/3898947424/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_GGMERR7AT5Q8PWTAR60N
The software they come with is really good and the added bonus that they work on google meet has been much appreciated.
Don’t thank me, thank the Cambridge Latin Course featuring Caecilius and Metella and of course Mr Murphy who taught from it.
It’s this one :)
If you're not looking to break the bank, my mom uses this one to track her steps. She's a teacher too, but is in outdoor SEN provision and can clock 15,000 steps sometimes. This model can also register heart rate and sleep, and is synced to your phone so your watch buzzes with messages and they display on screen. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09JYVGQW2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
If you want something even cheaper, I currently have her previous smart watch from before her upgrade. It can tell the time, count steps, track sleep, and buzzes with notifications as well as showing them on the screen which is fantastic in a classroom. Battery life is about two days, and I can vouch for its use in schools. I find myself pacing in circles at the printer hoping to clock up steps! If you want the budget option, let me know and I'll track it down.
Both watches are effective at counting even if you're carrying something and seem really efficient, although folding laundry etc can sometimes count as steps. I find only shopping trolleys really stop them from working. Both of them will only save the counted steps once you hit 35 steps, to prevent counting steps in cars, when chopping stuff, etc. I find this a pain in a classroom because for some reason, children keep needing me to stop and talk to them (/s).
Warmies! (There are other brands that make them too though - they’re not an uncommon thing.)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Warmies-CP-HUS-2-Plush-Multi/dp/B074KCBQ8S/
Or direct from the company:
Thinking about this a little more, I can recommend this book by Steve Smith as an excellent, up to date, accessible and not too wordy introduction to modern MFL teaching.
It's no replacement for the experience and input you'd get on an ITT course but it's a start. Remember you're going to have to hit the ground running as you will be up for jobs against current MFL trainees and experienced teachers, but your strength (and also your weakness, but you'll have to sell it as a positive) is your primary experience.
I use these large vinyl stickers with my students (year 9-11) but I'm sure they'd work with slightly younger years too. They're generally excellent as a small prize for students and I let them stick them on their English books. I normally just give them a handful and let them pick their favourite one of the bunch to save time. My only word of warning is to sift through them before you hand them out as there are some inappropriate ones (mostly weed leaves) but the vast 95% of them are totally fine.
Have you seen the covid vaccine queue calculator? For me: “Based on your profile, there are between 12,305,865 and 18,074,125 people in front of you in the queue for a COVID vaccine across the UK.” They estimate March/April but I’m skeptical it would be that soon.
I've worn these for years. Think I'm on my 4th pair...
Not the smartest but are fine. They're fairly hard-wearing and comfortable once broken in (leather needs a couple of days wear to soften around the ankle)
You just sort of have to reduce your cognitive load.
Re-type your timetable adding any duties, clubs and regular afterschool meetings. Colour-code it with a different colour for each class. Type “HOMEWORK” on the lessons where homework is set and due. Print, laminate and stick on the front of your planner and on your desk.
Buy a pack of magnetic whiteboard erasers so that there’s always at least one stuck to your whiteboard.
Use a bic 4-colour pen when writing in your planner and use a specific colour for “reminders” so that they stand out from your general planning. I use black for lessons, red for homework & meetings, blue for anything to do with my tutor group and green for anything non-school.
I can’t help with the car cos mine has lights that turn off automatically when it locks. If you like I can sell you my car. It needs two new tyres and is only slightly dented…
I was looking for a job as a tutor and found https://preply.com/en/skype/french-tutoring-jobs where are a lot of options provided. If you know Spanish, German, French or English you can try yourself as a tutor. There are a lot of options and tutor vacancies.
Geoguessr js fun, can be done as a group on the teachers computer with students guiding you.
Quizizz is similar to Kahoot but self paced and has some good quizzes already made.
I sometimes just take a news story and ask a question about it for students to discuss/debate then wander round to get their thoughts.
Can you get a desktop visualiser to hook up to the ipad using a USB? I appreciate that's not a perfect solution when all new stuff has just been purchased but this is what i use
KROSER Laptop Backpack 15.6 Inch School Computer Rucksack Water Repellent Wide Open College Travel Business Work Bag with USB Port for Men/Women-Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0784LMD7J/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_SJ9K156K8SDGEH5BP0HA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Best buy and got so many compliments from other teachers
Just get a toolbox! Loads on amazon, they have compartments and are ultra sturdy. £20-30 usually. This sort of thing. Bonus if it’s lockable so noone can steal your prittsticks.
- Laptop
- Laptop charger
- Phone charger
- Backup battery for phone and tablet
- Tablet
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- A4 Notepad
- A4 Teacher planner
- 2x GCSE textbooks for my subjects
- Plain paper for emergencies
- Large pencil case
- Large refillable water bottle
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Hand sanitiser
- Backup hand sanitiser
- Tissues
- Inhaler
- Backup inhaler
- Paracetamol
- Keys that don't need immediate access (e.g. rarely used cupboards)
- Wallet
- A folder with all the worksheets I need for my lessons that day.
See if this works. It’s the direct link to the UK amazon. It’s free there, too.
Something like this? Chinese myths and fables: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chinese-Myths-Legends-Monkey-Adventures/dp/0804850275/ I’ve used some with year 7 as part of a wider myths and legends unit and they were a hit. Lots of scope for discussing why we have myths and legends, comparing a Chinese creation story to the Christian one (a bit of RE crossover), writing their own myth, creating mythical characters...
I'm using it again this year and it's decent enough but I haven't tried any others.
It has an A5 sheet for each day, plenty of space for lesson / notes / homework for each period (of which there are 5). It has empty class lists for homework or assessments at the end, two calendars, and I can't remember what else.
A genuinely useful and real-worldbook to try is this: Getting the Buggers to Behave by Sue Cowley.
Getting the Buggers to Behave https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472909216/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IagyCb7JA10E6
I would recommend the Cgp text books for maths like this one: KS3 Maths Textbook 2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782941614/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-olEzb92THEFF
They do three levels of difficulty- purple is the hardest.
Lots of practice questions, but not too many examples.