Helping Teachers Thrive

That fine line between being a strict teacher and still being liked by your students can be difficult to find. Be too strict, and on one hand you can cause your students to become fearful and anxious, and on the other hand it can lead to your students becoming rebellious. Be too laid back, and you lose control of your classroom. In this episode, Tem talks about how to become that strict teacher th...

Every teacher makes mistakes, even the best ones. But there are some mistakes that are easier to make than others, especially for newer teachers. Tune in with Tem to find out what they are and how you can avoid making them. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Follow this podcast! Don’t miss out on free, high quality advice. Not being clear about expectations. Set and refine these throughout the year. Reinforce them ev...

Do you have a chatty class? Are you struggling to get your students’ attention and keep them focused? In this episode, I discuss the different strategies when it comes to dealing with a chatty class so that you can create the learning environment you want for your students.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Have a seating plan and don’t be afraid to change it Praise the students doing the right thing  Est...

Dealing with behaviour problems can be difficult. In this episode, I talk about the different ways you can deal with the behaviour problems that do happen in your lessons. Dealing with them quickly, and creating a positive relationship with your students going forward, in order to reduce the likelihood of that behaviour reoccurring.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Offer a choice  Talk to the student pri...

Starting as you mean to go on can help when it comes to preventing disruptive behaviours, and there are different things we as teachers can do to help us avoid behaviours from occurring in the first place. In this episode, I go through the different strategies we can put in place to avoid disruptions and build positive relationships with our students.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Start the year strong Be...

The first year of teacher training can be tough, but it's also an incredibly rewarding experience. In this episode, Tem shares invaluable tips on how to survive and thrive during your first year of teaching. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Seek support Contacting parents Take care of yourself Set realistic expectations Observe other teachers Classroom management  Build positive relationships  BEST MOMENT...

Starting in a new school in September can be hard for ECTs and trainee teachers. In this episode, I discuss the top 10 tips to help you as you embark on the new Academic year. From fostering a positive classroom environment to lesson planning, self-care and building relationships, these tips are a compass to help you navigate the challenges and triumphs of teaching. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Creating a posit...

Imposter syndrome can affect us at any point in our careers and can be debilitating. In this episode, I discuss strategies that can be used to help you overcome imposter syndrome by reframing negative thoughts, embracing mistakes and accomplishments, and building self-confidence in your teaching ability. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Recognise and acknowledge your feelings Reflect on your achievements and celebr...

Teaching is a hard profession, so any little thing that can make a teacher’s life just that little bit better is worth its weight in gold! In this episode, I talk about the little life hacks that I have used as a teacher to help save me time and help me provide better support for my students in lessons, so that your day to day teaching life can also be made just that little bit easier.  KEY T...

Being told by the Executive Head that my lesson wasn’t very good was, at the time, embarrassing and frustrating. We have all had days when our lessons haven't been very good, but to have one during an observation by the most senior person in the school when I had been teaching for 10 years, felt like all my hard work had been undone in seconds. In this episode I talk about my observation and what...

In this episode, I delve into the heart-warming, yet concerning, practice of dedicated teachers using their hard-earned money to purchase essential resources for their students. Join me as I explore the reasons behind this selfless act of generosity and the impact it has on both teachers and their students. For hours' worth of content on effective strategies to help you build your confidence, deve...

There are many myths about teaching, so in this episode I am going to talk about the four main myths that people have about our profession. Myth#1: Those who can, do…..those who can’t teach….and those who can’t teach, teach PE! Myth#2: Teachers can’t complain, they have so much time off. Myth#3: Teaching is an easy job. Myth#4: Training days are just an excuse for a day off For hours' worth of con...

It can be really hard hearing people de-value the teaching profession. In this episode, I talk about a comment I saw on an Instagram thread where Rob Moore, multimillionaire entrepreneur and investor, asked what should be taught in schools and a member of the public made an outrageous comment about what teachers do. I talk about this and other comments about what teachers should be teaching in sch...

Observations are the bane of being a teacher. Overtime they get easier, but as teachers, they are our pet hates. In this episode, I talk about what to do so that you can increase your chances of having a successful observation. For hours' worth of content on effective strategies to help you build your confidence, develop your skills and thrive in the classroom, just use the link below to join Tem'...

It can be a real struggle for students with autism when it comes to accessing the curriculum and engaging with content in lessons. In this episode, I talk about the strategies we can adopt to better support our students with autism and enable them to access our lessons with a bit more ease. For hours' worth of content on effective strategies to help you build your confidence, develop your skills a...

As teachers, at some point in our careers, we have taught students with EAL. It can be extremely difficult for us and, more importantly, the student when they join our class and are unable to speak English. In this episode, I talk about the different things I did to support a student who joined my class in year 12 and couldn't speak any English. For hours' worth of content on effective strategies...

After a year teaching as an SEN class teacher, I wanted to share what I now know to support trainee teachers and early career teachers. In this episode I share with you what it was like me for and what I learnt and what I got better at. VALUABLE RESOURCES: https://www.skillsworkshop.org/category/literacy/functional-skills-english/functional-english-reading https://www.math-salamanders.com/ https:/...

As trainees and early career teachers it can be difficult to know when to stop. It is too easy for teachers to feel overworked and overwhelmed, and so it is really important to watch out for the signs and implement strategies to prioritise self-care. In this episode, I share the strategies you can use to help you determine when to stop and how to focus on and improve your well-being. For hours' wo...

It can be difficult to engage our students in lessons and it is the student who looks disengaged that an observer will question during an observation. In this episode, I talk about the strategies you can implement to help you engage your learners more effectively in lessons. I provide strategies for PE teachers as well as classroom based teachers. Go to The Helping Teachers Thrive Hub  to unl...

It can be hard to maintain high expectations and routines when you have a group of students who don't like you and try to intimidate you. In this episode, I will be talking about a group of students I had in my tutor group a few years ago who initially hated me, but over time grew to trust and respect me. For hours' worth of content on effective strategies to help you build your confidence, develo...

A great strategy to use to ensure that all of your students are engaged in their learning as it enables you to get all of your students involved, and it is one that your mentor and Ofsted will love! In this episode, I talk about what inclusive questioning is and how to incorporate this into your lessons so that you can get the best out of your students. For hours' worth of content on effective str...

A lot of employers are looking for teachers who know their way around google drive and google classroom, and are skilled with the use of IT in lessons. Even before remote learning came into play, the use of IT in lessons showed that you don't shy away from innovation. Effective use of IT in lessons can engage learners, motivate them in lessons and enhance their knowledge and understanding In this...

It can be quite daunting going into a teaching interview for the first time and preparing for interviews. This episode focuses on what to do to prepare for interviews and increase your chances of success. If you would like support with preparing for interviews, feel free to email me at temsteachingtips@gmail.com For hours' worth of content on effective strategies to help you build your confidence,...

Blended learning is a great way to engage learners and plan fun interactive lessons by incorporating online/digital learning with traditional teaching. In this episode, I will be talking about the different ways teachers can do this through the use of: Slido Kahoot Padlet Collaborative documents Voice notes and videos Videoing lessons through google meet For hours' worth of content on effective st...

With the budget cuts and teacher shortages, our classes are getting bigger with 35, sometimes 40 students in one class. In this episode, I discuss the strategies that teachers can implement to help them deal with large classes effectively to ensure their students don't miss out and are able to make progress. For hours' worth of content on effective strategies to help you build your confidence, dev...