Helping Teachers Thrive

DESCRIPTION Tem interviews Annabel from the Balance Strategy about the importance of reducing stress and the impact stress has on our body. Annabel went on a 10 year journey to gain knowledge and experience in nutrition, the body and mind as a result of having multiple seizures which her doctors said were due to her suffering from stress and burnout. She shares how she improved her well-being, sto...

DESCRIPTION Join Tem as she discusses the effectiveness of the think, pair and share strategy in engaging learners, so that all learners are involved in the learning process and have the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and understanding. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Think-Pair-Share is a collaborative learning strategy designed to promote active participation, critical thinking, and student engagement...

DESCRIPTION In this episode of the Helping Teachers Thrive podcast, Tem delves into the effective methods for engaging and stimulating advanced students in educational settings. She explores a variety of instructional strategies aimed at extending the learning opportunities for higher ability learners, ensuring that they are adequately challenged and encouraged to reach their full potential in the...

In this podcast episode, Tem focuses on the critical issue of teacher well-being and addresses the challenges teachers face, such as workload and performance pressures, which can lead to stress and burnout. The episode underscores the negative effects of poor teacher well-being on both educators and students, providing practical strategies for improving well-being, including mindfulness, self-care...

In this podcast episode, Tem addresses the complexities teachers face when other staff members intervene with managing student behaviours. She stresses the importance of recognising individual student dynamics and avoiding comparisons to past behaviours. Tem acknowledges both the potential issues and benefits of staff interventions, emphasising the need for clear communication and teamwork, provid...

Join Tem as she talks about the power of competitions in engaging and motivating our students, and how to seamlessly integrate competitions in lessons making teaching and learning more engaging and enjoyable for teachers and students alike. Don't forget to hit follow!  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Table vs table quizzes Team based challenges  Paired challenges Engaging the disengaged through individua...

We are all teachers of literacy no matter what subject we teach. In this episode, I talk about the different ways we can help our students improve their literacy errors, and do so in a fun and competitive way. Don't forget to follow and like the show! KEY TAKEAWAYS: Make deliberate literacy errors Jumble up keywords Deciphering keywords using clues Peer assessment Allow students time to correct sp...

Children's mental health is such an important topic, more so now than ever before. And as teachers, we see it everyday in our classrooms. More and more children in our schools are displaying anxiety when it comes to public speaking. In this episode, I share practical tips and insights to help us boost our students' confidence and reduce their fear when it comes to delivering presentations. KEY TAK...

DESCRIPTION: There are times in lessons where we may be talking too quickly or too slowly, and students lose track of what we are saying or become disengaged. In this episode, I talk about how we can pace our lessons more effectively to reduce the gaps in learning and potential behaviour disruptions.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Pause frequently to allow processing time Catch yourself talking too quickly&...

Students that like attention will act up, so giving them the opportunity to get attention from others, or the class, in a constructive way, will help to improve the classroom environment. In this episode, I talk about the different ways we can engage our disruptive students, so that they feel empowered, and make a positive contribution to our lessons, creating a positive learning environment. KEY...

High expectations are not only important for strong behaviour management and creating a positive learning environment for our students, but they are also vital in preparing our students for a successful future when they leave us at the end of their school journey. In this episode, I delve into the importance of setting high expectations for our students, and ways to do so, so that it not only bene...

Struggling to keep your students engaged in lessons? In this episode, I share practical tips and strategies on how to motivate students and keep them focused on their learning. Don't forget to hit follow so you never miss an episode! And leave a review in iTunes letting me know the topic you would like me to cover next. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Make learning relevant Give students choices Provide opportunit...

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...