James Brown

Mr Brown Podcast

Education EN ↓ 67 episodes

Reflections on my continuing journey as a teacher, with a special focus on mental health.

Author

James Brown

Category

Education

Podcast website

mrbrownpod.com

Latest episode

Sep 20, 2025

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Episodes

17. Strike - Day 1 01.02.2023

Recorded during strike action: Intro  Walking and talking  Picketing  Mr N  Rally  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Website: https://mrbrownpod.com   Credits:  Art by OB Graphic Design (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obgraphicdesign0 )  Music by JuliusH (Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/users/juliush-39215...

16. Thinking about Striking - Part 2 23.01.2023

I talk about:  How I have changed my mind  Pay and workload aren't separate issues  I know nothing about economics  A new but still tentative conclusion  Pay scale problems  Should non-strikers leave the NEU?  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Website: https://mrbrownpod.com   Credits:  Art by OB Graphic...

15. Thinking about Striking 21.01.2023

I talk about:  A decision for all teachers  A guiding principle  The strike dilemma  NEU statement  Would a pay rise help with the cost of living?  Are teachers quitting over pay?  Summary  A tentative decision  Another complication  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrown...

14. Mental Health in the Holidays 07.01.2023

I talk about:  My anxiety problem  The library non-solution  The teaching solution  Basic psychological needs  Mental health issues in the holidays  Leisure sickness  Moving forward  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Website: https://mrbrownpod.com   Credits:  A...

13. DT, or not DT? 10.12.2022

I talk about:  A moral dilemma  Students worried about asking questions  Improving explanations  A parent's evening mishap  Mental health  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Website: https://mrbrownpod.com   Credits:  Art by OB Graphic Design (Instagram: htt...

12. Look Away! 26.11.2022

I talk about:  Building trust with students  Resisting change  Getting bogged down with Year 8  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Website: https://mrbrownpod.com   Credits:  Art by OB Graphic Design (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obgraphicdesign0 )  Music by JuliusH (Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/users/...

11. Introducing: The Teaching Mindset 12.11.2022

Last week I featured as a guest on The Teaching Mindset podcast. I was interviewed by the host, Jon, a primary school teacher. We had a fantastic conversation about mental health and relationships in education. In this episode, with Jon's permission, I republish our entire conversation.  The Teaching Mindset: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1928368   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jon_TTM   ---  Twi...

10. Distraction, Dilemma, and Discrete Data 05.11.2022

I talk about:  Picking an unnecessary fight  A moral dilemma  Parts of people  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Website: https://mrbrownpod.com   Credits:  Art by OB Graphic Design (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obgraphicdesign0 )  Music by JuliusH (Pixa...

9. Training 22.10.2022

I talk about:  ECT training  "Every child is unique"  Colour Works personality profiles  Does understanding cognitive science make us better teachers?  A big win  The interpreter  Mental health  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Website: https://mrbrow...

8. Lesson Planning 15.10.2022

I talk about:  Then and now  Weekly vs daily planning  Breaking it down:  - Deciding what to teach  - Main body  - Starters/homeworks  - Intellectual need  Recap  Moral  EDIT:  - Deciding what to teach (2)  - Plenaries  Magic Mind, discount code BROWN20 ( https://www.magicmind.co/brown )  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at...

7. Learning and Stories 08.10.2022

I talk about:  The privileged status of stories ( https://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/summer-2004/ask-cognitive-scientist )  The three-act structure of stories ( http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/2014/09/story-structure-pity-fear-catharsis.html )  Disequilibrium and equilibrium ( https://mathweb.ucsd.edu/~harel/pdf/DNRII.pdf )  Learning as a story  Main characters and metacognition ( h...

6. Fermat and Niggle 01.10.2022

I talk about:  Introducing my Y9s to Fermat's Last Theorem ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat%27s_Last_Theorem_(book) )  A conscientious Y7 student  Leaf by Niggle ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_by_Niggle )  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod   Websi...

5. The Flammarion Engraving 17.09.2022

I talk about:  The Flammarion engraving ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammarion_engraving )  The Learning Zone Model ( https://www.momentsoffreedom.org/learning-zone-model )  Comparison  Intellectual need ( https://blog.mrmeyer.com/2015/if-math-is-the-aspirin-then-how-do-you-create-the-headache/ )  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email:...

4. First Week as an ECT 10.09.2022

I talk about:  Overview  Staff training days:  - Numbers vs destinations  - Learning to ask for help  - (Chapter markers)  - Equality vs equity in the classroom ( https://interactioninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IISC_EqualityEquity.png )  - Metacognition vs cognitive overload ( https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/metacognition-and-sel...

3. ECT Jitters 30.08.2022

I talk about:  My summer  ECT jitters  In good company  PGCE vs ECT:  - More work but more time  - Already done the hard bit  - Mentor meetings  - One school  Dealing with anxiety:  - Less competent people have made great teachers  - Write about what scares you most  - Dangers of too much positive thinking ( https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/dont-accentuate-th...

2. Intellectual Trust 26.07.2022

I talk about:  INSPIRE week  Intellectual trust  Internalising reasons  Summer holidays and mental health  Patreon ( https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod )  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbrownpod   Email: mrbrownpod at gmail dot com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mrbrownpod Website: https://mrbrownpod.com   Credits:  Art by OB Graphic Design (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obgraphicdesign0...

1. Prologue - The End of My PGCE 03.07.2022

As a prologue to the Mr Brown Podcast, I republish the final episode of My PGCE. I talk about:  QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)  ECT (Early Career Teacher)  Advice for new trainees:  - Go with the flow  - Focus on what matters, namely:  -- Good explanations (self-efficacy)  -- Students feel cared for (belonging)  - Constant dialogue with mentors/tutors  Mental health:  - Life is stressful...  - ......

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