Practical Teaching Tips with Richard James Rogers

Examinations really are the most visible culmination of what we do as teachers. They offer a no-nonsense assessment of student competency in particular subject areas and their results are still to this day considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of many schools: forming the basis of rankings’ systems, such as league tables, in many countries. Today I get right down to the cold, hard-truth of what you...

The reasoning that most schools give as to why these toilets need to be installed is that they are ‘inclusive’, and that they make transgender students feel more comfortable. Tremendous opposition to the introduction of gender-neutral toilets in schools has already been voiced by parents, students, local MPs and members of local communities. At Deanesfield Primary School in the UK, for example, pa...

One thing I touched upon, but didn’t go into detail about in my book was the plethora of marking and assessment strategies I have learned over the years. So, strap on your seat-belt because I’m about to go through the highest-impact, most effective strategies for marking and assessing work in ways that save you time and energy. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers...

Teaching is definitely a stressful job. In fact, a February 2019 study by England’s National Foundation for Education Research found that 20% of teachers feel tense about their job most or all of the time, compared with 13% of those working in similar professions. Additionally, as if that wasn’t startling enough, a recent Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) survey found th...

One often overlooked part of the school is the library – a place where so much deep learning, joy and enrichment can take place when visits are planned properly. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2021/09/26/5-ways-to-use-the-school-library-with-your-students/ Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets...

"Differentiation refers to a wide variety of teaching techniques and lesson adaptations that educators use to instruct a diverse group of students, with diverse learning needs, in the same course, classroom, or learning environment . The basic idea is that the primary educational objectives—making sure all students master essential knowledge, concepts, and skills—remain the same for every stu...

I haven't studied German for 20 years, but I still remember the overwhelming majority of the words and phrases I was taught for my GCSE. I was lucky to have a brilliant German teacher. She, like all of my teachers at North Wales' elite St. Richard Gwyn High School, was a Champion Teacher. Champion teachers like her literally have the power to make the wildest dreams of their students come true. Th...

I’m a great believer in passing-on information about strategies that actually work: things that we, as teachers, can actually deploy in the classroom right away. The Metacognition Cycle is one such thing. Great for project work, or for transforming any task we set in-class: the Metacognition Cycle can be used effectively to draw out extra richness and depth from any content our students are requir...

Spending some dedicated time every week to look over lessons taught, and think about lessons coming up, can benefit teachers in so many ways. My weekly review time acts like a cornerstone of my practice, and in this episode I tell you why.  Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know: https://www...

A dangerous culture has quietly found its way into a large number of American and British schools in the past decade. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing that seems pretty on the surface but harbors malice within; over-rewarding continues to take hold like a malignancy to this day. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2019/10/06/the-disconnect-how-some-schools-are...

Getting back into the swing of things can be a challenge: especially after a long summer vacation. Our body clocks are normally out of sync and we’ve probably been taking life a bit easy for a while (and rightly so). The new academic year pounces on us like a monkey from a tree. In order to be prepared for the craziness ahead I’ve devised a list of ten things to do prior to the first day back at s...

After more than 10 years of actively seeking the best verbal feedback methods, I’ve discovered the ugly truth about verbal feedback: that it is not as simple as it seems to be. So make a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy the ride as I tell you the ‘iron rules’ of using verbal feedback with your students. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2019/03/24/using-verb...

This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2018/05/27/subtle-reinforcement-techniques-to-gradually-build-confidence-and-character-in-our-students/ Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TVCWFZ4 Check out my blog for teachers: https://r...

Resilience is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as “ the ability to be happy, successful, etc. again after something difficult or bad has happened” . Resilience is an important life-skill for children to acquire whilst at school. Reach Out Australia , for example, states that “When students feel like the outcome won’t affect them negatively, they are more likely to try new and more challenging t...

Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique, and how it can be applied to your lessons? I hadn’t – that is until I invited Jessica Robinson, educational writer at  The Speaking Polymath , to write an excellent blog post for me. Enjoy, because you’re in for a treat! This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2021/08/01/5-smart-benefits-of-using-the-pomodoro-te...

Sometimes, the simplest of materials can offer the greatest opportunities for creative exploration. Today, I’ve invited Rose-Anne Turner of Destination TEFL to share her expert tips on how to use everyday items as stimulating props within your lessons. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2021/07/25/using-props-in-the-esl-classroom-to-keep-your-students-engage...

It’s a common known fact that the youth of today are naturally drawn to technology and we are far more likely to hold their attention by using it, rather than just traditional teaching methods. We can argue the point about the ill effects of too much ‘screen time’ until the cows come home – but perhaps a better saying would be ‘if you can’t beat them, join them! ’ . Today, I’ve invited Rose-Anne T...

As teachers, we know that reading benefits our students in so many ways. How do we help our students to develop a passion for reading though? Find out in today's episode.  How to Develop a Passion for Reading in our Students [Blog post]: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2021/06/01/how-to-develop-a-passion-for-reading-in-our-students/ 10 Ways to Cultivate a Love of Reading in Students [Edutopia]...

We've become experts at remote-teaching due to the pandemic. 'Remote-assessing', however, can be more challenging. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2020/04/26/assessing-students-through-online-learning-four-ideas/ Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know: h...

Feedback is can be powerful, but only when deployed effectively. Find out how to do just that in today's episode.  This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2017/04/16/effective-feedback-the-catalyst-of-student-progress/ Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know...

Students who are preparing for upcoming exams face numerous, unique challenges. Thankfully, as teachers, there are a number of easy ways in which we can help to make life easier for them.  This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2019/02/03/5-easy-ways-to-help-exam-level-students/ Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Man...

Make sure you know when your camera and microphone are switched on during remote-teaching. These teachers didn't, and their careers were destroyed because of it.  Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TVCWFZ4 Check out my blog for teachers: https://richardjames...

On the surface, incorporating videos into both on-site and remote lessons seems like an easy task. However, much needs to be considered during the processes of video selection, presentation and after-viewing utilization. In today's episode, I share five of my top tips for using videos in teaching with you.  Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management...

If you could give just 3 tips to a trainee teacher, then what would they be? Today, I go through my top 3 things that I would want every teacher to know.  Support me on Subscribe Star for just $5 per month, and receive exclusive, weekly content (and the chance to speak with me personally every Sunday): https://www.subscribestar.com/practical-teaching-tips Check out my award-winning book for t...

Do you use Google Apps in your teaching? Which are your favorite, and why? In this episode, I go through my favorite G Suite apps for teaching, and how I like to use them. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2020/03/24/using-google-apps-in-teaching/ Support me on Subscribe Star for just $5 per month, and receive exclusive, weekly content (and the chance to sp...