Mr M's PTA

Mr M's PTA

By Carl Headley-MorrisParentingKids & Family
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Mr M's PTA episodes

  • Episode 7: A look through the news!

    This week I have a look through some TES news articles. There are concerns over the achievement gaps for 7-year-olds; concerns over the experience levels of Secondary teachers in England; and concerns about the SATs going ahead this year.

    All in all, a positive news week!

    For show notes, head over to bit.ly/MrMsShowNotes (I am working on a website to better host these notes AND tie the blog posts together with them). 

    18 min
  • Episode 6: Logically Index-Sorted Tasks!

    Welcome to episode 6, which is all about the joys of lists!

    In this episode, I talk about four ways that using lists can transform your teaching life. For a full (ish) script and all the show notes, head over to bit.ly/36ajGgg

    This might not be pretty but, until I have the time to create website to accompany this podcast, it's the easiest way to share links with you that actually work!

    18 min
  • Episode 5: DfE Update: March 2022

    A veritable smorgasbord of information for you this month. COVID-19 updates (00:30) Interactive Buying Guides for Schools (01:55) Webinars to help schools improve and maintain attendance (03:00) Help and advice for talking to pupils about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (04:05) Get the Jump – new skills content hub and toolkit (06:20) National School Breakfast Programme (07:46) Helping schools to deliver excellence in computing (09:23) And finally... (11:30)

    For links, head over to www.mrmsmusings.com (Anchor won't let me add hyperlinks!).

    16 min
  • Episode 4: World Book Day Terrible Audio Special!

    Do you like World Book Day? Are you from anywhere other than the UK and confused as to why I am putting out a World Book Day episode 57 days early? Are you, in fact, FROM the UK and wondering why I am saying that this episode is 57 days early?  All these questions will be answered in this weeks very special episode of Mr M's Musings!

    Well... if I call it a 'special' then that implies that it is a one-off, right?  In this week's episode, Mr M completely forgets that he had unplugged his microphone and as a result the audio quality of the main body of the episode is pants.

    But I am a life-long-learner and still fairly new to the whole podcasting gig AND I have zero time to re-record so I apologise but the quality is not great this week.

    22 min
  • Episode 3: 20 Marking Hacks (plus a bonus!)

    Hello listeners!  I somehow managed to delete my previous podcast files - the entire folder has gone.  As a result, I have a brand-new opening and closing section.  I hope you like it!

    Marking books is the bane of every teacher's life.  I have rounded up 20 of the best tips and tricks to reduce the workload.  I have personally tried all but two of them so I can definitely recommend them.

    1. 02:24 Use a spreadsheet to create generic feedback
    2. 03:44 PARA marking - Praise, Action, Response, Acknowledge
    3. 05:01 Exit cards / Entry cards
    4. 06:45 Mark to agreed criteria
    5. 07:40 Vertical marking (works best in English)
    6. 09:30 "Marking practice that does not have the desired impact on pupil outcomes is a time-wasting burden for teachers that has to stop." (DfE)
    7. 10:00 Marking should be meaningful,  manageable and motivating. (DfE)
    8. 11:36 When do the children respond? DIRT
    9. 12:42 Limit your written feedback.
    10. 13:30 Children should receive feedback either within the lesson itself or in the next appropriate lesson
    11. 13:40 Adults should ALWAYS walk around the class with the correct colour pen to get as much as possible done on the go.
    12. 15:19 Always train children to leave books open on the page.
    13. 16:30 Use a ‘Class Marking Sheet’
    14. 17:57 Free-writing Fridays - sit with a group.
    15. 19:29 Close the door and mark
    16. 19:56 Host a marking club for adults
    17. 20:40 Mark in class
    18. 21:35 Run a marking club for children
    19. 23:43 Pick a group and focus on them.
    20. 25:36 Coded feedback
    21. 26:54 Only mark a little bit… but mark it well.
      22. 30 min
    22. Episode 2: DfE Update: February 2022

      Your monthly digest of the Department for Education updates.  This week: Early Exam materials, Mental Health in Schools and the effects of racism on self-esteem. For a written version of this podcast, head over to my blog: Mr M's Musings.


      I have a cold (not COVID), so I'm sounding a little congested and my brain is a little fuggy but I made it through!  I forgot to mention that the research for the Anna Freud centre runs from March to April NEXT YEAR so there is still plenty of time to register your interest.


      The links in this episode are:

      Joint Council for Qualifications

      • AQA's advice (foundation and higher tier maths formulae sheet)
      • OCR's advice
      • Pearson's advice
      • Eduqas's advice
      • General advice for staff and students

        • Place2Be 

        • Virtual assemblies.
        • How to make a Support Balloon
        • Mental Health Week resources

          • Secondary schools, take part in Wellness research here

          Podcast series on racism and mental health.

          Transcripts for those podcasts.


          11 min
        • Episode 1: DfE Update: January 2022

          **EDIT!!  In the podcasts, I say that 3 in 10 children will experience some form of sexual abuse before they are 16.  This was an error, it is 1 in 10.  Having said that, it is still too many so the point stands.**

          I know it's late!  I will do better next time.  This is a monthly roundup of all the changes the Department for Education has made in January.  There's COVID news, advice on what do to with your CO2 monitors, invites to free sexual abuse awareness webinars and school's football information.

          There's also a cameo appearance from my neighbour's very loud drill.

          Links mentioned:

          The blog post: www.mrmsmusings.com 

          The CO2 video: Ventilation and CO2 monitoring for schools

          The KCSiE Consultation: Register your interest

          The Stop Abuse Together website: Here

          Sexual Abuse and Harassment workshops: Register here

          Resources for health and infections: e-bug.uk

          Football in Schools: Register your interest

          National Tutoring Programme: National and Regional webinars


          9 min

        About Mr M's PTA

        From the publisher's feed

        Mr M’s PTA: The Parent/Teacher Association you actually want to join.