Podcasts Archives - TeacherToolkit

How prolific is your school's design and technology department?

Our 130th interview is with, Stephen Sadler, a DT teacher, passionate about technology and robotics and the winner of Digital Innovator of the Year at the 2019 Teaching Awards.

Listen to the podcast (33 minutes)

https://www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Podcast-131.-Steven-Sadler.mp3

In this podcast, listen to Stephen and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

Stephen's upbringing and early views on teaching as a backup career

The lack of diversity at university 

The lead up to winning the gold award for Digital Innovator of the Year

The impact Stephen’s robotics clubs have had on students

Methods and resources to keep up to date with software and best practice

Encouraging girls to get involved with STEM and robotics, plus

Why design and technology is overlooked as a subject and requires more support...

Watch the conversation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aaq79Vsq3ao&t=2s

You can connect with Stephen on Twitter and Linkedin.

Our 129th interview is with, Haili Hughes, a former teacher, and current doctoral student at Glasgow University, head of education at IRIS Connect, and senior lecturer at Sunderland University.

In this podcast, listen to Haili and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

Haili describes her career path before starting teaching 

Tips for teachers that don’t conform to the 'visual norm' of being a teacher

Reasons why teachers leave the classroom

The highs and lows of self-employed work

Haili's insights from visiting institutions across the country 

Moving into higher education and the associated challenges

The difference between coaching and mentoring

The origins of Haili’s book, ’Mentoring in Schools’

Haili’s doctoral focus, teacher identity and,

Tips on how to narrow a doctoral focus...

Haili concludes; "I hope that I've provided some 'alternate teens' who are a bit like me, a role model: You don't have to dumb down your light to shine."

Thanks for listening.

How can school leaders genuinely reduce teacher workload?

Our 129th interview is with, David Lowbridge-Ellis, former deputy head teacher of Barr Beacon School and current deputy director of school improvement at the Matrix Academy Trust...

Two years ago I connected with David (in his role as deputy head teacher) at Barr Beacon. I was attracted to a claim that his school did 47 things to reduce teacher workload and support teacher wellbeing!  It was so good, I referenced all the ideas in my 'Just Great Teaching' research.

One month ago, I checked back in with David to see how things were going throughout COVID; particularly to focus on those 47 things published to understand if they actually lived out to be true, rather than as a list on paper...

Listen to the podcast (45 minutes)

https://www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Podcast-129.-David-Lowbridge-Ellis.mp3

In this podcast, listen to David and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

David’s initial thoughts and documenting on teacher workload

David’s own memories of school and pathway into teaching

Why his school does not produce lesson plans for review, and many others!

The importance of school leaders being visible in schools

Giving teachers the freedom to find their own pupil feedback strategies

(Spaced) Scheduling for teacher professional development

Removing written reports for parents and what to replace them with

Contact-tracing in schools during COVID-19 and,

Reducing senior leadership workload.

Watch the conversation?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIH0GSl4eQ0

How can we help our young people to love reading?

Our 127th podcast is with Jim Knight and Channell Fusco. Jim is a former Minister for Schools and current non-executive director of Nord Anglia Education and the E-ACT Multi Academy Trust. Channell is the UK sales director for the free app, Pickatale; an app that helps children become better readers.

Listen to the podcast (30 minutes)

https://www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Podcast-128.-Pickatale.mp3

In this podcast, listen to Jim and Chanelle and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

Literacy levels across the UK

The effects of poor literacy on our young people

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on early years child development

The importance of parents reading to their children, and

The benefits of the Pickatale app for children, families and teachers.

 

Watch the conversation

https://youtu.be/3Imt90bOoYQ

Not only is Pickatale for Schools free, it also helps to grow reading confidence, boosts literacy development and makes reading engaging for young people...

Find out more about Pickatale and what I have to say about the resource.

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Our 127th interview is with, Richard Langton, head teacher of Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall and Sophie McPhee, PSHE coordinator and programme director for Change Your Mind. We are also joined by two students: Susan and Samraj...

In this podcast, listen to Queen Mary Grammar School cohort and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

The in-school prioritisation of open discussion around mental health

Creating a welfare hub for students and imagining new roles for support

Change Your Mind’s origins and structure

Student responsibilities in Change Your Mind 

Change Your Mind’s expansion across the UK and its growing remit, and

How schools can engage with Change Your Mind.

Our legacy will be our wellbeing hub as a physical representation of our togetherness and our sense of community...

Thanks for listening!

Our 126th interview is with Dr Wasim Ahmed, a senior lecturer in digital business at the University of Stirling in Scotland, specialising in social media analytics.

In this podcast, listen to Dr Ahmed and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

Dr Ahmed’s education path through health informatics, sports and business

The meaning of social network analysis and its online application

Dr Ahmed’s paper ‘Twitter & Teaching: To Tweet or not to Tweet?’ and the discussions around it

The benefits of teachers sharing their professional opinions online

The power of social media network analysis for schools, teachers, and students 

Empowering online communities with the ability to remove misinformation and disinformation

Plus, top tips for managing your PhD and learning new vocabulary.

Thanks very much listening!

Does your school have a healthy professional development budget?

Our 124th interview is with, Melissa Beeko, teacher and current primary learning and staff development coordinator at The British School, Rio de Janeiro.

Listen to the podcast (50 minutes)

https://www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Podcast-124.-Melissa-Beeko-1.mp3

In this podcast, listen to Melissa and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

Exploring education opportunities outside of the UK

Running a school during the last 18-months of COVID-19

Why Melissa became interested in teacher professional development (CPD)

Managing CPD across multiple sites and strategic goals

Exploring the theory around CPD and assessing your own practice

Redefining the structure of appraisals to focus on improving teachers, plus

Diversity in teaching and the work The British School are doing.

Watch the conversation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMz9GtWkCjk

 

Our 123rd interview is with, Jennifer Webb, a teacher for 13 years and current assistant principal for teaching and learning at Trinity Academy Cathedral school in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

In this podcast, listen to Jennifer and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

The pillars of Academy Cathedral’s culture.

The importance of leadership and adhering to a consistent vision.

Embracing who you are and school being a safe place for that.

Jennifer’s journey in school leadership.

How research-informed schools manifest research in their daily practice.

Staff collaboration and complementary skill sets.

Making workload a factor in all school decisions.

Being true to yourself in leadership situations.

Jennifer’s writing and the motivations behind her books and,

Writing about metacognition.

"It's about students understanding before they start a piece of work that they have to activate prior knowledge; what was successful or not before and then self-regulating their learning" says Jennifer.

Thanks for listening.

Our 122nd interview is with, Louise Pennington, former teacher, and the current professional development lead for primary and secondary at Oxford University Press.

In this podcast, listen to Louise and Teacher Toolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

Louise’s education history and evolution into teaching.

What Numicon is and how Louise came to be a Numicon trainer.

Favourite aspects of working in schools across the country.

Numicon’s research origins and its usage with special needs students.

Tips on how to start using Numicon.

Numicon’s positive effect on teacher’s workload.

OUP’s charitable mission and how it benefits teachers.

The importance of business skills for school leaders and,

The positives of pandemic working and what will remain...

Numicon is really flexible; the pedagogy doesn't change, which is perfect for curriculum delivery.

Our 121st interview is with, Peter Holland an English teacher and lead teacher for film and media studies. Discover how Peter has accessed hundreds of film resources...

In this podcast, listen to Peter and TeacherToolkit founder, Ross McGill discuss:

The difficulties of students accessing media texts and resources during the pandemic

The challenges around assessing student work, particularly when a teacher doesn’t know what they’ve missed

The skills students learn from studying media and film

How mobile phones influence the teaching of media studies

The workload pressures of teaching English and dealing with the marking burden

The ease of designing lessons and accessing modern texts

Where and how Peter has used Into Film+ - a free* streaming platform - in his classroom

Why Into Film has empowered the school’s ability to run a film club prior to the pandemic, and

How Into Film aligns with curriculum and supports teacher workload.

Did you know, there are almost 8,000 IntoFilm Clubs in UK schools, providing over 800 resources for 5-19 year olds with 100,000 curriculum-based downloads.

*Screenings of Filmbankmedia’s films for an entertainment or extra-curricular purpose require a Public Video Screening Licence (PVSL) from Filmbankmedia. State-funded schools in England are covered by the PVSL.  

This is a promotion.