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. They inspire, they care and don't give up on you.

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 required to understand. So, what are the stages of the cycle, and how does each stage work?

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. 

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.

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 school. Follow these magic tips and you’ll be energized, prepared and ahead of the game.

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/2018/05/27/subtle-reinforcement-techniques-to-gradually-build-confidence-and-character-in-our-students/

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 things in the classroom. Being able to learn from mistakes and challenges in a place where they feel supported and encouraged will build their confidence, self-belief and resilience.“ Today, I’ve invited Jessica Robinson, educational writer at The Speaking Polymath, to write this excellent blog post (which I will be reading to you) describing seven ways to cultivate student resilience in the classroom. Enjoy!

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!

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-engaged/

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://richardjamesrogers.com/

Blog Post: 10 Learning Games to Play With Your Students (Secret Number 8): https://richardjamesrogers.com/2019/05/26/10-learning-games-to-play-with-your-students-secret-number-8/