This week on Teaching Matters, Paul Hazzard is joined by Lucy Neuburger and John Gibbs to explore three big questions:

🔆Can hope be taught?

🔆Should audiobooks become part of the curriculum?

🔆And how should climate change be embedded into education?

Expect thought-provoking discussion, differing viewpoints, and of course— Banana Time!

1️⃣ Can Hope Be Taught?

🌟In a world where political instability, misinformation and social issues dominate the news, how can teachers instil hope in students?

📌 Defining Hope – John describes hope as believing people can be better than they appear, even when faced with negativity.

📌 Modelling Positivity – Lucy argues that hope, like empathy, is difficult to explicitly teach but can be demonstrated through classroom discussions & personal examples.

📌 A Natural Part of Education – Schools are inherently hopeful places, offering students opportunities for a better future. But says John rigid disciplinary policies and exam-driven learning can undermine this.

📌 Honesty vs. Toxic Positivity – Lucy stresses that while it’s important to remain positive, students are smart enough to recognise when things aren’t “sunshine and rainbows.”

🎯 Takeaway: Teachers don’t necessarily teach hope as a subject, but they model it through their actions, attitudes, and belief in students’ potential.

2️⃣ Audiobooks – A Valuable Classroom Tool? 🎧

Ministers are being urged to add audiobooks to England’s new schools curriculum. But are they a help or a hindrance?

📌 Listening vs. Reading – John rejects the idea that listening to books is a lesser form of reading. Instead, he sees audiobooks as a valuable addition to literacy education.

📌 A Gateway to Reading – Lucy believes audiobooks can be a powerful tool, particularly for reluctant readers or those struggling with fluency.

📌 Multi-sensory Learning – Teachers can use audiobooks alongside written texts to support comprehension, expression, and punctuation skills.

📌 A Tool, Not a Shortcut – While audiobooks shouldn’t replace reading entirely, they offer an alternative way to engage with literature, whether in the classroom or at home.

🎯 Takeaway: Audiobooks should be embraced as a resource, not seen as a replacement for traditional reading.

3️⃣ Should Climate Change Be Embedded in the Curriculum? 🌍With young people increasingly concerned about the future of the planet, should sustainability and climate education be given greater emphasis in schools?

📌 A Relevant Issue – Students care deeply about climate change, often more than geopolitical conflicts. Schools should reflect this interest in their teaching.

📌 Are Teachers Ready? – Lucy highlights that while some teachers (especially in geog and sci) are well-equipped to discuss climate issues, others may not.

📌 Cross-Curricular Challenges – John notes that while climate change should be taught across subjects, cross-curricular initiatives often fail due to rigid syllabuses and a lack of coordination.

🎯 Takeaway: Climate change education is vital, but schools need proper support and flexibility to teach it effectively.

🔹 Banana Time – Fun & Thought-Provoking Highlights! 🍌

🍌 Paul’s Banana – International Women’s Day 🌍

Paul highlights the fact that six countries still severely restrict girls' access to learning.

🍌 Lucy’s Banana – The Unsung Heroes of Early Years Teaching

🍎Lucy gives a well-deserved shoutout to early years and Key Stage 1 teachers, who are often undervalued.

🍌 John’s Banana – The Science of Laughter

😂John tells a joke! Yes! It is funny.

🎤 Final Thoughts

✅ The importance of modelling hope in the classroom.✅ The role of audiobooks in supporting literacy.

✅ The challenges of integrating climate change education into the curriculum.

Teaching Matters continues to explore the most pressing debates in education—so stay tuned for more engaging discussions next week!

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