The Teacher Squad Podcast

oin Heather and Jane as they celebrate making it to the end of Autumn Term. They chat about all things Christmassy and get you right in the festive mood. Move over marking pile, push off planning, it’s time for feet up and festivities.

This week, Jane is grateful for the perfect pre lit Christmas tree, while Heather is grateful for all things Christmas!!

In Sentence of the Week, Heather sends a message of teacher self care, while Jane ponders parenting styles in relation to Nativity castings.

In the guest spot this week, forget Royal Christmas Day speeches, Jane and Heather wiggle a WAGOLL and share their own festive sentiments.

In this week’s festive Wonder of Words, Jane opens a box of chocs with a festive poem by Carol Ann Duffy and Heather thinks of the turkeys with a poem by the late, great Benjamin Zephaniah.

Christmas Heartbursts from Jane and Big Festive Love from Heather xxx 💕💕💕

Find Jane at https://www.janeconsidine.com/
Find Heather at https://wherereadingrocks.com/

Email the show at:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Join Jane Considine and Heather Wright for chats about being a reflective teacher, virtual CPD events and a wonderful chat with Martin Galway about the great work The Literacy Trust are doing to support Primary Libraries and Reading for Pleasure.

This week, Jane is grateful for people who dress with a ‘go for it vibe, while Heather ponders the benefits of CPD from your home office.

In Sentence of the Week, Heather shares some highlights from a brilliant Educating for Empathy conference, while Jane shares with us all a book to support teachers with a reflective diary, ‘Reimagining the Diary’ by Lucy Kelly.

Our guest this week is Martin Galway, Head of School Programmes at the Literacy Trust, discussing findings from their reports and what teachers can do to about it in their classrooms.

In this week’s Wonder of Words, Jane shares a perfect passage from Caitlin Moran about the wonder of a library. Heather shares from A Very, Merry Murder Club, highlighting the writing of J.T. Williams and her shout out in the recent Reflecting Realities report.

Heartbursts from Jane and Big Love from Heather xxx 💕💕💕

Find Jane at https://www.janeconsidine.com/

Find Heather at https://wherereadingrocks.com/

Find Martin at https://x.com/galwaymr?s=21&t=-DJPB9i0hRpBkUnj88wBew

Email the show at: [email protected] [email protected]

Links from the show:

Empathy Lab Book Collections - https://www.empathylab.uk/RFE

Empathy Lab Impact Stories - https://www.empathylab.uk/our-impact-so-far

Reimagining the Diary - https://uk.bookshop.org/a/562/9781915261380

National Literacy Trust Report - https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-and-young-peoples-reading-in-2023/

Diverse Libraries Programme - https://literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/primary-school-library-programmes/diverse-libraries/

Unlocking the Power of Reading Report - https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/research-and-data/unlocking-power-reading T

he Island of Brilliant Podcast JT Williams episode - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-island-of-brilliant/id1684242951?i=1000637139858

Reflecting Realities Report 2023 - https://clpe.org.uk/system/files/2023-11/CLPE%20Reflecting%20Realities%202023%20v7%20web%20FINAL.pdf

Reimagining the diary - https://uk.bookshop.org/a/562/9781915261380

Moranthology - https://uk.bookshop.org/a/562/9780091940898

Very, Merry Murder Club - https://uk.bookshop.org/a/562/9780755503704

Join Heather Wright and Jane Considine for a lucky thirteenth episode with heart felt action in the community, getting to the heart of reading and some gentle poetry and snowy reads.

This week, Jane is grateful for a husband who listens, while Heather is very grateful for our top fan!

In Sentence of the Week, Jane tells us about some amazing pupils who have been writing to the PM. Heather follows the breadcrumbs to an idea for having impact in the community through books and connection.

Our guest this week is the one and only Jane Considine. Well Heather wanted to know more about the Reading Unit Plans!

In this week’s Wonder of Words, Heather eventually reads a great opening with snow, after telling us about a few other books she could’ve chosen. Jane shares a wonderful poem that gets us thinking about how we nurture gentle boys.

Heartbursts from Jane and Big Love from Heather xxx 💕💕💕

Find Jane at https://www.janeconsidine.com/

Find Heather at https://wherereadingrocks.com/

Email the show at: [email protected] [email protected]

Links from the show: https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/resources/for-individuals/guides/loneliness-a-guide-for-teachers-and-education-staff/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/14/visiting-grandparents-help-them-live-longer

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzqzOH1sZU9/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.janeconsidine.com/readingunitplans

Join Jane and Heather for a brilliant episode, including interview with writer of the moment, Matt Goodfellow, discussing The Final Year!

This week, Jane is grateful for those who do not fear awkward moments and tell when you’ve ’just got something…’ , while Heather is grateful for words and hurkle-durkling.

In Sentence of the Week, Jane talks about those wonderful teacher friendships that make school life better and richer. Heather tells us about all the poetry that keeps popping up in her life.

The guest this week is Matt Goodfellow, poet and author of the Final Year. Jane and Heather have a brilliant discussion with him all about the book and poetry in schools.

In this week’s Wonder of Words, Matt stays a bit longer and treats Heather and Jane to a reading from a special part of The Final Year.

Heartbursts from Jane and Big Love from Heather xxx 💕💕💕

Find Matt Goodfellow at https://www.mattgoodfellowpoet.com/

Get his book - https://uk.bookshop.org/a/562/9781915659040

Find Jane at https://www.janeconsidine.com/

Find Heather at https://wherereadingrocks.com/

Email the show at: [email protected] [email protected]

Links in the show:

Equal pay day - https://x.com/womened/status/1727070186518249867?s=46&t=-DJPB9i0hRpBkUnj88wBew

Joy - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzvgBV0obDP/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Something Borrowed Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/something-borrowed-podcast-with-harry-baker/id1505092197?i=1000635783615

Poetry Club - https://x.com/littlefbysligo/status/1728087030519722242?s=46&t=-DJPB9i0hRpBkUnj88wBew

Join Heather and Jane for episode 11 as they discuss all things education with a few extra bits thrown in!

This week, Jane is grateful about getting free from the restrains of her bra, while Heather is grateful for kind comments from listeners.

Jane talks about the benefits of reading for stress relief in her sentence of the week and Heather has an action plan for getting reading into mainstream media.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001sd79

The guest this week is Dr Timothy Rasinski discussing all things fluency with Jane and Heather. He even gets them in the spotlight playing a great word game.

https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/authors/Tim-Rasinski-5698253

In this week’s Wonder of Words, Jane shares a poem linked to being 10 (week late on that link) which has us wishing our children would stop growing up. Heather shares some morning poems to let the light pour in.

Join Jane and Heather as they celebrate the milestone of 10 fabulous episodes of The Teacher Squad Podcast.

This week, Heather is grateful for some indulgent snacks, while Jane smiles back on some summer holiday memories.

Heather’s sentence of the week sums up her reflections from her day at the November Non Fiction Conference. Jane’s sentence is about listening and listen well.

https://www.throughthebookshelf.com/somerset-childrens-book-group/nnfn2023-one-day-non-fiction-conference

http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/2c80ff_91a02276fdf645d2b70ad433049306a3.pdf

In this week’s Wonder of Words Heather indulges in two books all about words. Jane shares a gorgeous slow paragraph that takes you right into a storm with some amazing description.

Big Love from Heather and Heartbursts from Jane xx

A few shares from the show: https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/primary/how-to-teach-writing-in-schools-research?fbclid=IwAR0HmPRohVkvIwWEUjZ_upL6K3r83vvHHjRR0ZAJ80S4sv9yvHKS2SFZRTk_aem_AfTcUhDl2WBfb5LkGWlI_o3F0VxX27VzjXdQ6hEIdJH192kJ47o5wFCYz2g5xBM7nnc

https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/libraries-for-primaries-research/

https://yotocarnegies.co.uk/take-part/register/

Episode 9 - Sentences in the spotlight, blank pages and teacher well-being

Join Jane Considine & Heather Wright for episode 9 of The Teacher Squad Podcast.

This week, Jane is feeling grateful for men!! While Heather has been smiling at moments from lovely author events.

https://wherereadingrocks.com/virtual-author-events/

Jane’s sentence of the week focusses on ways to build enjoyment in writing and puts some best-selling author sentences in the spotlight. Heather has also been thinking about writing and how we can support pupils with a blank page to use what they know.

This week’s guest is Emily Armstrong, an experienced teacher and Educational Leader with a passion for revolutionising pedagogy and empowering teachers to realise their full potential.

https://emilyarmstrongeducation.com/about

https://instagram.com/emilyarmstrongeducation?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

In this week’s Wonder of Words Jane is sharing Hope and Heather is hatching dragons.

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/562/9781406379167

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/562/9781915235640

Heartbursts from Jane and Big Love from Heather

Episode 8 - Grey hairs and blankets, the digital age, and Money Mindset for teachers

Join Heather Wright & Jane Considine for episode 8 of The Teacher Squad Podcast.

Jane shares gratitude linked to Y2s, drama and spaces. While Heather is feeling grateful for growing old!

Sentences of the week this episode see Jane think hard about screen time for pupils and schools’ place in this. Heather dances around the idea that building a reading habit is a journey.

This week’s guest is Eileen Adamson, teacher, money coach and co-host of BBC podcast Clever About Cash.  She helps female teachers to become happier, healthier and wealthier.

https://www.yourmoneysorted.co.uk/free-resources

https://www.yourmoneysorted.co.uk/maximise-your-money-challenge

Wonder of Words holds a special moment this week, when Jane shares an amazing poem that needs a mascara warning. Heather reads a picture book for all you cool cats out there.

Heartbursts from Jane and Big Love from Heather xx

If by Sarah Wragg

If you can pause and think, while those around you plough on with venom.

If you can breathe and maintain your rectitude,

while those before you try to raze your world.

If you can listen, without forming resentment

Or explain without defending, don’t speak in anger,

Or express without inflicting blame, don’t shrink from responsibility,

And yet decline a gift of aggression and negativity.

If you can compete, but not make beating others your aim,

If you can hope, but not give all your effort to hoping.

If you can revel in the sun’s warmth,

Yet not let it burn you and accept when the shadows prevail.

If you can befriend the emotions of others yet know your own above the rest,

If you can reflect and learn from where you have faltered

And show compassion and talk to all and yourself like a caring friend.

If you can love with the energy of your favourite song, yet let go with the softness of a whisper in a dream,

If you can walk in solitude, without fear of being alone.

If you can aspire to succeed, yet accept mediocrity like a welcome breeze,

And be grateful for everything you have.

If you can shout eloquently for those which can’t be heard and silence complaints and criticism without a word.

If you can preserve the memory without clinging to the past and welcome tomorrow while living each moment as a gift.

If you can lavish in contentment,

And not succumb to cravings and desires.

If you can make your living and realise your dreams

Without harm or suffering to others.

If you can speak the truth and remain humble through disappointment and look without comparing,

If you can treat with kindness all others in the world,

Then the world will be your chariot

And, what’s more, you’ll be a woman - my girl.

Join Heather Wright & Jane Considine for episode 7 of The Teacher Squad Podcast. Jane and Heather share their gratitude for Healthy Schools with togetherness, and amazing sour sweets! Heather grapples with her sentence of the week, trying to sum up her thinking following the OU/UKLA Reading Symposium. Fortunately, Luna the Reading Rocks doggy mascot woofs in to help her out!!! Jane talks passionately about how teachers can model their thinking as a reader. Get those thought bubbles floating above your heads. This week’s guest is Nathaniel Hansford, author of The Scientific Principles of Reading Instruction, chatting with Jane and Heather all the way from Canada. They have an insightful discussion about reading comprehension, fluency and the different stress levels in teaching in the UK and Canada. Wonder of Words has Heather sharing a book about two friends who are a bit different, reminding her of herself and Jane. Jane’s book choice is all about doughnuts!!! Heartbursts from Jane and Big Love from Heather xx

Episode 6 - Knowledge is Power, The Attainment Gap and AI for Senior Leaders Join Jane Considine and Heather Wright for episode 6 of The Teacher Squad Podcast. This week, Heather and Jane share gratitude about sandy toes and soundtracks with a few funny anecdotes thrown in. Sentences of the week focus on reading giving children knowledge and the Education Policy Institute’s annual report. The Reading House | EEF Highly detailed reading comprehension schemes of work https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/annual-report-2023/ https://www.ascl.org.uk/News/Our-news-and-press-releases/ASCL-comment-on-EPI-report-showing-widening-disadv#:~:text=Geoff%20Barton%2C%20General%20Secretary%20of,continued%20to%20widen%20in%202022. The guest this week is Craig McKee @CraigMcKeeEdu talking all about AI-Powered School Improvement. http://SLTAI.co.uk Wonder of Words has Jane thinking about ink-drinkers and extracts that spark questions, and Heather sharing about Kate Jane Neal’s work on the culture of the heart. https://www.thecultureoftheheart.com/ Reading Influencers BookTrust research highlights the importance of multiple 'reading influencers' | BookTrust Heartbursts from Jane & Big Love from Heather x