We must hang together gentlemen . . . else we shall most assuredly hang separately. ~Benjamin Franklin Happy Independence Day! And “happy” is the appropriate greeting for this long weekend. The Declaration of Independence was the first historical instance of the word “happiness” appearing in the founding documents of any nation. In 1776, 56 men signed their names … Read more

Safer Internet Day is the UK’s biggest celebration of online safety. Each year Safer Internet Day covers online issue or themes that speak to the things young people are seeing and experiencing online. In 2025, the date is Tuesday 11th February. The 2025 Safer Internet Day theme is: ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself … Read more

Whether teaching online or in-person, there are many benefits of integrating games and activities in the ESL classroom. Our panel of ELT experts will discuss strategies to maximize those benefits. Games are known to increase engagement in both children and adults, but there are many other benefits to consider. From introducing new … Read more

Welcome to the final day of Appvent 2024. I couldn’t let this last day pass without highlighting something I emphasise year after year: the importance that educators play in every decision made about the use of technology in schools. So as has become the tradition, there is no app, platform or tool on the final … Read more

Write. Share. Give. Out by me the weather is warmer, school has just let out, and the summer spreads before me like a picnic blanket. Today I’ll share a bit of inspiration for the poets out there, rooted in the tradition of Margaret Wise Brown’s The Important Book: The important thingabout a poemis that you … Read more

Welcome to my 188th gems post. This is where I share some of the latest news, ideas and resources for maths teachers.1.  Mr Chapman MathsThank you to ‪@dalechapman.bsky.social for sharing some great new scaffolded resources. The first one is a backwards faded task for recurring decimals. The scaffolding makes the topic highly accessible – this task could be … Read more

Teaching literary analysis can be challenging, especially when students struggle to interpret themes, symbols, and deeper meanings in texts. One of the most challenging aspects of teaching students how to go beyond basic comprehension and recall. One powerful strategy that can bridge this gap is the OPTIC strategy, traditionally used for analyzing art and visual … Read more

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Kindergarten Literature Unit – 1+1+1=1 This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More Privacy & Cookies Policy

A five-year-old girl complained that some boys were being “mean” to her and her friend. I answered, “Oh no, what did you do?” “I told them to stop it, but they didn’t stop.” I looked across the playground at the “mean” boys in question. “It doesn’t look like they’re being mean right now.” “No, they’re … Read more

If you’re looking for an engaging and educational way to support your KS1 computing lessons, particularly as children transition from Beebots to ScratchJr, the BBC’s latest CBeebies series, Wonderblocks, is well worth exploring. Available on CBeebies and iPlayer, this innovative show is designed to develop essential thinking skills through adventure, problem-solving, and playful storytelling. From … Read more