4: Do later start times actually make a difference to student outcomes?
Diary of a Teacher
After finishing a fascintating book called Why We Sleep by Prof. Matt Walker, I found myself trying to help a student get started on her exam revision in a visual arts cover lesson. She tells me she’s had 4 hours sleep because she went to bed at midnight but had to set an alarm for 4am to finish an English task due that day. She isn't very hopeful that the revision will stick, and neither am I. In this episode, I provide no final answers but enjoy having a good chat about the science of sleep, and how good sleep does seem to improve student outcomes. Literature etc. I consulted for this...
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3: Managing Cognitive Load in the Classroom
Diary of a Teacher
It has been a six-lesson day and there are still lots of jobs to do, but it's time for an afternoon of professional development. This time you'll be learning about managing student cognitive load. You hope to high heaven that the facilitator doesn't fall victim to the ultimate irony... cognitively overloading you! In this episode, I talk about cognitive load theory, and how I went about addressing it in professional development. Literature etc. I consulted for this episode includes: Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2),...
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2: Does Peer Instruction Actually Work?
Diary of a Teacher
Harvard physics Professor Eric Mazur developed Peer Instruction in the early 90s, after noticing that many of his students weren't deeply understanding concepts despite performing well on traditional exams. He wanted to explore the nuts and bolts of that discrepancy. In this episode, I talk about my dealings with Peer Instruction to date, what the research says, and some potential pitfalls. Literature etc. I consulted for this episode includes: Mazur, E. (1997). Peer instruction: A user’s manual. Prentice Hall. Crouch, C. H., & Mazur, E. (2001). Peer instruction: Ten years of...
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1: School to Uni Transition, and How to Make it Smooth
Diary of a Teacher
Curious about what happens to your students when they leave the classroom and start uni life? This episode covers some of the factors that impact on smoothness of school to university transition. If you have a topic you would like covered, write to me: . Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.
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20: Listener Questions Answered & Season 5 Sneak Peak
Diary of a Teacher
In the last episode of season 4, I answer three listener questions and discuss the plan for season 5 of the podcast.
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19: How to Write Tailored Report Comments in Less Time
Diary of a Teacher
I've got a system for writing report comments, but it takes forever and isn't particularly efficient.
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18: Why Do Teachers Move Schools?
Diary of a Teacher
Next year, I'll be moving to a new school. The process is bittersweet - whilst there is excitement at the prospect of learning new things, it has been hard to say goodbye to colleagues and students.
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17: Tips to Reduce Your Marking Workload
Diary of a Teacher
In this episode I talk about two things I do to reduce my marking workload.
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16: Don't Get in Their Way
Diary of a Teacher
In this episode I talk about the importance of letting students chart their own course, with guidance of course.
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15: Picnics in Parks with People
Diary of a Teacher
School holidays are here.
info_outlineNext year, I'll be moving to a new school. The process is bittersweet - whilst there is excitement at the prospect of learning new things, it has been hard to say goodbye to colleagues and students.
As you can imagine, these last few weeks I have spoken with many colleagues and friends about the move. Everyone seems to have their own unique view on this life event, based on their experiences. So, when do teachers move schools, and why?
Write to me: hello@spongeeducation.com.
Visit the website: https://www.spongeeducation.com.