Teacher Talk

Here at Chiltern Teaching School Hub we are proud to share our educational blog ‘Teacher Talk’, exploring everything that is pertinent to education. 

In each edition, we discuss relevant topics and provide tips from research and educational experts, to aid practice.

Our topics cover a whole host of areas such as EAL, Oracy, Reading and Adaptive Teaching. 

Why not take a look at some of our editions, below: 

• Monday 4 December 2023 TeacherTalk:Why Teach? If you are considering a career change or have a passion for creating a legacy, then consider teaching. As a teacher, I’d argue that no other profession gives you a greater sense of purpose, achievement and impact upon so many incredible individuals. From the sea of wonderful faces to working with passionate, remarkable colleagues - you really can’t imagine the difference you will make on a daily basis.
• Monday 13 November 2023 TeacherTalk: ECTs - Part 1 So, you’ve taken the leap and are embarking on your new professional journey as a teacher; Either in your first or second year as an Early Career Teacher. Firstly, well done! You’ve decided to join what I believe is the most rewarding, fulfilling and motivating career sector where you will never be bored by the brilliance (and at times, challenge) of your students. Secondly, it’s important you know what your entitlements are and that you get the right support throughout these two years. This is why we are here to provide you with some top tips and key information to help you progress, learn and develop in these early stages.
• Sunday 29 October 2023 Teacher Talk: Wellbeing - Getting it right as individuals and leaders As we start a new term or equally, hit refresh upon a new period, what better time than this to think about wellbeing. From crumbling concrete to post pandemic progress, teaching and education is, as always, full of ever challenging changes.
• Monday 2 October 2023 Teacher Talk: The impact of a positive school culture on school improvement and student attainment Culture and ethos is undoubtedly a determining element of school improvement and experience for teachers and students alike. Leaders in education, The DfE/OFSTED, all agree on its importance within the education system. The expectation for a school to have a clear, developed and well embedded culture and ethos, is increasing rapidly. So, what does an effective school culture look like
• Friday 21 July 2023 Teacher Talk: The Divisive Role of AI in Education: Debating its impact on the Future of Learning You can't discuss anything educational without the mention of the newly rising Artificial Intelligence! Is it a gift, rising to reduce our workload or a monstrous intrusion, here to take over Take a read of our latest blog to find out more.
• Sunday 25 June 2023 Teacher Talk: Why Attendance Matters! Attendance post-pandemic has been the described by Dame Rachel de Souza, Childrens’ Commissioner, as the ‘biggest problem’ facing education’. Here we discuss the research and strategies to support attendance within education
• Friday 16 June 2023 Teacher Talk: Promoting Sustainability in Schools The importance of sustainability in schools cannot be understated. As educators, we have a responsibility to instil in our students an understanding of environmental issues and equip them with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact
• Monday 5 June 2023 TeacherTalk: The Power of Music We’ve all been there - sat in a mundane waiting room as the opening notes begin to play of an all familiar melody, catapulting us into a memory, a feeling, a mood. Music provokes emotions, inspires movement and evokes our very senses- But in a world where musical education is becoming less frequent, ask yourself - is music important in education Does it aid our students like more so-called ‘academic’ topics do How and why should students study it
• Friday 12 May 2023 Vocabulary: The Gap and Knowledge Literacy is a skill that connects all subjects and their curriculums but one particular thing that makes each subject unique is the vocabulary that is required. Within all of our curriculums, vocabulary is nestled in like a well planted seed and almost all educators would agree that vocabulary, and subject specific terminology, are an important part of our curriculums. Vocabulary can be termed as the linchpin to academic success, without it, students would not be able to articulate their knowledge accurately or fluently.
• Friday 5 May 2023 Teacher Talk: Adaptive Teaching in Maths Adaptive teaching is essential in maths as it allows all learners to meet expectations. It involves effective planning and adjustments to teaching and learning throughout the lesson and is centred around the idea that teachers have high expectations for every pupil. Students learn at different rates and require different levels of support from their teachers, so teachers need to understand the varying levels of need and any barriers to learning.
• Friday 21 April 2023 Teacher Talk: Science - Leading the Curriculum Changes In February, 2023, OFSTED produced their subject specific reports considering academic research within each discipline from numerous studies and leading experts. Their science paper, ‘Finding the optimum: the science subject report’ highlighted the importance of science for all, within education. Where they stated that: ‘[Science]fundamentally shaped every aspect of our world. Science drives innovation, creating new knowledge to help us solve current and future problems. All young people are entitled to a high-quality science education, to the curiosity it engenders and the understanding and the opportunity it brings.’
• Friday 24 March 2023 Teacher Talk: History, Crafting a Curriculum What students are taught within our classrooms has the ability to open minds, influence and create powerful opinions. It can be provocative, positive but also, the potential for possible detrimental impact upon them. Henry Cross and Samir Richards from CHSB explore their journey to an effectively crafted curriculum.
• Thursday 23 February 2023 Teacher Talk: Adaptive Teaching There has been much discussion in education recently around adaptive teaching and how this differs from differentiation. The Early Careers Framework states that this is ‘adapting teaching in a responsive way, including by providing targeted support to pupils who are struggling’ (ECF, 2019). Kirsten Mould, in the EEF blog ‘Assess, adjust, adapt – what does adaptive teaching mean to you?’ defines adaptive teacher as ‘adapting planning prior to the lesson and adjusting practice during the lesson’ (2021).
• Monday 20 February 2023 Teacher Talk: Oracy Oracy might literally be one of the most talked about topics in education right now - is it just another phase or does it make a difference Here we discuss the research and impact Oracy can have upon your students, classroom and school.
• Sunday 15 January 2023 Teacher Talk: Reading Simply put, reading has the ability to create, elevate and is fundamental to student academic and future success - What's more, research, both past and current, shows this to be the case.
• Tuesday 15 November 2022 Teacher Talk: Autism in Mainstream Education According to research, 1 in 59 students within our classrooms are diagnosed with Autism (Waterford: 2022). So what is autism and how can we, in the educational sector, support our students? Have a read to find out the latest research, practice and advice from experts within the sector.
• Tuesday 15 November 2022 Teacher Talk: EAL Over the past two decades, the number of students who use EAL in our schools has doubled to over 1.6 million; creating a rich, diverse and multifaceted culture (The Bell Foundation: 2022). What is EAL and how can we, in the educational sector, support our students? Here we explore all the pertinent questions, research and practice.