Over the last few years, some of our teachers have been experimenting with flexible learning spaces (see my previous ‘Space Walk’ blog). We are now at the stage where, after substantial research, we are actively encouraging our staff to ‘opt in’ to redesigning their classrooms and creating more flexible, open learning areas. Our Riverside Reform … More Linking our spaces to our pedagogy
Providing more authentic learning experiences for our Tweens has been a focus at Riverside Middle College this past year. Posted below are examples of how our Tween Teachers have incorporated these experiences into their curriculum. Year 9’s Night at the Museum The Year 9 History students concluded their study of World War I with a task … More Authentic Learning
Last term, I had the opportunity to lead some of my colleagues on a ‘Space Walk’ throughout the Year 6, 7 and 8 flexible learning spaces in our Middle College. I consider our Middle School to be a place where students enjoy coming to school and love being in their classrooms. For our Middle School … More Space Walk
I am a Tween Teacher – not a primary teacher or a secondary teacher. I am a specialist in my field – ‘middle years’ education, but I feel like I have to constantly fight for the recognition and acknowledgement that such a specialisation even exists. Having taught in dedicated Middle Schools for 17 years of … More You specialise in WHAT?!!!
I have found it quite difficult in my current role being ‘out of the classroom’. I am still passionate about researching and trying out the latest educational tools, apps and strategies to get students excited about their learning, and miss the opportunities for practical application that comes when you have your own class. Just recently, … More Breakout!
Although joining Twitter in 2009 (according to my Twitter profile), I didn’t really begin to actively use it until 2 years ago. And it wasn’t until this year that I really recognised the power of Twitter in helping me create an amazing Professional Learning Network (PLN). This blog, from Teacher Challenges, explains exactly what a PLN … More The Power of a #PLN
This year, our Middle School initiated Student-Led Conferences. The introduction of this method of reporting to parents followed on from my reflective report on inquiry into Student-Led Conferences, for my GradCert. in Educational Studies. Lack of student engagement in the learning process, and diminished responsibility for their academic progress was becoming an increasing issue in … More Student-Led Conferences
About two years ago, my school embarked on a reform process which included classroom ‘Learning Walks’ to improve instruction. In pairs or threes, teachers would visit their colleagues’ classrooms, spending 5-10 minutes looking at the ‘learning artefacts’ around the room, observing how the students were engaging with the learning, talking to the students about what … More Learning Walks
I am often inspired during my Learning Walks and classroom visits, when I see other Middle School teachers doing creative things with their adolescent students. Just recently, I joined a Year 9 History class who was learning about living conditions in England during the Industrial Revolution. To engage the students in this often ‘dull’ topic, … More CSI London
During the last week of term, one of the Middle School teachers received this email from a Year 7 student, who had just discovered that she would be in this teacher’s class next year. The email is published unedited (just in case you were thinking my grammar and punctuation had a little bit to be … More What makes a REAL Tween Teacher?
Tween Teacher 