'Strong' silence is a sound strategy in class

22 May 2013 - 5:50pm -- sarah_knowles

A school is a busy place. There is much to achieve. Much to do. Lots to say, write about, read about. But what if all this just stopped for a moment and silence prevailed? A space of nothing that is something. Would classrooms be better for learning? Would children and staff be happier?

I have been working with the material of silence for a while now as a researcher of educational theory and alternative practices. What is clear is that silence is the new improvement tool for schools. And it is free to use. No charge. Just a breath away for everyone.

Dealing with behaviour issues - a guide for new teachers

13 February 2013 - 4:50pm -- sarah_knowles

I bet you don’t feel like a teacher yet, do you? No. You feel like a fraud. It’s as if the pilot just fainted and someone put the joystick in your hands. You’re wondering when a grown-up will be back to take the class. Well, buster, the grown-up is you. Their lives are in your hands. Suddenly, life is no longer a training exercise; suddenly, you are live, on air.

How to make your presence felt in the classroom

4 February 2013 - 3:39pm -- sarah_knowles

You may have qualified and secured your first post – but that doesn’t stop you from feeling nervous when you start work as an NQT. Developing your presence in the classroom can help you to project confidence. “Building a presence is important because it helps to give your teaching some authority, so that students have trust in you, which then helps them to learn,” says Alison Wood, a freelance educational consultant in Hertfordshire, and an English secondary school teacher.

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