Kirstie Murray

As an A Level French Rev teacher, I’ve enjoyed this a huge amount so far!

Yes. They’ve been shared with pupils 😀

I led some cross trust training for the first time today.

Delightful to share what ‘excellence’ means for us in @camacademytrust.bsky.social. Presentations from colleagues and from @uclholocaust.bsky.social shaped discussions

Our children are lucky to have invested, motivated and curious teachers

Thanks Sam. We’ve used the webinar quite extensively in our teaching!

Calling AQA #historyteachers.
For the HE in depth study, how much are we to rely on the resource pack?

Comparing packs for Pevensey from a few years ago and now they are v different. Do we lean in to that?

And should we hold off planning BoH historic environment lessons until the pack is out?

This first batch of Y12 marking is done in depth, no grade, SPAG corrected, and notes added to our internal spreadsheet
Becomes a useful ref for later work and helps flag any immediate issues. Also low stakes for pupils and nothing dull about exam technique apart from answering the *actual* question

A standard early-in-term correction. How many times more will I wade through economical causes of revolution in this batch of marking I wonder.

This part of the school year contains so much I enjoy teaching - Pompeii, Charles I, Franz Ferdinand’s assassination, Korean War. Harold Godwinson’s crazy 1066. The calling of the estates general.

We really give the kids here the *best* bits. It’s a delight to teach!

Lots of this rings true. As a PGCE mentor I’d like ITTs to know that the department/ mentors don’t receive payment and the time for mentoring isn’t enough so it spills into our own free time.
So being helpful and considerate member of a department matters a great deal to keep goodwill flowing

Amazing thread.

Second day off timetable treating KS3 to some history treasures. Billy Joel and historical significance, Trafalgar v Waterloo, Horrible Histories games and a wonderful visit from @cromwellmuseum.bsky.social considering the local history of witch trails.

As part of our enrichment offer for all pupils, I took a group of keen KS3 historians to Cambridge today and had a smashing time in the sun. Visits to the Mueum of Classical Archeology, Fitzwilliam Museum and a lovely time at my old college @corpuscambridge.bsky.social

AQA French Rev

We’re hoping this then serves as a backbone/resource bank for revision into Y13.

Yep moving to this next year. For every hour of ‘homework’ we’re going to expect an hour of ‘independent study’

For each topic I have list of 6 readings (scans from books/ websites), 6 watch (podcast/video) and 3 written tasks (flash cards, notes, essays). Students choose one of the 15 options

Squeezing in a treat. Cafe and senior staff-student book club book.
I have such precious memories of being a 6th former and talking books with teachers. Looking forward to replicating with our students in a few weeks.

Wonderful. Their ultra random Bayeaux Tapestry blew me away when I visited years ago.

If I wanted to read/ watch/ listen to something on pastoral leadership at KS5 specifically, any ideas?

#edusky #teaching #sixthform

Predictions yes. But also pupils viewing ‘how to do questions’ videos where they’d be better revising content, revising using generic sites like Seneca which don’t cover our exact syllabus but sound plausible, study skills YouTubers… surprised this year how much kids want to rely on online not me

History teacher nightmare spotted on an English teacher’s board.

Time well spent. Goodbye and good luck postcards for Y11.

Come work in my school!

Cambourne Village College (Outstanding, expanding 6th form, lovely colleagues, excellent work-life balance, nice kids!) is looking for a new RPE teacher

#teaching #edujobs

Do circulate if you can.

Fab. I will pass this on to my trainee, but wanted to clarify.

He’s about to something on Japanese history which I think could fit the brief

A joy to attend Edd. Thanks so much for the chance to attend and present.

I do think events like this will matter in future, informal, open hearted and generous.

And long live the essay!

It was super fun to be involved in this!

Is it reviewed/ given feedback?

Such a great idea to make a space for trainee teachers, a lower bar of pressure perhaps.

The whole day with @camhistory.bsky.social members was full of nuanced and productive conversations.

I was left with a strong sense that we are all pulling in the same direction, rooting for each other and open to listening/ helping.

I’m hopeful of some productive 1-1 conversations and projects

4. The fact that there are excellent teacher-researchers , the HA, Nee textbooks, thriving discourse but that this looks sometimes insular. How is good teaching practice generously shared

And there are specific challenges for #historyteachers right now that I think it is worth those in academia knowing

1. Content heavy GCSE and A Level
2. Dominant pedagogy / cognitive science and the push towards generic teaching in some areas
3. The perils of taking ‘knowledge rich’ too far

3/

There are currently generic challenges facing all schools and subjects
1. Recruitment/retention
2. Funding. We have no photocopying, books, CPD time etc
3. Post Covid mental health challenges / anxious students
4. A desire to ‘pass the test’ rather than take risks

2/