Getting out of a rut

Feel like you’re doing the same thing day in and day out in the classroom? That may not be a bad thing, we all know routine is important and that consistency supports children in feeling safe in their environment. However, if you feel like you are doing the same thing but it’s not making an impact, then it might be time to shake things up. This doesn’t have to be a drastic change, with you binning all your usual teaching practice and coming in with a completely new style and approach. In fact, please don’t do that or you’ll have some very unsettled pupils!

Here are 5 things you can do that can help you find some exciting new ideas:

Explore edtech

Look around for some useful edtech for teachers and pupils that you could use to spice things up in the classroom. This could be subject or topic-based, aimed at supporting behaviour or student well-being, and more.

Observe other teachers or look at their planning

Get some ideas from other teachers for new AfL techniques, activities, questioning ideas etc. You may be surprised what you pick up.

Networking

Join some teaching forums or head to Twitter. There are so many great ideas spread around the Twitter space. I know social media has a reputation of negativity but there are many, many people out there sharing resources and ideas. Find some educators that you really like and follow them. Check out some teaching blogs too.

Get some feedback

Ask a colleague to give you some informal feedback on your teaching or planning. Ask them how you could improve or what they might do differently. Choose the person carefully though as this process should give you new ideas not new worries!

Use your timetable wisely

Does one lesson seem to drag? Another not seem long enough? Look at how you are using your timetable. Perhaps your colleagues teach Literacy first, but does that mean that works best for your class? Having subjects in the same order each day can be beneficial, particularly for children who struggle with change, but it’s up to you to structure your timetable in a way that works for your class.