I know lots of teachers are currently actively reviewing their curriculum offer to try & ensure it is more representative & diverse. I enthusiastically encourage you to consider this free unit on the history of learning disabilities led by Ben Newmark learningdisabilityhistory.org

Traditional education is like traditional media. It spends all its time trying to prove it’s important when it’s actually irrelevant.

Group discussion is not student engagement. Engagement isn’t about group tasks or flashy apps. It’s about: 🔑 Relevance 🔑 Connection 🔑 Showing why it matters If they don’t see the why, they won’t care about the what. Real engagement doesn’t need a gimmick. It needs a reason.

January: a blank canvas or a ticking clock? For students with exams looming, it’s less ‘new year, new me’ and more ‘past papers, revision plans’. To students: consistency beats perfection. To parents: calm support matters. Steady progress, deep breaths, and well-earned breaks.

The best teachers aren’t the ones who have all the answers—they’re the ones who help their students ask the right questions.

If you avoid applying what you read, you’re just collecting words, not wisdom.

Direct instruction is joyful & leads pupils to success. Here is a *clip* where I use high frequency & high participation questioning in 3 phases: 1. Check for listening 2. Rehearsal 3. Check for understanding Established routines: all hands up, turn & talk, SLANT & ruler reading

For those of you with clear skies in the UK this week check out the planets in the sky. For interesting facts and links to inspiring activities and resources, check out my latest article here: nicihoyle.ghost.io/look-up-and-ge…

Learning should never be confined to a classroom. True education happens when we challenge, connect, and grow as individuals.

Learning sticks best when done in focused, repeated chunks. Maths, languages, music, writing, sport—it works for everything! Focus on showing up, even for a little, every day.

I love celebrating Chinese New Year as the yearly animal’s traits offers a fresh perspective. The snake—wisdom, strategy, adaptability. The best innovations come from thinking critically, adapting quickly, and connecting knowledge across disciplines. DeepSeek has done just that.

Learning isn’t about proving yourself; it’s about letting the joy of discovery be the true reward. #ThursdayThoughts

Any maths teachers wanting to boost finance learning for lower secondary? Here are ways that everyday school maths topics can be connected to finance. Useful for conversations or extension homework add-ons. DM if interested to have any specific worksheets. nicihoyle.ghost.io/your-head-migh…

Maths isn’t a side of spinach—good in small doses but optional. It’s dedicated training: repetition, struggle, breakthroughs, fluency. Miss a skill one year? It haunts you the next. Should maths be embraced like a mental workout, or is it just intellectual spinach we tolerate?

Ever wondered what makes someone have a "good eye" for design? 👀 Chances are, they're picking up on natural patterns, like secret agents pick up on details no one else notices. Curious? Dive in to last week's article: nicihoyle.ghost.io/golden-eye-tra…

Made some handy sentence starter inspiration for my Year 7 and 8 to help vary sentence starters in their essays or long answer Qs across all subjects. DM and I'll share the printable.

Half-term survival, simplified: Just One Thing A Day. ✨ Fun ideas, zero overwhelm—for when ‘What are we doing today?’ hits for the millionth time. 😅 Read now 👉 nicihoyle.ghost.io/half-term-surv…