Teachers Talk Radio

The Friday Morning Break with John Gibbs: Making Sense of gender in schools

My guest this week is Kirsty Ruthven, a teacher and school leader. We discuss gender stereotyping in schools and why gender is always such a difficult issue for schools. Kirsty work with the organization Lifting Limits.
The expectations set up by gender stereotypes are factors in a number of limiting and damaging social outcomes such as behaviour in and beyond school, mental health and sexual harassment.
Children are constantly sent messages from those around them, including slogans on T-shirts and every day expressions. Some are seemingly ‘harmless banter’, some are more obviously offensive, but they all have a cumulative impact that shape expectations and behaviours.

Private Schools & State Funding: The Late Late Show with Ed Finch & Toby P-C

Toby and Ed rambled about everything and nothing in their own inimitable way before delving into the thorny issue of school funding.  They discussed some of the differences between the state system and the private system and considered the challenges facing the former, and acknowledging that there are many good people in all sectors of education, doing great work, but that after a long, cold, wet winter everyone is in need of a good, restful break...

Sustainability and the SDGs in the Classroom. The Twilight Show with Harry Waters

Had has a chat with Alexa Rose Pettinari about how and why we need to get the SDGs into our classrooms.

How Can Music Engage and Motivate Learners? The Morning Break with Jane Ritter

Fergal Kavanagh uses Pop music to build learners' confidence and love of language. His roadshow engages learners across the globe. Listen back to find out more...

US math teaching and anxiety: The Late Show with Christopher Vowles

Christopher discusses American math education and student anxiety with Dr Katie Nall @KatieNallPhD and is taken through an on-air demonstration of the Emotional Freedom Technique as a de-stressing strategy.

Teacher Development using Low Tech and at Conferences: The Twilight Show with Graham Stanley

My first guest, Liliana Sanchez, British Council Head of English Programmes in Mexico, talks about the low tech approach to teacher development adopted in a rural school indigenous community in the state of Chiapas. Then, my experience of the recent TESOL convention in Portland, Oregon, leads onto discussion about the value of conferences in general, face-to-face vs online conferences and the divide between research and teaching, featuring TTR's very own Tom Rogers and future TTR-show-host Kathryn Taylor. 

Role Models: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester

Darren talks about being an unintentional role model and what role modelship in school looks like.

OFSTED under fire: Education Tonight

Brent Poland is joined by guests to discuss the very latest in a controversial week for the schools inspectorate in England. What should happen to OFSTED? The Caversham Primary School OFSTED report is discussed in detail and Brent is joined by Naureen Khalid, Daisy Turner and latterly by a former member of staff at Caversham, Kate Wells. 

Adoption in Education with Marie Greenhalgh: The Friday Morning Break with Poppy Gibson

In this episode, Poppy is joined by special guest Marie Greenhalgh, Head of Inclusion College. We discuss barriers and educational challenges for children who have been adopted, and Marie shares personal experience and advice for parents and educators in supporting children who have been adopted.

Teaching Secondary Science: The Twilight Show with Hannah Wilson

On the show I will be joined by Adam Boxer to discuss his book Teaching Secondary Science, The Complete Guide. As well as talking about science in general and what this book has to offer with Lydia Roberts.

Staffroom 101: 21-03-23

Nathan, Lucy, Tom and plentiful callers discuss the things they'd throw into Staffroom 101 and out of teaching!

Ofsted pressure: The Late Late Show with Ed Finch & Toby P-C

To begin with there was some light hearted chat about Toby deleting the Twitter App from his phone and some personal reflections about changing schools and fresh starts, but most of the show was led with great care, passion and insight by Ed reflecting on the burden of stress placed on Headteachers by Ofsted inspection, about the inspection process and in the last fifteen minutes a call-in from Flora Cooper, Headteacher extraordinaire, who joined us to praise her brilliant team and school and catch up with Ed following quite the week...Joni Mitchell & the Clash to close the show. One of our more important listens methinks.

Pronunciation and Representation. The Wednesday Twilight Show with Harry Waters

Join Harry and his guest Taylor Veigga as they take a trip from pronunciation to representation!

Femininity and Feminism in education: The Twilight Show with Maud

What does femininity stand for? Is feminism a bad word?
Let's explore how our schools are reproducing what society requires. Today, we are exploring the concept of hidden curriculum and schools as tools of social and cultural reproduction

OFSTED and the tragic case of Ruth Perry: The Weekly Review

Tom HB, Nathan Gynn and Lucy Neuburger discuss the latest news from the week in education. The whole show this week is dedicated to a discussion around the tragic death of Headteacher Ruth Perry after her family spoke out about the impact of an 'inadequate' OFSTED rating on Ruth. You can watch the video version of this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5frAQkRFBM&t=375s

Stand-Up Comedy and Teaching: The Twilight Show with Graham Stanley

What can teachers learn from stand-up comedians? What are the differences and similarities between stand-up and teaching? How about the use of humour in the classroom? Reflections on all of this and some bad jokes you can use with your students too!

Liberationist Pedagogy 101: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester

In the next installment of his pedagogy101 series, Darren learns about Liberationist teaching and thinks about how the moving definition of "political" can (and does) make everything political.

How Teachers are Preparing Students for the Future of STEAM: The Twilight Show with Mark Nichols

Join us for the latest episode of Leading in the 21st Century, where we explore the fascinating world of STEAM education! Host Mark Nichols is joined by a dynamic STEAM educator with a unique journey spanning from Alaska to England. Together, they discuss the importance of educators as custodians of the digital age, and the role of project-based learning in shaping the future of education.
Get ready for an inspiring conversation as our guest shares her transformative STEAM high school experience, her diverse career path, and her passion for teaching the brand-new T Level in Engineering. Discover how she's helping to shape the Future School through innovative teaching methods and a focus on real-world problem-solving.
Whether you're an educator, student, or simply interested in the future of education, this episode is not to be missed! Tune in for a captivating discussion on the future of STEAM education, and get ready to be inspired! 🎧🚀

Making Sense of Race in schools in the USA and UK: The Friday Morning Break with John Gibbs

My guest this week was Dr. Sheron Fraser-Burgess, Professor of Social Foundations of Education and Multicultural Education at Ball State University Indiana USA. Sheron describes the difficulties and challenges of exploring race in US schools in a fascinating discussion.  We discuss the contemporary political context and history of race in the USA with many lessons for the UK. 

Small Changes: The Twilight Show with Nathan Gynn

Small Changes: Bigger Impact. How have you refined your teaching over time? Joined by Dan Smith to discuss improving your teaching over time, which tips have helped and which edu-fads we’ve had to let go. #pedagogy #ect #cpd #development #improvement #fads

School trips and cultural enrichment: The Late Late Show with Ed Finch & Toby P-C

We did speak about school trips and enrichment but mostly we just meandered, learning lots about Ed's previous incarnation as the voice of Gary Linekar and how he is a pre-eminent naturalist of the highest order.  Lovely song for St Patrick's Day Eve Eve at the end too.

Is radio dead? Do young people even care?: The Late Late Show with Natalie Maher

Natalie is joined by Dominic James who left the UK for the US in 2016. After many years of teaching drama and media studies, he now works in one of the largest high schools in the Midwest, with nearly 6,000 students and some amazing facilities.

Core Curriculum Leadership: The Twilight Show with Ben Thomas

Join Ben and his guest Becky Birchenough as they discuss the role of a core curriculum leader in a primary education setting. They discuss the merits of implementing and maintaining curriculum expectations and how this is balanced with a full teaching commitment. 

Tips for Teachers with Craig Barton: The Late Show with Tom Rogers

Craig Barton has a new book called 'Tips for Teachers'. In this show, Tom explores several of the tips in the book and explores them in detail with Craig. Whether you are a new or experienced teacher, this show delves into habits, routines, mini whiteboards, cold-calling, structured tasks and much more. You can grab yourself a copy of the book from the John Catt bookshop.

Being a Teacher of the Deaf: The Saturday Twilight Show with Eugene McFadden

Eugene talks with Alex, a Teacher of the Deaf about what being a Teacher of the Deaf means and what inclusion means. 

The Life of St Patrick: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester

Darren starts with a quick discussion of having anxiety and depression as a teacher, before moving into a chat about the life of St Patrick and readings from some of the works of the Patron Saint of Ireland, whose "day" will be widely celebrated this coming weekend.

Behaviourism in Schools: The Friday Morning Break with Poppy Gibson

Special guest: Dr Robert Morgan
In today's episode, Poppy is joined by primary education lecturer Dr Robert Morgan from University of Greenwich, London. We discuss 'behaviourism' and what this means in the classroom, and question whether intrinsic rewards can be as powerful as external rewards and sanctions, and what this means for our pedagogy in the modern world.

Belonging: The Twilight Show with Nathan Gynn

What does it mean to belong at school? With attendance and teen mental health in the headlines, we take a deep dive in to the theory and research of belonging. We look at the academic benefits and the practical approaches to helping your students belong.  #attendance #behaviour #pastoral #belonging #uniform

KS3 - the unloved years: The Late Late Show with Ed Finch & Toby P-C

In perhaps a more serious and education focused show than normal, Toby and Ed dug deep into the unloved years of key stage three in the English education system.  We explored the top down pull of GCSEs and the huge push of overnight cultural change from year 6 in primary to year 7 in secondary.  Schools doing things differently were talked about and Toby shared his independent sector insights where year 7 & 8 are often at the top rather than bottom of a school, in terms of age.  Music was a belated tribute to Burt Bacharach. 

Is there a place for VR in the ELT classroom?: The Morning Break with Jane Ritter

This morning I had a fascinating conversation with Richard Twigg about VR in the ELT classroom. He opened my eyes to the motivational and linguistic opportunities VR in the classroom can provide. Listen back to learn more.Richard Twigg has over 20 years of teaching experience in the U.K., Malta and Italy and has been a teacher/teacher trainer for the last 15 years. In 1998 he graduated from Huddersfield University with a Certificate in Education (Further Education). He was then a lecturer at York College before he moved to Malta in 2005, where he obtained his DELTA in 2007. He is currently the director of English Consultancy and Mediterranean Training, and he works as a freelance teacher/teacher trainer in Italy and Malta