Teacher’s Manual
@unofficialoa.bsky.social
Omar Akbar | Teacher | Author | The (Un)official Teacher’s Manual | Bad School Leadership | Teaching For Realists | Building Relationships in Schools
Podcast: The (Un)official Teacher’s Manual -
https://open.spotify.com/show/5liz0H9ui4voyiK4qBWR5S
Podcast: The (Un)official Teacher’s Manual -
https://open.spotify.com/show/5liz0H9ui4voyiK4qBWR5S
I’ve come across many teachers who’ve been forced to lower their standards.
Not because they want to but because teaching disruption free for even 5 mins is exhausting and/or impossible at their school.
For their sanity, they continue - ignoring disruptors, hoping learning takes place.
Sad.
Not because they want to but because teaching disruption free for even 5 mins is exhausting and/or impossible at their school.
For their sanity, they continue - ignoring disruptors, hoping learning takes place.
Sad.
February 12, 2026 at 9:14 PM
I’ve come across many teachers who’ve been forced to lower their standards.
Not because they want to but because teaching disruption free for even 5 mins is exhausting and/or impossible at their school.
For their sanity, they continue - ignoring disruptors, hoping learning takes place.
Sad.
Not because they want to but because teaching disruption free for even 5 mins is exhausting and/or impossible at their school.
For their sanity, they continue - ignoring disruptors, hoping learning takes place.
Sad.
“Every time I start talking I am interrupted, turn by turn, by at least 8 pupils. I can’t even give an explanation. When they’re finally silent for 30s, 3 pupils will raise their hand to ask to go the toilet or an inane off topic Q. Repeat for an hour. I’m quitting.”
February 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
“Every time I start talking I am interrupted, turn by turn, by at least 8 pupils. I can’t even give an explanation. When they’re finally silent for 30s, 3 pupils will raise their hand to ask to go the toilet or an inane off topic Q. Repeat for an hour. I’m quitting.”
Shout out to the one teacher at every school who is the sole reason why the ‘managing difficult conversations’ INSET for middle leaders exists.
#edusky
#edusky
February 4, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Shout out to the one teacher at every school who is the sole reason why the ‘managing difficult conversations’ INSET for middle leaders exists.
#edusky
#edusky
I predict that ‘edutainment’ will make a comeback.
February 1, 2026 at 4:48 PM
I predict that ‘edutainment’ will make a comeback.
Throwback to the time when a year 7 kid shouted ‘keep to the left!’ in an empty corridor and it took me 3 days to realise it was me she was shouting at.
#edusky
#edusky
January 13, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Throwback to the time when a year 7 kid shouted ‘keep to the left!’ in an empty corridor and it took me 3 days to realise it was me she was shouting at.
#edusky
#edusky
Research has shown that if there is a male teacher with a pony tail at a school, the chances of him being a physics teacher increase by 850%
#edusky
#edusky
January 8, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Research has shown that if there is a male teacher with a pony tail at a school, the chances of him being a physics teacher increase by 850%
#edusky
#edusky
Serious post:
Look after yourself this year.
Nothing is more important than your health- mental and physical.
Few things in life are worth compromising these over.
Prioritise diet, exercise and sleep.
All the best tomorrow.
You got this 💪🏼.
#edusky #wellbeing
Look after yourself this year.
Nothing is more important than your health- mental and physical.
Few things in life are worth compromising these over.
Prioritise diet, exercise and sleep.
All the best tomorrow.
You got this 💪🏼.
#edusky #wellbeing
January 4, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Serious post:
Look after yourself this year.
Nothing is more important than your health- mental and physical.
Few things in life are worth compromising these over.
Prioritise diet, exercise and sleep.
All the best tomorrow.
You got this 💪🏼.
#edusky #wellbeing
Look after yourself this year.
Nothing is more important than your health- mental and physical.
Few things in life are worth compromising these over.
Prioritise diet, exercise and sleep.
All the best tomorrow.
You got this 💪🏼.
#edusky #wellbeing
Apart from the fun stuff at work, I don’t celebrate Christmas.
But as a Muslim, I believe that: ‘A person is either your brother in faith or your equal in humanity.’
So Christmas matters to me because it’s celebrated by you ❤️.
Merry Christmas and peace be unto you.
But as a Muslim, I believe that: ‘A person is either your brother in faith or your equal in humanity.’
So Christmas matters to me because it’s celebrated by you ❤️.
Merry Christmas and peace be unto you.
December 25, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Apart from the fun stuff at work, I don’t celebrate Christmas.
But as a Muslim, I believe that: ‘A person is either your brother in faith or your equal in humanity.’
So Christmas matters to me because it’s celebrated by you ❤️.
Merry Christmas and peace be unto you.
But as a Muslim, I believe that: ‘A person is either your brother in faith or your equal in humanity.’
So Christmas matters to me because it’s celebrated by you ❤️.
Merry Christmas and peace be unto you.
Whilst the holidays give us time to think and reflect, for many, they can give us too much time to think and reflect!
Check out my 5 tips for managing anxiety during the hols:
#edusky
open.spotify.com/episode/5oo4...
Check out my 5 tips for managing anxiety during the hols:
#edusky
open.spotify.com/episode/5oo4...
5 Tips for Avoiding Anxiety During the Holidays
open.spotify.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Whilst the holidays give us time to think and reflect, for many, they can give us too much time to think and reflect!
Check out my 5 tips for managing anxiety during the hols:
#edusky
open.spotify.com/episode/5oo4...
Check out my 5 tips for managing anxiety during the hols:
#edusky
open.spotify.com/episode/5oo4...
You gotta prioritise your wellbeing in the hols…
Here’s how:
Here’s how:
December 23, 2025 at 9:45 AM
You gotta prioritise your wellbeing in the hols…
Here’s how:
Here’s how:
December 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM
December 18, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This, 1000x @trythisteaching.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This, 1000x @trythisteaching.bsky.social
Shout out to everyone who does the belly tap every time someone says they’ve lost their lanyard because they automatically assume they might have too so you have to check.
#edusky
#edusky
December 16, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Shout out to everyone who does the belly tap every time someone says they’ve lost their lanyard because they automatically assume they might have too so you have to check.
#edusky
#edusky
Funny education conversation last night:
Me: Are you RI?
Friend of friend: I’m fine thanks.
Me: No- I meant your school- does it Require Improvement?
#edusky
Me: Are you RI?
Friend of friend: I’m fine thanks.
Me: No- I meant your school- does it Require Improvement?
#edusky
December 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Funny education conversation last night:
Me: Are you RI?
Friend of friend: I’m fine thanks.
Me: No- I meant your school- does it Require Improvement?
#edusky
Me: Are you RI?
Friend of friend: I’m fine thanks.
Me: No- I meant your school- does it Require Improvement?
#edusky
When ‘low’ level disruption is explained to non-teachers, it is often dismissed as: kids talk too much haha.
The reality is that it is common for a teacher to be interrupted several times, deliberately, by multiple students to the point that a simple explanation is impossible.
The reality is that it is common for a teacher to be interrupted several times, deliberately, by multiple students to the point that a simple explanation is impossible.
December 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
When ‘low’ level disruption is explained to non-teachers, it is often dismissed as: kids talk too much haha.
The reality is that it is common for a teacher to be interrupted several times, deliberately, by multiple students to the point that a simple explanation is impossible.
The reality is that it is common for a teacher to be interrupted several times, deliberately, by multiple students to the point that a simple explanation is impossible.
Kid: Sir, what do you call a plane full of bald blokes?
Me: (looking somewhat dismayed as I am bald) What?
Kid: Receding airlines
I haven’t stopped laughing since period 5.
#edusky
Me: (looking somewhat dismayed as I am bald) What?
Kid: Receding airlines
I haven’t stopped laughing since period 5.
#edusky
December 5, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Kid: Sir, what do you call a plane full of bald blokes?
Me: (looking somewhat dismayed as I am bald) What?
Kid: Receding airlines
I haven’t stopped laughing since period 5.
#edusky
Me: (looking somewhat dismayed as I am bald) What?
Kid: Receding airlines
I haven’t stopped laughing since period 5.
#edusky
If you ever want to see a plethora of opinions, monumental diversity in perception…
ask the kids how old they think you are-
see what happens.
#edusky
ask the kids how old they think you are-
see what happens.
#edusky
December 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If you ever want to see a plethora of opinions, monumental diversity in perception…
ask the kids how old they think you are-
see what happens.
#edusky
ask the kids how old they think you are-
see what happens.
#edusky
Sunrise run this morning was amazing.
December 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Sunrise run this morning was amazing.
This ep. (on restorative practice) has been the most listened to and least contentious i.e. no one seems to disagree.
Given how common RP still is, however, I cannot find a single (non-anonymous) educator that can tell me of its success- only of failure.
Make it make sense.
Given how common RP still is, however, I cannot find a single (non-anonymous) educator that can tell me of its success- only of failure.
Make it make sense.
November 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
This ep. (on restorative practice) has been the most listened to and least contentious i.e. no one seems to disagree.
Given how common RP still is, however, I cannot find a single (non-anonymous) educator that can tell me of its success- only of failure.
Make it make sense.
Given how common RP still is, however, I cannot find a single (non-anonymous) educator that can tell me of its success- only of failure.
Make it make sense.