Alex
@teachingwrens.bsky.social
Year 4 teacher; English lead; mentor. Previously: EYFS-Y2. NPQLT + NPQLL. Interested in all things teaching & learning! @teachingwrens on Twitter.
I attended last year and it was well worth it: will make a donation as it's a very worthy cause.
August 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I attended last year and it was well worth it: will make a donation as it's a very worthy cause.
Great idea! I’m keeping much of my current class going up to Y5 & likely to have some spare time so will try this I think.
June 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Great idea! I’m keeping much of my current class going up to Y5 & likely to have some spare time so will try this I think.
Great! Looks like such a smooth system with real impact. I’m trying to juggle something similar at primary: if those who need Phonics interventions miss out on whole-class reading lessons with age-related texts due to timetabling, they’re missing out on a lot.
June 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Great! Looks like such a smooth system with real impact. I’m trying to juggle something similar at primary: if those who need Phonics interventions miss out on whole-class reading lessons with age-related texts due to timetabling, they’re missing out on a lot.
Amazing stuff. Did the children who needed intensive Phonics interventions also read the novels (/have the novels read to them)?
June 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Amazing stuff. Did the children who needed intensive Phonics interventions also read the novels (/have the novels read to them)?
I *really* struggle to understand any school that doesn’t aim to complete with the top/prioritise attainment. Isn’t that what we’re all here for? Isn’t the most progressive thing you can do be to raise outcomes & life chances…?
June 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I *really* struggle to understand any school that doesn’t aim to complete with the top/prioritise attainment. Isn’t that what we’re all here for? Isn’t the most progressive thing you can do be to raise outcomes & life chances…?
99% of teacher Facebook seems to be about Alma! Do you overall find it enjoyable being a moderator? It’s on my long term career wish list at the moment
June 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
99% of teacher Facebook seems to be about Alma! Do you overall find it enjoyable being a moderator? It’s on my long term career wish list at the moment
I first watched it when I was in year 3 but year 2 would be fine I think. I'd start with 'Rose' or 'The Eleventh Hour'.
June 8, 2025 at 6:11 AM
I first watched it when I was in year 3 but year 2 would be fine I think. I'd start with 'Rose' or 'The Eleventh Hour'.
parents haven't expressed confusion though, I imagine because it ties directly to the teacher.
June 1, 2025 at 5:37 PM
parents haven't expressed confusion though, I imagine because it ties directly to the teacher.
I think you'd dislike my school then! Teachers have a bird name that sticks with them. I was 'Wren class' when I taught Year 2, I'm now 'Wren class' as I teach Year 4, and will still be 'Wren class' next year! (At least it means I can keep my wren merch I suppose)
June 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I think you'd dislike my school then! Teachers have a bird name that sticks with them. I was 'Wren class' when I taught Year 2, I'm now 'Wren class' as I teach Year 4, and will still be 'Wren class' next year! (At least it means I can keep my wren merch I suppose)
This is going to be very useful, thank you!
June 1, 2025 at 12:59 PM
This is going to be very useful, thank you!
Yeah, I agree. Same problem could be applied to the curriculum I think. As (primary) English lead, it’s awfully tempting to write a bunch of fancy documents to create an English utopia, but I know they’d gather dust without proper action.
May 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Yeah, I agree. Same problem could be applied to the curriculum I think. As (primary) English lead, it’s awfully tempting to write a bunch of fancy documents to create an English utopia, but I know they’d gather dust without proper action.
Easy to end up stuck. No, or poor, codified policy? People do whatever and hard to give ‘reasonable’ feedback. Detailed policy? Potentially just gathering dust with no impact. I think you need solid policy with *a lot* of (well-delivered) CPD in-person.
May 29, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Easy to end up stuck. No, or poor, codified policy? People do whatever and hard to give ‘reasonable’ feedback. Detailed policy? Potentially just gathering dust with no impact. I think you need solid policy with *a lot* of (well-delivered) CPD in-person.
I think @jonhutchinson.bsky.social has mentioned before that he had an interview lesson, a coaching conversation, then did the lesson again with the parallel class. I think that's a fantastic idea along with the ones you've mentioned.
May 20, 2025 at 6:03 AM
I think @jonhutchinson.bsky.social has mentioned before that he had an interview lesson, a coaching conversation, then did the lesson again with the parallel class. I think that's a fantastic idea along with the ones you've mentioned.
Yep. I've been reading 'Progressively Worse' by Robert Peal lately - I am *not* going back to all that.
May 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Yep. I've been reading 'Progressively Worse' by Robert Peal lately - I am *not* going back to all that.
I’m very jealous - what an opportunity! Hope this sort of programme is still around in (quite) a few years.
April 9, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I’m very jealous - what an opportunity! Hope this sort of programme is still around in (quite) a few years.
I *think* last time you tweeted along the lines of: amazing NYC teaching approaches, but curriculum is behind (e.g. focused on transferable skills or finding 'main idea') - if so, do you still see that?
April 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I *think* last time you tweeted along the lines of: amazing NYC teaching approaches, but curriculum is behind (e.g. focused on transferable skills or finding 'main idea') - if so, do you still see that?
Yes - it's not uncommon overall to find out suddenly there's a visitor or a craft or 'national X day', so everything else has to go away (yet all curriculum still needs to be covered!)... with very very minimal notice.
November 10, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Yes - it's not uncommon overall to find out suddenly there's a visitor or a craft or 'national X day', so everything else has to go away (yet all curriculum still needs to be covered!)... with very very minimal notice.