https://lessonkind.com/articles/ Long-form articles for thoughtful elementary teachers. en Sat, 09 May 2026 23:16:42 +0000 https://lessonkind.com/articles/hinge-questions-what-they-are-and-how-to-use-them/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/hinge-questions-what-they-are-and-how-to-use-them/ Mon, 28 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A hinge question is a diagnostic question asked at a turning point in a lesson — the hinge between teaching and independent work — that tells you whether the class is ready to proceed. A good one takes thirty seconds and shows you exactly where each child is. Here's how to design and use them. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/verbal-feedback-the-underrated-alternative/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/verbal-feedback-the-underrated-alternative/ Sun, 27 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Verbal feedback is immediate, personalised, and doesn't require an evening of marking. Yet most schools barely acknowledge it in their feedback policies, and many teachers feel guilty relying on it because it's invisible. Here's the case for taking it seriously. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/cognitive-load-theory-in-plain-english/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/cognitive-load-theory-in-plain-english/ Sat, 26 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Cognitive load theory explains why well-intentioned teaching sometimes produces very little learning — and what to do about it. The core insight is simple: working memory is small, and teaching that ignores this wastes most of its own effort. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/transitions-the-hidden-time-in-your-day/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/transitions-the-hidden-time-in-your-day/ Fri, 25 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every time children move from one activity to another, time is lost, behavior problems emerge, and the learning momentum built in the main task evaporates. The teachers with the smoothest classrooms have usually put more deliberate work into transitions than any other single aspect of their practice. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/comparison-is-the-thief-of-teaching-joy/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/comparison-is-the-thief-of-teaching-joy/ Thu, 24 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teaching is a profession full of visible expertise and invisible struggle. You see what other teachers produce — the displays, the data, the confident whole-class discussions — and rarely see the anxiety, the wasted lessons, or the years it took to develop those skills. Here's why comparison doesn't help and what to use instead. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/a-teachers-day-on-paper-vs-reality/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/a-teachers-day-on-paper-vs-reality/ Wed, 23 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every school has an official timetable. Every teacher also has the real timetable — the one that involves the spilled paint at 9:15, the parent who needs an urgent word at 3:30, and the assembly that ran twelve minutes over. A comparison. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-unwritten-rules-of-the-staffroom/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-unwritten-rules-of-the-staffroom/ Tue, 22 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every staffroom has rules that are never stated but universally understood. The mug situation. The fridge politics. The seating arrangement that predates everyone currently working there. A brief guide to the institutional folklore of the primary staffroom. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-physical-reality-of-teaching/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-physical-reality-of-teaching/ Mon, 21 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teacher training covers lesson planning, assessment, and classroom management. Nobody tells you that your voice will give out, your feet will ache by November, or that standing for six hours a day is more physically demanding than most jobs. This is the preparation nobody gives you. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/handling-your-first-formal-observation/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/handling-your-first-formal-observation/ Sun, 20 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most new teachers are terrified of their first formal observation and over-prepare in ways that make the lesson worse. Understanding what observers are actually looking for — and what they're not — helps you approach it more sensibly. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/your-ect-mentor-what-to-actually-ask/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/your-ect-mentor-what-to-actually-ask/ Sat, 19 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every newly qualified teacher gets a mentor, but most mentoring meetings end up as reassurance sessions rather than development sessions. The mentor ends up answering broad questions with general advice, and the new teacher leaves no more equipped than before. This article is about how to use mentor time well. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-september-october-wall/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-september-october-wall/ Fri, 18 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 There's a moment in late October — usually around the fourth or fifth week of term — when new teachers go from feeling challenged but coping to feeling like they're failing at everything simultaneously. This is the September–October wall. It's normal, it's predictable, and knowing it's coming helps more than you'd think. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-feeling-tired-in-week-six-isnt-failure/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-feeling-tired-in-week-six-isnt-failure/ Wed, 16 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Almost every primary teacher hits a wall in week six. They start to feel underwater, behind, irritable. This is a feature of the rhythm of the school year, not a personal failing. Here's why it happens and what actually helps. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-minute-formative-checks-that-actually-tell-you-something/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-minute-formative-checks-that-actually-tell-you-something/ Wed, 16 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Exit tickets, mini-quizzes, hinge questions — formative assessment is everywhere, but a lot of it doesn't actually reveal what children know. Here are five practical end-of-lesson checks that actually tell you whether to move on or reteach. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/building-a-we-dont-laugh-at-mistakes-classroom/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/building-a-we-dont-laugh-at-mistakes-classroom/ Wed, 16 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Whether children put their hand up to attempt a hard answer in November depends almost entirely on what happened the first time someone got an answer wrong in September. Here's how to set up a 'mistakes are useful' culture in the first two weeks of a new year. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-computing-without-being-a-specialist/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-computing-without-being-a-specialist/ Mon, 14 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Computing is the subject most primary teachers feel least confident teaching — fewer than 1 in 5 had any computing in their training. Here's a practical guide to teaching it well anyway, without becoming a software engineer. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-primary-maths-the-mastery-way/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-primary-maths-the-mastery-way/ Thu, 10 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Mastery has become the dominant approach in UK primary maths and is spreading internationally. But what does it actually mean, what does good practice look like in the classroom, and what are the common implementation mistakes? Here's a substantial overview. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-five-finger-test-and-other-things-that-dont-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-five-finger-test-and-other-things-that-dont-work/ Tue, 08 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If a child can't read 5 of the words on a page, the book is too hard. So says folk wisdom. The actual research on reading-level matching is messier — and most of the popular tests give worse results than letting children pick. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-hidden-curriculum-of-staff-meetings/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-hidden-curriculum-of-staff-meetings/ Mon, 07 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The hardest thing about your first year isn't teaching. It's reading the room — knowing who to ask, what's actually expected, who really runs which thing. None of this is in the induction pack. Here's a guide. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-we-got-wrong-about-formative-assessment/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-we-got-wrong-about-formative-assessment/ Sun, 06 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Assessment for Learning was supposed to transform teaching. In practice it became a checklist of techniques applied formulaically — learning objectives, success criteria, traffic lights, peer marking. The research it came from said something more interesting. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-your-year-group-plan-is-killing-you/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-your-year-group-plan-is-killing-you/ Sat, 05 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The way most primary schools plan — long-term plans, medium-term plans, weekly plans, daily plans, all in templates that nest inside each other — is a workload disaster that produces no teaching benefit. Here's the case for cutting it back. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/curated-not-crawled/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/curated-not-crawled/ Fri, 04 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If you've ever downloaded a primary worksheet that looked great in the preview and turned out to be lazy, formulaic, or quietly wrong — this is for you. We've built this site as a deliberate alternative to that. Here's our editorial position, in case it helps. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-to-do-about-im-bored/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-to-do-about-im-bored/ Thu, 03 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 'I'm bored' is one of the most common phrases in primary classrooms — and one of the most misunderstood. Children rarely mean what adults assume. Here's how to decode it and what to actually do. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-problem-with-sticker-charts/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-problem-with-sticker-charts/ Wed, 02 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Reward charts are everywhere in primary. They produce visible results — children behave for stickers. But the underlying psychology is well-studied and the long-term effects are not what most teachers think. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/differentiation-without-27-worksheets/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/differentiation-without-27-worksheets/ Tue, 01 Dec 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The 'must, should, could' tiered worksheet model has been the default differentiation approach in UK primary for two decades. It's exhausting to plan, often counterproductive, and based on assumptions that don't hold up. Here's a better way. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/cold-calling-without-humiliation/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/cold-calling-without-humiliation/ Mon, 30 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Cold calling — picking children to answer rather than asking for hands up — has become a fashionable technique. It works brilliantly in some classrooms and creates anxiety in others. The difference is everything in how you set it up. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/is-my-child-gifted/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/is-my-child-gifted/ Sun, 29 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Sooner or later every primary teacher gets the question. The honest answer matters — both for the child and for the parent's relationship with the school. Here's how to handle it without being dismissive or oversold. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-writing-is-harder-than-reading/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-writing-is-harder-than-reading/ Sat, 28 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Children who can read fluently often struggle to write fluently — not because they aren't trying, but because the two skills tax very different cognitive resources. Understanding the gap helps you teach writing better. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/whole-class-vs-guided-reading/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/whole-class-vs-guided-reading/ Fri, 27 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The pendulum on reading instruction has swung repeatedly between guided reading carousels and whole-class teaching. The argument matters because the wrong choice costs children months of progress. Here's an honest comparison. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-kids-forget-maths-overnight/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-kids-forget-maths-overnight/ Thu, 26 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If you've ever taught something on Monday and found half the class can't do it on Tuesday, you're not alone. The 'forgetting curve' isn't really forgetting — it's the gap between performance and learning. Here's the difference, and why it matters. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-trouble-with-maths-tricks/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-trouble-with-maths-tricks/ Wed, 25 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every staffroom has its favourite maths tricks — KFC for fractions, BIDMAS, the butterfly method. They feel like they're helping. They aren't, mostly. Here's why, and what to do instead. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-times-tables-that-stick/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-times-tables-that-stick/ Tue, 24 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Times tables are the foundation of every other maths skill, but the way most schools teach them — Friday tests, marathon practice sessions — is what cognitive science would tell you NOT to do. Here's what works. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-kids-hate-maths/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-kids-hate-maths/ Mon, 23 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 When children say 'I hate maths,' they're rarely talking about numbers. They're talking about a feeling — confusion, embarrassment, the sense of being slow. The good news: that feeling is fixable, and the fix isn't more rote practice. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-mystery-of-the-disappearing-readers/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-mystery-of-the-disappearing-readers/ Wed, 18 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Reading-for-pleasure rates drop sharply between Year 2 and Year 6. Here's what's actually happening, and what teachers can do. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-power-of-classic-children-s-books/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-power-of-classic-children-s-books/ Tue, 17 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 There's a reason teachers keep returning to The Iron Man, Charlotte's Web, and Tom's Midnight Garden. Here's what classic children's books offer that newer ones often don't. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-child-who-disrupts-everything/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-child-who-disrupts-everything/ Mon, 16 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most teachers can name the one child whose behaviour can wreck a whole lesson. Here's what's actually going on, and the strategies that genuinely help — beyond the obvious. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/growth-mindset-the-honest-version/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/growth-mindset-the-honest-version/ Sun, 15 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Growth mindset became a school-wide initiative in many places. Most of those initiatives misunderstood the original research badly. Here's the honest version. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-reception-to-year-1-jump/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-reception-to-year-1-jump/ Sat, 14 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Children who thrived in Reception sometimes wobble badly in Year 1. The drop from play-based to sit-down learning is bigger than the curriculum suggests. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-transition-to-secondary-school/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-transition-to-secondary-school/ Fri, 13 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Year 7 is the most academically vulnerable year in many children's school careers. Here's what Year 6 teachers can do to make it easier — and what gets it wrong. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-quiet-children/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-quiet-children/ Wed, 11 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Loud children get our attention. Quiet children often go a whole term without a one-to-one moment with the teacher. Here's why that matters and what to do. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-english-leads-actually-run-their-schools-reading-culture/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-english-leads-actually-run-their-schools-reading-culture/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 An honest account of what English Lead work actually involves at primary — the phonics scheme decision, building a school where children genuinely want to read, the staff team's varying confidence, and the long arc of cultural change that can take 3-5 years to embed. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-maths-leads-actually-run-their-calculation-policy/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-maths-leads-actually-run-their-calculation-policy/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 An honest account of what Maths Lead work actually involves at primary — the calculation policy that depends on every teacher doing it the same way, the manipulatives that sit unused in upper KS2, the staff team carrying their own maths anxiety from school, and the long work of building fluency. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-music-coordinators-actually-run-a-primary-music-programme/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-music-coordinators-actually-run-a-primary-music-programme/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 An honest account of what music coordination actually involves at primary — the Christmas production scope wars, the staff who genuinely can't sing, the instrument cupboard chaos, and the cultural work of building children who arrive at secondary still loving music. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-assessment-coordinators-actually-run-the-annual-cycle/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-assessment-coordinators-actually-run-the-annual-cycle/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 An honest account of what assessment coordination actually involves at primary — the calendar that drives the year, the moderation conversations that bring teacher judgements into line, the parent meeting prep, and the long-running tension between collecting data and protecting teaching time. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-classroom-rules-paradox/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-classroom-rules-paradox/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Many classrooms have detailed rules covering every situation. The research suggests this approach actively backfires. Here's what works instead. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-quiet-power-of-storytime/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-quiet-power-of-storytime/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Daily read-aloud is doing more cognitive work than almost any other activity in the EYFS day. Here's what the science says, and how to make it count. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-importance-of-the-mark-making-area/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-importance-of-the-mark-making-area/ Sun, 08 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Adults often dismiss mark-making as 'just scribbling'. The cognitive science says it's where writing actually begins. Here's what to look for, and how to support it well. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-end-of-year-report-that-actually-helps/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-end-of-year-report-that-actually-helps/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 End-of-year reports take teachers hours and parents read them in 90 seconds. Here's how to write reports that actually mean something. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-parent-who-disagrees-with-you/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-parent-who-disagrees-with-you/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Sooner or later, a parent will tell you you're wrong about their child. How you handle the next 10 minutes determines a lot. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/managing-the-class-you-inherited/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/managing-the-class-you-inherited/ Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Inheriting a class with established habits — good and bad — is harder than starting fresh. Here's how to reset without blaming the previous teacher. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-first-week-of-school/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-first-week-of-school/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The first week of school sets the tone for the entire year. Most NQTs spend it doing the wrong things. Here's what experienced teachers prioritise. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/saying-no-to-the-extra-thing/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/saying-no-to-the-extra-thing/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teachers are asked to take on extra responsibilities constantly. Most say yes when they should say no. Here's why, and a script that makes declining feel less awful. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-eyfs-leads-actually-run-their-settings/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-eyfs-leads-actually-run-their-settings/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 EYFS leadership is one of the least-discussed roles in primary, despite running the foundational years that shape everything that comes after. This is what the role actually looks like from the inside — the planning, the parent conversations, the OFSTED preparation, and the rhythms that separate sustainable EYFS leads from burned-out ones. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-teaching-burnout-cycle/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-teaching-burnout-cycle/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Burnout in teaching isn't a single bad term — it's a cycle that builds over months. Here's what the research says about how it starts, and what intervenes early. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-purpose-of-homework/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-purpose-of-homework/ Sun, 01 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Homework is one of the most contentious parts of primary education. The research is clearer than schools admit. Here's what works, what doesn't, and why. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-sendcos-actually-run-their-cases/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-sendcos-actually-run-their-cases/ Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 SENDCo is one of the most demanding roles in primary, done by people on a fraction of a day's release. This is what the role actually looks like from the inside — the cycles, the decisions, the difficult conversations, and the rhythms that separate the SENDCos who burn out from the ones who last. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/assessment-for-learning-vs-assessment-of-learning/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/assessment-for-learning-vs-assessment-of-learning/ Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most schools assess constantly but don't always know why. The distinction between formative and summative assessment is one of the most useful ideas in teaching. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/reading-comprehension-isnt-a-skill/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/reading-comprehension-isnt-a-skill/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Schools spend enormous time teaching 'reading comprehension'. The cognitive science says they're often teaching the wrong thing entirely. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-vocabulary-gap-and-how-to-close-it/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-vocabulary-gap-and-how-to-close-it/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Vocabulary size at age 5 is one of the strongest predictors of academic outcome at 16. Here's why the gap exists, and what teachers can do to close it. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/screen-time-and-primary-children/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/screen-time-and-primary-children/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Screen time is the parenting topic with the loudest opinions and the weakest evidence base. Most of what people believe is more confident than the research warrants. Here's what's actually known, what's still debated, and what actually matters for primary-aged children. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-email-your-parents-actually-want/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-email-your-parents-actually-want/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Schools email parents constantly. Parents read approximately none of it. Here's what they actually want — and how to write the kind of message they open every time. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-makes-a-good-classroom-display/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-makes-a-good-classroom-display/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Pinterest shows you beautiful displays. The best classrooms often have plainer ones — because they're working harder. Here's what actually helps children learn from a wall. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/homework-battles-what-actually-works/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/homework-battles-what-actually-works/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most homework battles aren't about homework. They're about tiredness, autonomy, executive function, or the child's relationship with the subject. The standard parental response — sit with them, push through, enforce — usually entrenches the problem. Here's what actually works. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-marking-trap/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-marking-trap/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most teachers spend hours every week on marking that produces almost no learning gain. Here's what the evidence says about feedback that actually works. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/maths-anxiety-in-primary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/maths-anxiety-in-primary/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 By Year 3, some children have already decided maths isn't for them. By Year 6, it's hard to shift. Maths anxiety is real, measurable, and largely preventable — but it requires understanding what actually causes it, which is rarely what parents assume. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-sunday-night-feeling/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-sunday-night-feeling/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If you can't enjoy a Sunday afternoon because Monday is looming, you're not alone. Here's what's actually causing the dread, and the practical changes that help. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-to-worry-about-handwriting/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-to-worry-about-handwriting/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most concerns about handwriting at primary age are about pace, not problem. But some patterns are worth taking seriously — and the pencil grip thing is more interesting than most parents realise. Here's how to tell the difference. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/dyslexia-what-teachers-need-to-know/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/dyslexia-what-teachers-need-to-know/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Dyslexia is one of the most diagnosed and least understood SEND conditions. Here's what current research says, and what teachers can do without waiting for a formal diagnosis. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-handover-most-schools-skip/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-handover-most-schools-skip/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every July, the children move up a year. The data tracking system shows reading levels and maths attainment. The handover meeting (if it happens) lasts twenty minutes. And the new teacher spends most of the autumn term re-learning what the previous teacher already knew. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-good-wraparound-care-actually-looks-like/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-good-wraparound-care-actually-looks-like/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Wraparound care is a quietly enormous part of primary children's lives. Some children spend more waking hours per week in breakfast and after-school clubs than in lessons. The quality varies enormously, and most parents have no framework for evaluating it. Here's what genuinely good wraparound care looks like — from the inside. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/adhd-in-primary-classrooms/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/adhd-in-primary-classrooms/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 ADHD is one of the most common SEND diagnoses in primary, and one of the most misunderstood. Here's what teachers can actually do to help children with ADHD thrive. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/spelling-isnt-just-memorisation/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/spelling-isnt-just-memorisation/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most schools still run weekly spelling tests where children get 10/10 on Friday and misspell the same words on Monday. Here's why memorisation isn't the answer. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/friendship-problems-in-year-4/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/friendship-problems-in-year-4/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Year 4 is the age where friendships get politically complicated. Drama, exclusion, falling-out, falling-back-in. Most of it isn't bullying. Most of it doesn't need adult intervention. Some of it does. How to tell the difference, and what to do when your child comes home in tears. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-children-hate-writing-and-what-to-do/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-children-hate-writing-and-what-to-do/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most children love drawing and storytelling. Many start to hate writing somewhere around Year 3. Here's why, and what teachers can do about it. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/year-6-anxious-about-secondary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/year-6-anxious-about-secondary/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 By April of Year 6, many children who've been calm all primary suddenly become anxious about September. This is normal. The standard 'reassurance and information' response often makes it worse. Here's what actually helps a child cross from primary to secondary. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-reception-baseline-what-it-actually-tests/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-reception-baseline-what-it-actually-tests/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The Reception Baseline Assessment is one of the most misunderstood tests in primary education. Here's what it actually measures and why it doesn't decide your child's future. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/school-refusal-whats-actually-going-on/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/school-refusal-whats-actually-going-on/ Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 School refusal has risen sharply post-pandemic. The standard responses — punishment, fines, force — usually make things worse. Here's what's actually happening, what works, and what families can do when they realise their child genuinely cannot get through the school gates. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-good-continuous-provision-looks-like/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-good-continuous-provision-looks-like/ Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Continuous provision is the heart of EYFS practice. But many settings end up with beautiful-looking provision that doesn't actually teach much. Here's what separates the two. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/anxiety-in-primary-whats-normal-whats-not/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/anxiety-in-primary-whats-normal-whats-not/ Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most primary-aged children worry. Some of them worry in ways that affect their lives. The line between these is the most consequential thing for parents to get right — and the most often blurred by anxiety culture going in both directions. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/your-first-parents-evening/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/your-first-parents-evening/ Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Parents' evening can feel like 30 high-stakes interviews with strangers. Here's the structure that works, and the phrases that get you out of awkward moments gracefully. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-reading-level-actually-means/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-reading-level-actually-means/ Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If your child has come home with a book labelled 'orange band' or 'lime' or 'level 9,' you've probably wondered what it actually means. The honest answer is messier than schools tend to admit. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-they-dont-tell-you-in-teacher-training/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-they-dont-tell-you-in-teacher-training/ Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teacher training prepares you for lesson planning. It does not prepare you for what your first term as a class teacher actually feels like. Here's the honest version. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-different-at-school-and-home/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-different-at-school-and-home/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If your child is angelic at school and a wreck at home (or vice versa), the explanation isn't about parenting failure or spoiled behaviour. It's about a phenomenon called 'after-school restraint collapse,' and once you understand it, almost everything makes more sense. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/mental-math-strategies-that-actually-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/mental-math-strategies-that-actually-work/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Mental maths isn't a mysterious gift. It's a small set of strategies that confident calculators use without thinking. Teach them explicitly and watch the gap close. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-to-worry-about-five-year-old-not-reading/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-to-worry-about-five-year-old-not-reading/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Reception and Year 1 parents worry constantly about their child's reading. Most of the worry isn't warranted. Some of it is. Here's how to tell the difference — and what to do about both. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-times-tables-still-matter/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-times-tables-still-matter/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Times tables aren't old-fashioned drudgery. They're the cognitive scaffolding for everything from long multiplication to algebra. Here's why automatic recall matters and how to actually build it. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-trouble-with-fractions/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-trouble-with-fractions/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Fractions are the topic where confident young mathematicians suddenly fall apart. The problem isn't the maths — it's the conceptual frame. Here's what actually helps. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/ability-grouping-what-evidence-shows/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/ability-grouping-what-evidence-shows/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most primary classrooms still group children by 'ability' for maths and English. The evidence on this is unusually clear — and unusually ignored. Here's what the research says, why schools keep doing it anyway, and what good mixed-attainment teaching actually looks like. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/phonics-screening-parents-honest-guide/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/phonics-screening-parents-honest-guide/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every June, parents of UK Year 1 children worry about a 40-word test their child has to take. Here's what it's actually measuring, what the result means, and what to do about it — including the bit most schools don't tell you. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-supply-teacher-who-makes-them-want-to-listen/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-supply-teacher-who-makes-them-want-to-listen/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most supply teaching advice focuses on rules, threats, and 'taking control.' The supply teachers schools beg back are doing something different. This is about that something. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-childs-behaviour-is-communication/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-childs-behaviour-is-communication/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most adult responses to children's behaviour assume the behaviour IS the message. The trauma-informed reframe is simpler and more demanding: the behaviour is a SIGNAL of something underneath. The shift in response that follows is enormous. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-trauma-informed-teaching-actually-means/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-trauma-informed-teaching-actually-means/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 'Trauma-informed' has become a school slogan, sometimes deployed by leadership without actually changing anything. This article is about what genuinely changes when the framework is taken seriously — and what doesn't. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-difficult-parent-meeting/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-difficult-parent-meeting/ Sun, 27 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Telling parents something they don't want to hear is one of the hardest skills in teaching. Most teachers learn it the hard way, by getting it wrong. There's a better path. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-newsletter-nobody-reads/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-newsletter-nobody-reads/ Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Schools spend hours producing newsletters that most parents barely skim. The reason isn't lazy parents — it's that newsletters as a format have stopped working. Here's what works instead. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-school-readiness-actually-means/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-school-readiness-actually-means/ Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every year, parents worry about whether their 4-year-old is 'ready for school.' Schools advertise 'school readiness' programmes. Politicians make speeches about it. Most of what gets said about school readiness is wrong. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/play-based-learning-isnt-lower-expectations/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/play-based-learning-isnt-lower-expectations/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Walk into a Reception classroom and you'll see children playing. Walk into a Year 3 classroom and you'll see children working. The mistake most adults make is assuming the second is more rigorous than the first. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-restorative-practice-actually-means/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-restorative-practice-actually-means/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Restorative practice is the trendy approach in primary behavior. It works brilliantly when implemented well and disastrously when implemented as a cover for inaction. Here's what it actually is, what it isn't, and how to get it right. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/first-two-weeks-behavior-foundation/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/first-two-weeks-behavior-foundation/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most teachers know the first two weeks matter. Few know how MUCH they matter, or what to do with them. The behavior of your class in June is largely determined by what you do — or fail to do — in September. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/adhd-isnt-a-lack-of-attention/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/adhd-isnt-a-lack-of-attention/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The label is the worst part of the diagnosis. ADHD is not 'attention deficit' — it's an attention regulation difference, and that distinction changes almost everything about how schools should respond. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/understanding-the-autism-spectrum-in-primary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/understanding-the-autism-spectrum-in-primary/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most teachers will have at least one autistic child in their class. Most teacher training spends maybe an hour on autism. This article fills in the gap: what the spectrum actually looks like, what helps, and the things teachers commonly get wrong. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-myths-about-bilingual-children/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-myths-about-bilingual-children/ Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Five widely-held beliefs about bilingual children that turn out to be wrong, with the research that should replace them. Useful for teachers, parents and school leaders. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-silent-period-why-your-eal-child-isnt-speaking/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-silent-period-why-your-eal-child-isnt-speaking/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 When a new EAL arrival barely speaks for weeks, teachers worry. The silent period is well-documented in the research, almost universal, and often a sign of cognitive work happening below the surface. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-september-feels-so-hard/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-september-feels-so-hard/ Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every teacher knows September is hard. Fewer know that October is harder, that November is the lowest point, and that the system more or less requires you to push through. Here's what to expect and how to survive it. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-an-older-child-still-cant-read/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-an-older-child-still-cant-read/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 It happens in every primary school: a child arrives in Year 4 with reading two or three years behind. Here's what's likely going on, and what you can actually do about it. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-a-child-says-im-bad-at-math/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-a-child-says-im-bad-at-math/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Almost every adult who hates math can name the year it started. By age eight, many children have already decided they're 'not a math person'. Here's how that happens and how to push back. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-a-child-with-no-english/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-a-child-with-no-english/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 When a new arrival is sat at the back of your class with no English and no warning, here's what to do in the first hour, the first week and the first term. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-kids-you-find-hardest/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-kids-you-find-hardest/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The marble jars and traffic lights work for the children who didn't really need them. Here's what actually moves the kids who keep blowing the system up. Behavior & classroom management https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-minutes-that-change-the-day/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-minutes-that-change-the-day/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A short, deliberate morning circle changes how the rest of the day runs. Here's why it works — and why teachers who skip it end up paying for it. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/talking-to-parents-about-difficult-things/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/talking-to-parents-about-difficult-things/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Sooner or later, every elementary teacher has to tell a parent something they don't want to hear. Here's how to do it well. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-most-important-week-of-the-year/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-most-important-week-of-the-year/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most teachers think the first week is for getting to know the children. The teachers whose classrooms run beautifully use it for something quite different. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-art-of-the-three-second-pause/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-art-of-the-three-second-pause/ Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The most underused tool in elementary teaching is the pause. Here's why it works — and how to make it part of your practice. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/homework-what-the-evidence-actually-says/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/homework-what-the-evidence-actually-says/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Homework is one of the most-debated and least-evidence-based parts of elementary education. Here's a straight-talking summary of what we know. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-i-wish-id-known-about-classroom-talk/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-i-wish-id-known-about-classroom-talk/ Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 We ask thousands of questions a year. Most of them produce shallow answers. Here's how to ask better ones — and what to do with the answers. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/retrieval-practice-complete-guide/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/retrieval-practice-complete-guide/ Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Retrieval practice is the act of recalling information from memory — and it is one of the most reliably effective learning strategies in educational research. Here's what it involves, the evidence behind it, and specific ways to use it in primary school. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-reading-inference/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-reading-inference/ Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Inference is the most commonly assessed reading skill in KS2 SATs and the skill children are most likely to get wrong. Here's what inference actually involves and how to teach it explicitly. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-cognitive-load-theory-primary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-cognitive-load-theory-primary/ Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Cognitive load theory explains why some teaching methods work and others don't. It is one of the most practically useful pieces of educational research for classroom teachers. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/peer-assessment-that-actually-works/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/peer-assessment-that-actually-works/ Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Peer assessment is almost universally advocated and almost universally done badly. Here's why most peer assessment fails — and what to do instead. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/lesson-observations-nqt-guide/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/lesson-observations-nqt-guide/ Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 For many NQTs, lesson observations are the most stressful part of the first year. Here's what observers are actually looking for, how to prepare without over-preparing, and how to make feedback useful. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-you-dread-going-to-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-you-dread-going-to-work/ Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Every teacher has days when they don't want to go in. When those days become weeks, something needs to change. Here's how to diagnose what's happening and what to do about it. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/number-sense-what-it-is-how-to-develop-it/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/number-sense-what-it-is-how-to-develop-it/ Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Number sense is the most important but least measurable aspect of early mathematics. Here's what it involves, how it develops, and the specific teaching approaches that build it. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-children-say-at-parents-evening/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-children-say-at-parents-evening/ Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Parents sometimes arrive at school with information that appears to have come from a different school entirely. A lightly annotated collection. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/understanding-schemas-in-eyfs/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/understanding-schemas-in-eyfs/ Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Schemas are the repeated patterns of behaviour children use to explore and understand the world. Recognising them transforms how you see children's play — and what you provide for them. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/diagnostic-questions-in-primary-maths/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/diagnostic-questions-in-primary-maths/ Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A well-designed diagnostic question doesn't just check whether children got the right answer. It reveals the specific misconception behind a wrong answer. Here's how to write them. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-class-that-will-not-be-quiet/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-class-that-will-not-be-quiet/ Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Light reading — a familiar tale of noise, chalk clouds, the fire alarm, lost PE kits, and the astonishing range of things children will tell you during silent reading. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-eal-bilingual-children-mainstream/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-eal-bilingual-children-mainstream/ Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most EAL provision is designed around what children can't do. This guide argues for an asset-based approach — and explains practically what that looks like in a mainstream primary classroom. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/teachers-reading-list-professional-books/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/teachers-reading-list-professional-books/ Sun, 24 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A curated reading list for primary teachers — spanning learning science, classroom culture, behaviour, and the philosophy of education. Books that generate genuine insight, not just reassurance. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/your-first-challenging-class/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/your-first-challenging-class/ Sun, 24 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most teachers have, at some point, the class where the usual approaches stop working. Here's an honest guide to what actually makes a difference. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/using-data-without-being-driven-by-it/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/using-data-without-being-driven-by-it/ Sun, 24 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Assessment data is one of the most valuable things in teaching — and one of the most misused. Here's how to read it well and act on it without letting it distort what you do. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/mixed-year-groups-primary-teaching/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/mixed-year-groups-primary-teaching/ Sun, 24 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Mixed-year group classes are common in smaller primary schools. Here's how to plan for them, how to differentiate, and how to use the age difference as a learning asset rather than a burden. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-phonics-complete-guide/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-phonics-complete-guide/ Sat, 23 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Synthetic phonics is the most evidence-supported approach to teaching reading in English. Here's what it involves, why the evidence is so strong, and what effective phonics teaching actually looks like in the classroom. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/supporting-children-who-refuse-to-write/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/supporting-children-who-refuse-to-write/ Sat, 23 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Writing refusal is one of the most common and frustrating challenges in primary teaching. Understanding the underlying cause is the only way to address it effectively. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/music-in-the-primary-classroom-non-specialist/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/music-in-the-primary-classroom-non-specialist/ Sat, 23 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most primary class teachers are not music specialists, yet they are expected to deliver music education. Here's how to teach music well — confidently and enjoyably — without specialist knowledge. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-stages-of-english-acquisition/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-stages-of-english-acquisition/ Sat, 23 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 EAL pupils are not a homogeneous group — they may be at any of five distinct stages of English acquisition. Understanding which stage a pupil is at changes everything about what appropriate support looks like. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/best-classroom-displays-actually-help-learning/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/best-classroom-displays-actually-help-learning/ Sat, 23 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Classroom displays are one of the most time-consuming parts of a teacher's life. The evidence on whether they actually help learning is surprising, nuanced, and not what most schools assume. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-strategies-every-teacher-should-know/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-strategies-every-teacher-should-know/ Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most EAL pupils spend the majority of their school day with mainstream class teachers, not specialist EAL staff. Here are ten evidence-informed strategies any teacher can use immediately. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/formative-assessment-without-the-workload/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/formative-assessment-without-the-workload/ Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Formative assessment — finding out what pupils understand in real time — does not require marking. The most effective techniques take less than five minutes and produce more useful data than a marked worksheet. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/maths-mastery-in-primary-explained/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/maths-mastery-in-primary-explained/ Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Mastery maths has become the dominant approach in UK primary maths since 2016. Here's what it actually means, where it came from, and the common misapplications that undermine it. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/teacher-burnout-warning-signs-and-what-helps/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/teacher-burnout-warning-signs-and-what-helps/ Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teacher burnout is not a personal failing or a sign of weakness. It is a predictable response to specific working conditions. Here's how to recognise it and what the evidence says about addressing it. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/eyfs-transition-reception-to-year-one/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/eyfs-transition-reception-to-year-one/ Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The move from Reception to Year 1 is one of the most significant transitions in a child's school life — and one of the most under-supported. Here's what the research says about getting it right. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-quiet-power-of-low-stakes-quizzing/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-quiet-power-of-low-stakes-quizzing/ Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Frequent low-stakes quizzes might be the single highest-impact, lowest-effort change you can make to your teaching this year. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-ks2-writing/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-teach-ks2-writing/ Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Writing is the most complex thing we ask primary children to do. This guide covers the key elements of effective KS2 writing teaching — modelling, immersion, drafting, and the difference between composition and transcription. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-ks1-sats-guide-for-parents/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-ks1-sats-guide-for-parents/ Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Key Stage 1 assessments changed significantly in 2023. This guide explains what still happens in Year 2, what the teacher assessment process involves, and how parents can support without creating pressure. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/complete-guide-teaching-times-tables/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/complete-guide-teaching-times-tables/ Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Times tables fluency by Year 4 is a statutory requirement. Here's how to build genuine fluency — not just test performance — and how to support the children who are still struggling. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-a-wagoll-model-texts-writing/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-a-wagoll-model-texts-writing/ Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like) is one of the most used terms in primary English teaching. Here's what it means, the difference between a WAGOLL and a model text, and how to use them effectively. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-run-a-morning-meeting/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-run-a-morning-meeting/ Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Morning meetings — structured circle time at the start of the day — have a strong evidence base for improving classroom culture and social-emotional development. Here's how to run one well. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/continuous-provision-beginners-guide/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/continuous-provision-beginners-guide/ Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Continuous provision — the system of self-directed learning activities that children access independently — is central to good EYFS practice. Here's how to set it up, what to put in each area, and how to make it work. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/early-maths-matters-more-than-you-think/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/early-maths-matters-more-than-you-think/ Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Mathematical understanding at age 5 is one of the strongest predictors of outcomes at 16 — stronger than reading. Here's what the research says about early maths, and what it means for EYFS practitioners. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/staffroom-twelve-people-in-every-primary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/staffroom-twelve-people-in-every-primary/ Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Primary school staffrooms are remarkably consistent places. A lightly satirical look at the twelve characters you'll encounter in any of them. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/reading-diary-entries-teachers-have-received/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/reading-diary-entries-teachers-have-received/ Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The reading diary is a communication channel between home and school. It is not always used as intended. A collection of genuine (anonymised) entries, shared with affection. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-problem-with-marking-grids/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-problem-with-marking-grids/ Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Marking grids — structured rubrics listing criteria, usually with RAG ratings — have become ubiquitous in primary marking. They also frequently produce worse feedback than a well-written sentence. Here's why, and what works better. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-happens-when-the-teacher-gets-it-wrong/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-happens-when-the-teacher-gets-it-wrong/ Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teachers make mistakes — in front of 30 witnesses. How a teacher handles being wrong in class teaches children something that no curriculum can. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-plan-a-primary-school-assembly/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-plan-a-primary-school-assembly/ Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most primary school assemblies fail for the same reason: they try to say too much. Here's how to plan an assembly that children will actually remember. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/pshe-primary-school-guide-for-parents/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/pshe-primary-school-guide-for-parents/ Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 PSHE is one of the least understood subjects in primary school — and one of the most important. This guide explains what children learn, when, and how you can support it at home. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/growth-mindset-research-what-it-actually-says/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/growth-mindset-research-what-it-actually-says/ Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Growth mindset has become one of education's most popular concepts — and one of its most misapplied. This guide separates the genuine research from the hype. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/building-classroom-community-practical-strategies/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/building-classroom-community-practical-strategies/ Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The quality of relationships in your classroom determines how much learning is possible. Here are the specific, practical strategies that build genuine community — not just a pleasant atmosphere. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-make-parents-evening-useful/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-make-parents-evening-useful/ Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Parents' evening is one of the most important communication opportunities of the school year, and one of the most poorly used. Here's how to run appointments that parents leave feeling informed and supported. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/year-6-sats-guide-for-parents/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/year-6-sats-guide-for-parents/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The Year 6 SATs are the most talked-about assessments in primary school. This guide explains what they are, what they test, when they happen, and how parents can support their child without adding pressure. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-eyfs-guide-for-parents/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-eyfs-guide-for-parents/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 EYFS stands for Early Years Foundation Stage. It covers children from birth to the end of Reception. This guide explains what it is, what your child will experience, and how progress is measured. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/understanding-your-childs-primary-school-report/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/understanding-your-childs-primary-school-report/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Primary school reports can be confusing — different schools use different formats, grades, and language. This guide explains what to look for and how to have a useful conversation with your child's teacher. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-write-school-reports/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-write-school-reports/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 School report season is one of the most time-consuming points in a teacher's year. This guide covers how to write reports that are genuinely useful to parents, honest, specific, and efficient to produce. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/phonics-screening-check-what-teachers-know/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/phonics-screening-check-what-teachers-know/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is taken by all children in England in June. This guide covers the structure of the check, how to prepare children for it, and how to interpret results without over-indexing on the score. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-spag-test-guide-for-parents/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-spag-test-guide-for-parents/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The SPaG test (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) is one of three Year 6 SATs papers. Many parents find it confusing because it tests specific grammatical terminology. This guide explains what's in it and what children need to know. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-a-knowledge-organiser/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-a-knowledge-organiser/ Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Knowledge organisers are widely used in primary schools. The rationale is strong. But the gap between distributing them and pupils actually learning from them is often large — and almost entirely about use, not design. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-run-guided-reading-in-primary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-run-guided-reading-in-primary/ Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Guided reading is one of the most time-intensive elements of primary English. Done well it is highly leveraged; done badly it produces worksheets. Here is what a well-run session looks like. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/ability-grouping-what-evidence-shows/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/ability-grouping-what-evidence-shows/ Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The debate about ability grouping is often ideological. The evidence is more nuanced and more actionable than either side usually acknowledges. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/a-simple-weekly-retrieval-system/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/a-simple-weekly-retrieval-system/ Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The research case for retrieval practice is strong. The obstacle is implementation: how do you build it into lessons without it taking over? Here is a simple system. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/good-send-support-mainstream-classroom/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/good-send-support-mainstream-classroom/ Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most primary schools have solid SEND documentation. The gap is between what support plans say and what happens during lessons. Here is what effective classroom SEND support actually looks like. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-sunday-scaries-and-what-to-do/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-sunday-scaries-and-what-to-do/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The Sunday-evening anxiety that hits primary teachers before the working week is so common it has a name. Here's what causes it and what genuinely helps. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-a-child-gets-under-your-skin/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-a-child-gets-under-your-skin/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Almost every teacher has a child they find genuinely difficult to warm to. Acknowledging this is not a failure — it's the beginning of doing something about it. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-actually-leave-work-at-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-actually-leave-work-at-work/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teaching is unusual in that there is always more that could be done. Here's how to create a genuine boundary between work and everything else — and why it makes you a better teacher, not a worse one. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-that-only-happen-in-primary-schools/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-that-only-happen-in-primary-schools/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A lightly satirical list of the situations, phrases, and experiences that are specific to working in primary school — for anyone who has ever nodded along. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-best-things-children-have-ever-said/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-best-things-children-have-ever-said/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A lightly curated collection of the kinds of observations, questions, and declarations that only exist in primary classrooms — shared with affection. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-new-arrival-first-week-what-actually-helps/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-new-arrival-first-week-what-actually-helps/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 When a child who speaks little or no English joins your class, the first week shapes everything that follows. Here's what experienced teachers do — and what they avoid. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-reception-teachers-know-that-schools-should/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-reception-teachers-know-that-schools-should/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Reception teachers operate with a different framework from the rest of primary — one that the rest of the school could learn a great deal from. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/im-not-a-maths-person-is-a-lie/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/im-not-a-maths-person-is-a-lie/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The belief that mathematical ability is fixed and innate is widespread, wrong, and directly harmful to children's development. Here's the evidence — and what to say instead. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-sunday-scaries-and-what-to-do/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-sunday-scaries-and-what-to-do/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The Sunday-evening anxiety that hits primary teachers before the working week is so common it has a name. Here's what causes it and what genuinely helps. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-a-child-gets-under-your-skin/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/when-a-child-gets-under-your-skin/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Almost every teacher has a child they find genuinely difficult to warm to. Acknowledging this is not a failure — it's the beginning of doing something about it. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-actually-leave-work-at-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-actually-leave-work-at-work/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teaching is unusual in that there is always more that could be done. Here's how to create a genuine boundary between work and everything else. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-that-only-happen-in-primary-schools/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-that-only-happen-in-primary-schools/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A lightly satirical list of the situations, phrases, and experiences that are specific to working in primary school. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-best-things-children-have-ever-said/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-best-things-children-have-ever-said/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A curated collection of the kinds of observations and declarations that only exist in primary classrooms — shared with affection. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-new-arrival-first-week-what-actually-helps/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/eal-new-arrival-first-week-what-actually-helps/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 When a child who speaks little or no English joins your class, the first week shapes everything that follows. Here's what experienced teachers do — and what they avoid. EAL & inclusion https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-reception-teachers-know-that-schools-should/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-reception-teachers-know-that-schools-should/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Reception teachers operate with a different framework from the rest of primary — one the whole school could learn from. EYFS & early years https://lessonkind.com/articles/im-not-a-maths-person-is-a-lie/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/im-not-a-maths-person-is-a-lie/ Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The belief that mathematical ability is fixed and innate is widespread, wrong, and directly harmful. Here's the evidence — and what to say instead. Math https://lessonkind.com/articles/feedback-that-changes-the-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/feedback-that-changes-the-work/ Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most marking has almost no effect on student work. Here's what does — and what to stop doing immediately. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/assessment-for-learning-techniques-that-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/assessment-for-learning-techniques-that-work/ Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Formative assessment is one of the highest-leverage things a teacher can do. Here are seven techniques with strong evidence and clear practical application. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/supply-teaching-how-to-have-a-good-day/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/supply-teaching-how-to-have-a-good-day/ Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Supply teaching is one of the hardest things in education. Walking into a class that doesn't know you, without a relationship, without context, is a specific skill. Here's how to do it well. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-ect-induction-what-actually-matters/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-ect-induction-what-actually-matters/ Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The ECT induction (formerly NQT) spans two years, involves formal observations, mentor meetings, and a mountain of paperwork. Here's what actually matters and what you can let go of. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/blooms-taxonomy-primary-what-it-means/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/blooms-taxonomy-primary-what-it-means/ Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Bloom's Taxonomy is one of the most cited models in education and one of the most misunderstood. Here's what it actually says and how to use it in primary classroom planning. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-seating-plans-matter-more-than-you-think/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/why-seating-plans-matter-more-than-you-think/ Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A well-designed seating plan is invisible — the room just works. A badly designed one creates low-level friction all year. Here's what the research suggests and how to approach it practically. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/feedback-that-changes-the-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/feedback-that-changes-the-work/ Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Decades of research on feedback in education converge on one uncomfortable finding: most feedback given in classrooms produces little or no improvement. Here's what actually works. Assessment & feedback https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-paperwork-nobody-warned-you-about/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-paperwork-nobody-warned-you-about/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Teacher training spends a lot of time on lesson planning and very little time on the administrative workload that will occupy hours of your week. Here's what's coming — and how to handle it. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-plan-when-youre-running-on-empty/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-plan-when-youre-running-on-empty/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 It's late. You're exhausted. Monday morning is coming. Here's how to plan five lessons that will work — without destroying your evening. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-nobody-tells-you-about-differentiation/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-nobody-tells-you-about-differentiation/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Differentiation is one of the most talked-about concepts in teaching and one of the most misunderstood in practice. Here's what it actually looks like in a working classroom. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-unofficial-teacher-glossary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-unofficial-teacher-glossary/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Education is full of terms that mean one thing officially and something quite different in practice. A glossary of what teachers actually mean when they say things. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-that-only-make-sense-after-five-years/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/things-that-only-make-sense-after-five-years/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The gap between what new teachers worry about and what experienced teachers prioritize is surprisingly wide. Some things that felt huge in year one barely register in year five — and vice versa. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-to-do-when-you-cry-at-work/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-to-do-when-you-cry-at-work/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most teachers cry at work at least once in their career. Some cry more often. This is not a sign of weakness or unsuitability. But it helps to have a plan for when it happens. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-art-of-the-mental-health-day/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-art-of-the-mental-health-day/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A planned absence for mental health reasons is a legitimate and sometimes necessary professional decision. Here's how to think about when, how, and whether to take one. Teacher wellbeing https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-power-of-slow/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-power-of-slow/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The instinct in teaching is to cover ground. The evidence says something different: slowing down, revisiting, and dwelling on hard ideas produces deeper and more durable understanding than moving fast. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-children-to-disagree-well/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/teaching-children-to-disagree-well/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Disagreement is one of the most important things we can teach children — not to avoid it, but to do it well. A classroom where children can challenge ideas without attacking people is a classroom where real thinking happens. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/working-with-your-teaching-assistant/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/working-with-your-teaching-assistant/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Your teaching assistant is in the room with you every day. How you work together determines what kind of room it is. Most teacher training says almost nothing about this — here's what actually helps. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-things-children-write/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-things-children-write/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Children write exactly what they think, in the order they think it, without editorial filter. A celebration of primary school writing in its purest form. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-help-with-year-4-maths-homework/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-help-with-year-4-maths-homework/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Year 4 maths includes times tables, fractions, decimals, and column methods. Here's what your child is working on and practical ways to help without taking over. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-fronted-adverbial/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-fronted-adverbial/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Primary school grammar homework uses terms many parents have never heard of. Here's what fronted adverbials, subordinate clauses, and other terms actually mean — with examples. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-help-primary-child-with-reading-at-home/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-help-primary-child-with-reading-at-home/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Reading at home matters, but the approach makes all the difference. Here's what the research says about how parents can genuinely support a child's reading — and what to avoid. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/helping-with-science-homework-primary/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/helping-with-science-homework-primary/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Primary science homework covers forces, materials, plants, animals, electricity, and more. Here's how to support your child's scientific thinking at home without doing the work for them. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-much-homework-should-primary-child-have/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-much-homework-should-primary-child-have/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The research on primary school homework is more complicated than most parents are told. Here's what it actually shows — and how to handle homework that feels wrong for your child. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-the-multiplication-tables-check/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-is-the-multiplication-tables-check/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The Multiplication Tables Check is a 25-question test every Year 4 pupil takes in June. Here's exactly what it involves and the most effective ways to practise at home. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-are-reading-levels-book-bands/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/what-are-reading-levels-book-bands/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Primary schools use book bands and reading levels to organise reading books. Here's what the colours mean, what age children should be at each level, and what actually matters. Parent communication https://lessonkind.com/articles/retrieval-practice-what-teachers-need-to-know/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/retrieval-practice-what-teachers-need-to-know/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Retrieval practice is among the most robust findings in educational psychology. Here's what it is, why it works, and how to implement it without it taking over your planning. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-write-a-learning-objective/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/how-to-write-a-learning-objective/ Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Most learning objectives written in primary classrooms are vague, inaccurate, or counterproductive. Here's what a good one looks like and the simplest way to write it. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/routines-matter-more-than-lesson-plans/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/routines-matter-more-than-lesson-plans/ Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000 First-year teachers spend hours on lesson plans and almost no time on routines. The teachers whose classrooms run beautifully have it the other way around. Classroom culture https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-myth-of-learning-styles/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/the-myth-of-learning-styles/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Learning-styles theory has been one of the most popular ideas in education and one of the most thoroughly debunked. Here's why — and what genuinely helps children learn. Teaching strategy https://lessonkind.com/articles/twelve-things-only-elementary-teachers-understand/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/twelve-things-only-elementary-teachers-understand/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The strange, specific, weirdly wonderful things that come with teaching elementary children — and that nobody else quite gets. Light reading https://lessonkind.com/articles/phonics-vs-whole-language-the-fight-is-over/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/phonics-vs-whole-language-the-fight-is-over/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The 'reading wars' tore at education for decades. Here's where the science of reading has actually landed — and what it means for your classroom. Reading & literacy https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-mistakes-i-made-as-a-new-elementary-teacher/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/five-mistakes-i-made-as-a-new-elementary-teacher/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 If I could go back and shake my first-year teacher self by the shoulders, here's what I'd say. First-year teaching https://lessonkind.com/articles/differentiating-math-without-burning-out/ https://lessonkind.com/articles/differentiating-math-without-burning-out/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 You don't need three separate lesson plans every day. Here's how to differentiate math meaningfully without doubling your prep. Teaching strategy