 Hello everybody, my name is Ross McGill at Teacher Talk it. Thank you for joining me. Thank you for watching this video Later on wherever you are tuning in I'm really excited to be joined by a couple of guests who I'll introduce to you shortly Just to ensure that you're in the right place You're either watching this on my YouTube channel or on my LinkedIn page And you can if you're logged in you can add comments and connect with my my guests I'm Excited because I'm joined by history teacher and author Kate Jones Kate is currently a teacher in Abu Dhabi alongside John Smedley a former teacher and founder of teach active which is an online resource providing Teachers with lesson plans and resources with which to deliver primary math and English curriculum through physical activity Part of our discussion today is to talk about the challenges that all teachers were faced throughout the pandemic Work with pupils and some of the things that you can do to support our young people in particular I'm going to be picking Kate's brains on some strategies teachers can use in the classroom and Throughout the presentation will also pick on John to explain what teach active is and some of the resources that can help Your pupils in your school so without further ado, I'm just going to bring both guests in and throw it to them just to Give me your lift pitch Introduction and just say hello to everyone. So let's bring in both Kate and John and good afternoon to you both hi Kate Hi, John So Kate and could you just give it everyone a kind of quick hello, what do you do what you're you know things that you're working on You're teaching kind of background Yes, well, I'm originally from North Wales as you both know And I've been teaching in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East for five years I'm about to come back to the UK which is very exciting Teacher head of department and as you mentioned, I've offered a few books focusing on retrieval practice and formative assessment formal teaching and learning and inspired by you else, of course You flatter me. Yeah, thank you. So we'll come back to you and we'll talk about some of the amazing work that you've been doing because you're definitely Producing lots of materials to help, you know, as I know the resources when you share them online It really makes an impact for teachers elsewhere John. Good afternoon, John. Good afternoon. Yeah, great to be with you both Was the stock tour of your career in teaching and your role that teach active Okay, yeah, so I was a teacher for 18 years. I taught primary and secondary, but certainly mainly primary school and We're based in Chester at the moment. So not far from North Wales but as a Chester teacher, yeah 18 years as a advisory teacher for peers part of that deputy head and then I left six years ago in order to set up to each active So now I have the benefit of working with you know, literally thousands of schools across the country and internationally as well So, thank you both. So I'll start with the most important question. How how is COVID Panned out for your your your school K in the Middle East Could you give us a synopsis of the last 18 months? Yeah, we've had a different experience to the UK because we went online before the UK So it's always interesting following what's happening and seeing what's happening here and comparing but My school in one sense. We were really quite well prepared because all of our students had a Google Chromebook And we were quite confident. So from a technical perspective, we were quite prepared, but it just really it wasn't nice and it lasted this so long and We also had a lot of in-and-out in Abu Dhabi Which did you have a lockdown as well and yeah, so we had the initial Lockdown and actually that was announced March 2020 and then it was a key stage three were at home for About a year actually and then they had a hybrid model, which was really tough where we had Students could be at home or they could be in school So you were teaching half zoom half with a class in front of you and now we are back in school Unless obviously anyone has COVID symptoms or they're exempt but the majority of classes are still in school But we've had to adapt we have split lunch times now So key stage three has a separate lunch time to key stage four five so that there's more room for social distancing We have one-way systems around the school to promote social distancing. We still Have to wear masks. You have to show your app to enter the school That says in you've got your green app that you've had a recent nest and you'll have this next week When you when you're in the UAE you have to show that so there's lots and lots of things in place And we have a deck the equivalent of off-stead, right? But they will pop in to see us not necessarily for an inspection, but we have a deck in the building and they're just checking that Everything is correct and accurate Addicted inspectors when we were online as well. I had an addict inspector in my zoom lesson. That was different Yeah, it's just it's been really really tough and whilst we're not back to where we were There's a more sense of normality clubs have started again things that we haven't done and it's really interesting I'm because I'm leaving I haven't actually sat Well, a year group haven't sat a set of exams since I've been here. So I've been here two years I Haven't got an official exam set results. So that's just been a strange time. Yeah. Yeah now I'm so naive here, but Dubai doesn't necessarily have seasons like we have in the UK. Does it? It's just literally hot hot and hotter all the time, isn't it? Scotchio. Yeah, it is it's hot It's not as hot here in the UK obviously it's you know summer and COVID is particularly and winter COVID Very different landscape guests for us and John We'll talk about teach active the specifics in terms of resources and what you provide but as an online resource You know well established before the pandemic How has the pandemic? Influence your resources and people using your materials Yeah, I think that obviously with with us having so many Schools at the stop. We just thought we needed to look after our schools and just think of how we can You know as Kate said everyone went to suddenly online and we thought well, how can we support that? So the way we made isolation packs for all of our schools We made lesson plans that they could use on things like Microsoft teams and Google classrooms and still trying to do the active maths and Active English, but over things like zoom and teams We also went through all of our three and a half thousand lesson plans and identified which ones were COVID friendly For when obviously some children were still in school Perhaps your vulnerable children and children of key workers and then as children returned we did the same so it was Children were working in bubbles perhaps Not wanting to use lots of equipment and things So we'd identified all of the activities which teachers could pick up and continue to use safely in that way as well And of course we developed our homework further as well And that was great to see because it just went crazy in terms of how many parents every week were Logging on and doing active maths with that with their children. So that was a You know a great thing to see And like everyone else we started doing webinars to support the teachers And I discovered what zoom was which is now my new best friend, of course Well, I'm pleased that the profession has you know in terms of technical approaches Well, we're not there yet But a lot of people more much more equipped to use technology, you know, I'm an old Olds in the tooth I suppose I've been doing webinars for about ten years And it's great to see so many different platforms now when I first started doing it There wasn't much out there Okay, I want to just shift to mental health and back to the classroom Some of the things what are the things that you've been doing in school or online to promote children's mental health? Yeah, that's always been really important and when I mentioned the adic inspector popped in it was during past oral time And we made sure well, we actually had a problem because we had the students all around the world We had our spring break our Easter holiday and then it was lockdown So actually students were in different countries on different time zones So we couldn't have live lessons But what we did ensure was a school that the form tutors were checking in And trying to have live conversations as a class But we tried to do that every day where possible And then now since we've come back to school again, we've had this focus and conversation about well-being But the school that I work at We've changed our approach because it was almost like it was only the responsibility of a form tutor Where there's actually when you think about it Students might only spend 20 minutes a day with their form tutor. So as a subject teacher, what can we do? To support our students well-being But the fact that we talk about mental health so much that's a big difference from when I arrived here five years ago I think the country's made a lot of progress in How open We're encouraged to be about mental health Is that in society in general or within the school itself? Yeah, I think I think in in the society Also, we have a like a Education curriculum and we factor that into Intuit conversations about well-being Hey, I'm putting on the spot because I know you've got a gazillion ideas in there Could you give me a practical strategy that you could use as a teacher in the classroom just to promote mental health discussion or a You know classroom resource that teachers can use what what's your top tip? Well, I suppose I've got two top tips because I like to promote lots of screen breaks We still have our google chrome books but I just Make sure that their screens are closed their laptops are closed and we actively have that screen break time because We don't know how much screen time students are having outside of school And parents probably aren't aware of exactly how much screen time students are having in school So here in the UAE where we are Most schools have one-to-one devices That's something that I ensure Regularly with my students is that they still get to practice writing and they still have a screen break Something I did do with my tutor group was I printed off some mindfulness coloring sheets And it wasn't for everyone But some of the students said oh that's so relaxing So I just printed off some more and said take these home and you can do them at home You're also very good at taking social media breaks aren't you you're very good at them Yes, and I tell my students to do that as well. So We've got to look after ourselves. Yeah, of course. Okay, great. Um john I don't want to get too academic But could you give everyone watching the definition of what active learning is please? Yeah, of course And I think we had this recently on a webinar as well in terms of you know, some people call active learning Maybe even physically active learning or there's movement integration seems to be the new term as well now But just in simple terms, it just means getting it's non sedentary behavior getting children Bumps off seats and And moving and that might be simply in the classroom because that's the only space that sometimes that we've got And we're limited on to that But also it can mean taking learning down to the hall or to the other areas that you've got in the school And maybe even you know, especially if then you're you're in the UAE where it's hot and hot and hotter Taking learning outside as well Um, and that's simply active, but it doesn't have to be really vigorous It doesn't have to be really running around fast. Of course, sometimes it can be like that But yeah, the way I say is just simple movement within those lessons And john, I guess one more without getting too academic But you know, we're big fans of research give us um A couple of signposts to research on in terms of the benefits of you know, mindfulness active learning has particularly on pupil outcomes Yeah, I so is I mean Again, one of the things that you all know is we're doing some work with Loughborough University and professor lovin schar at the moment And again all the systematic reviews that show the benefits of of active learning So I would certainly pinpoint people to Professor lovin schar's work And in terms of the the benefits of active learning in terms of a project that she was involved in called class pal pal meaning physically active learning and that was just shown that yeah the benefits in terms of academic success But also attitudes love of learning And and wider benefits things like self-esteem and confidence etc as well I'm sorry to interrupt john You know, I suppose, you know 10 years ago when I started to look at teacher well-being There's very little research out there at you know pupil mental health the discourse has significantly moved on We look at the research on The break and lunch times in our schools has reduced also What your immediate thoughts on how schools can Kind of switch back to what maybe where we were before in terms of Raising the profile of well-being physically in classes and in kind of break times lunch times promoting that opportunity to Cognitively offloader suppose rather than being full on in lesson time Interesting again. I think that's something that maybe if there's one positive that's come out of of all the Covid is that actually it's maybe Made schools more even more aware of this to think actually gosh, you know, we really need to take Have a look at children's mental and Emotional well-being because you know over covid we know it that was one of the hardest things that was hit children's emotional mental Well-being also lack of physical activity And also the gaps in in learning as well And like Kate said, there's you know children on average in the UK spent now five hours plus in front of devices 70 percent of the school day is sedentary So I just think the schools. Well, how can we change that? How can we turn that round? And let's go for some simple wins, you know and rather than asking the teachers to do more more more I simply say well, let's make your lessons more active. So do what you're already doing but introduce some movements And yes, children will love it. Yes, it will help teach aspects of English and maths but in terms of your well-being and your children's confidence and self-esteem and The determination resilience social skills all of those things that we know Uh physical activity really benefits Now you've you've I'm going to come to UK shortly in terms of gaps in learning and What the dialogue's been like at least in Dubai not Dubai the Emirates in terms of You know lost learning pupil outcomes before I do John. You've kind of triggered a really interesting Uh thought to me there. I'm going to show a little bit of research Um From the research is from the UK council for child internet safety and the last time something was published by the government was in 2017 so before I show you the answer Could could you both have a guess at how many hours? A three to four year old spends online a day Per let me double check per week So age three to four three to four years old 2017 um per week I'll go for 25 hours 25 hours Well, I don't really know Higher or lower okay Higher because it's probably crazy, isn't it? It's probably too much. Let me uh, let me show you uh this uh little Screen, I hope you can see this. Let's just double check. Can you both see that? Yeah, there we go So um, if you look here, let me just put this a little bit uh bigger Okay, yeah So this little slide here it has um Again, it's not been uh, there's no government guidance since I'm sure there want to be one or two other publishers But um, if you look at the top there three to four eight hours a week And that was 2016 before the pandemic before everyone was connected devices etc etc Um, it's quite frightening, isn't it? That is I thought it would be higher because it probably is now because But yeah, it's worrying but then I think about my own screen time which is out of control so Yeah, well actually one more point I suppose Really interesting when we think about How students use devices, you know, my son's 10 that blue line there. He is online He's playing games or watching video clips. That's pretty pretty much what he's doing But you're 16 year olds when it gets to exam time They're you know doing all these other things first before they do this green line Which is for homework. So they're listening to music watching videos chatting to the mates Etc very interesting stuff Um, so I'll just take that off And I'm just pleased to see Vicki joining us leaving a comment. She says really appreciate this conversation And focus on student well-being. So thank you for joining us Vicki and the question Kate lost learning people outcomes What's the discussion being uh over for teachers in general in the in the Emirates? Well, that's a really interesting one about there is a debate whether there's been the lost learning or not And that's obviously language that we're trying to avoid here. Um, we don't want to be Saying that and adding more anxiety to students and making them feel Like the year 13 who will sit an exam if they sit an exam Which is looking likely but they didn't sit their GCSEs and they've had a really turbulent few years here So we're not having that emphasis on lost learning if anything We're just slowly and gradually getting back to normal with the clubs starting up and PE lessons actually were We're not allowed to take place for a long time, which they are now. So we're taking this slow approach And in terms of the lost learning well my school approach we've we've always been focused what we've been focusing on cognitive Sciences, I've been here and when we went online it was a case of let's do what we always do but let's it's Doing the same but in a different context So retrieval practice We were doing that before Covid we were doing it during online learning. So when we've carried out retrieval practice Which can identify gaps in knowledge? Then that is low stakes the students are used to that It's just part of their their culture of the classroom. So that is just a classroom norm. So I would say that we We're avoiding that that idea of lost learning but obviously Mindful that we have all been impacted By what's happened Interesting and I guess Put you on the spot again, k because I know you've got fantastic retrieval practice resources What are your kind of go-to strategies because you know a lot of people out there will perceive you as a As a bit of an expert in the field, you know and retrieval and I know you're very adamant that you are wider than this Just this definition But for context of this, you know that that low stakes cuisine to support people mental health What are your go-to strategies? Well, it's changed because my go-to strategies were often ones where students could Have a brain dump like a cops and robbers and then get ideas from others But then I've used technology more and I love quizzes and I always just say about Retrieval practice as does tom shawnton about varying the diet just having a bank of templates that I rotate So I'll have quizzes where I've got multiple choice questions and then I might have mentimeter Which is free recall But I feel like I'm name dropping here But I did write an article with dylan william and mob at b york where he said In terms of lost learning In terms of the pandemic we said don't do retrieval practice straight away because Retrieval strength will be low. It's not that it's not there in their long-term memory But it will just be slower and more inaccessible So actually revisit content have a bit of a refresher Not only will it boost the retrieval strength But it could boost their confidence because if we do a retrieval task and they can't remember much It's really demoralizing and that again is not what we want No, it's not and I've seen that article. So maybe um, uh, Kate can you give us the title the article on the website so people can read that please? Sorry my face like it's all right. Well, we'll put it in the chat box later And I'll embed it into the video. I've really put you on the spot. No, it's fine It's it's why we shouldn't do testing when students go back to school and it's great on the website ASCD No, I did see that and I guess my favorite thing at the moment, particularly for any type of idea in terms of what works It is In what context is that my follow-up sentence to explain why so retrieval practice? Yes, but in what context Matters for everyone particularly in the current climate John teach active If I put a slide up on the screen, can you just do a little um whistle stop tour, please and tell Everyone what it is how it can help people and uh, tell us a little you're in jubilee Later this week, so tell everyone people watching in the middle east what how teach active can help Okay, so yeah teach active It's it's an online resource that provides teachers and schools teaching assistants with Or lesson plans and resources on how to teach the english in the maths curriculum through physical activity So just as we mentioned before through getting children open about It's not a scheme of work. So it's not structured in it has to be taught this particular way So whether schools are already using Schemes and planning for english and maths. This will easily sit alongside and compliment it But it just gives, you know, we know that when we introduce new ideas into schools Um, it's hard because teachers are so busy. So this is the answer in terms of you know, As it as I said, you know over 3 000 lesson plans all mapped to the curriculum all the resources done for you Um, and that's why teachers like it. It saves them hours of planning time and in terms of why teachers love it um, you know, all of the things that we've been speaking about we're getting the children active we're we're Reducing that sedentary behavior But it certainly children love it attitude smiles on faces real love of learning Getting children to really enjoy maths in english um, but also it can support academic attainment as well and um, as ross knows, you know, we've won multiple awards uh here in the uk we've got many schools the thousand schools within the uk Who absolutely love this and talk to us about the difference that it's made with with their children and in their school Um, and yes, we're delighted to be coming as you mentioned to to the guest show in dubai We're one of 20 Ed tech businesses that have been selected um to come and Present at the guest show. So we're doing presentations each day as well as having our standard Uh, can you give john a quick tip for dubai, you know, adjusting to time zone What you should see and do in between all these busy breaks that he's well, he's not going to have many breaks But if he does the expo is currently on right now Um, that's expo 2020. They've got delayed. It's incredible. You won't be able to see it all But definitely go visit dubai expo. It's only here for a limited time. So you've come at a good time Okay, john, what have we got on the screen here in terms of the resources that you've got on your platform Yeah, an example of just a lesson plan. So on the left hand side there, you can see that it's got the name of the game it's got the year group that's got um The objective that we're going to be covering and then all of the resources So this is a game where children simply go to one question And the answer will tell them which card to go to to next and then which one to go to to next to next to next Until they've visited all 20 Similarly here Teacher students would have some of them would have a analog clock So we'd have a digital clock and as we're moving around the room and then on the command We could go and find our partner and as you're flicking through as you can see the same format all the time in terms of The nice clear instructions. We're trying to keep it nice and clear In bullet points or the resources there that teachers need so they can simply take the idea Get the resources and within two minutes. They've got a lesson plan at their children again to really enjoy John gives a ballpark figure. How many pupils are now benefiting from your resources? Well, well from our state of software, we think about 300 000 a week are taking part in our in active lessons and Maths or English No, Kate. You can't say the five minute lesson plan, but how do you plan lessons and How do you you know, um I know you've already talked about one or two strategies you use to talk about mental health But um that teacher burden of planning lessons the workload issue John's got a great resource there and there are many others out there But what's your method for reducing that that burden but also promoting mental health Well, just before I answer that, um, I was just thinking how great that would be in the UAE because of the climate here We don't do things like go outside and walk to the shop as often as you would in the uk and you're probably There's there are opportunities to be active here, but I've bought a treadmill in my living room because Yeah, I know How many miles are we doing a day at the moment? Not enough but And when I was back in Wales, I was just I was a lot more active outside. So I just think here we are The the structure the infrastructure as well and the layout and the climate We need to find these opportunities to be more active So I do think that this would be absolutely fantastic And then in terms of planning lessons, this is also linked in with what you you said john actually um, my mantra is mainly with retrieval practice, but it can apply to other Areas it's a low effort and high impact approach Which is and I know obviously ross you've written so much about workload and and teacher well-being And I think very carefully about the amount of effort I will invest as a teacher And what the impact would be on student learning because when I first started teaching It had a very high impact on me in terms of my workload in a negative sense and a low impact on student learning It would be a task that would take me Hours to create cut and laminate and gluing and the students would solve it in like 30 seconds So I've totally just flipped that on its head now and Then the time I save on that then I either use that for something else for professional development or just for More my own personal time So that low effort high impact. I think that applies to you I've got a couple of people watching live. So just for kind of T Kind of just general how to use the software if you want to pose a question to kate or john You need to have logged in to linked on our youtube just to do that but i'm going to start to wrap Things up now because um, we know that mental health is an important topic We need to try and do more to support our young people all around the world and in every single school where we can Um, kate before we kind of wrap things up. We can't go without plugging one of your many books. So what Um, give us give us a kind of little Lift pitch in terms of what readers can find in this new book Okay, so this is building on the work of dylan william and shavon lehi and it was edited by dylan william I'm The dream team editors and it's five formative assessment strategies right from sharing learning intentions and to Activate in students as learning resources for one another which again john you should read this but Links in with lots of the stuff that you're doing And activating students as their own learners as well So it's a it's part of the inactrix series which tom shawnton purposely wants to be punchy concise But it really hard Yeah It's a it's a nice small at all kind of pamphly type book But there's a good good body material hundred pages Loads of ideas. I know that your books are already super popular. Um, when was it published a couple of weeks ago about a month ago Yeah about a month ago. I've got another one out at the end of this month another one So, uh, I think you must be pushing six seven books now. Okay. How many? Uh, this the one this will be my sixth book coming out Yeah, and You're also coming back to the uk soon So lucky p lucky teachers back in the uk because you've been over and uh the emirates for five six years now Yeah, five well five years and one took so i'm meant to leave in july, but i've done this extra tells in my school What a great impact you've had At least online with lots of teachers around the world. So I guess um Our final question from me is what what insights have you got from working with lots and lots of teachers sharing resources online? particularly through the last two years Well, if it hadn't been for the online community, I think I'd have felt so disconnected Out here and I think that's it. I just I really do feel connected and That's a supportive environment It's also really rewarding like like you social media has actually helped with my career progression As well as in in the classroom So it's it's been pretty transformative being online and has made It's made it less dawn to return back to the uk as well I don't know You're going back to London. I was going to ask john for a couple of tips in terms of uh, you know Chester and all that but you're both from kind of the north wales part of the world, aren't you? Yeah, I love that um So, um, uh, we've got tips for for john k Could you give a another tip for john when he goes to db apart from all the kind of expo and things like that What what things should he go and see? um If he has got a bit of a retard because I know he's going to be super busy, but anything else he should go and see Yeah, actually people often don't realize how close Abu Dhabi and Dubai are it's Sure, it's an hour drive and People often think that sometimes they say isn't that a different country? No It honestly it's just a drive straight down the road on the eight lane highway and Abu Dhabi is incredible I'm biased because I live here, but there's the shakeside grandmask. There's lots of cultural things. So Dubai is fantastic But there's seven emirates to try and visit another. Yeah, there are You've got a nice comment here from richard kate about formative assessment for the academic year. It's a focus Um great articles. I would definitely plug this for on kate's behalf richard Uh, kate got some great ideas lots of books check out. Um a retreat will practice You've got loads of books. I've got more on my desk. There's the the kind of brilliant color by the way Um, okay, let's wrap things up. Uh, let's just kind of finish with Why we're here. So bringing kate and john together to talk about people mental health strategies and resources for teachers that can Can use um Thank you both for joining me. Um, thanks for sharing your ideas. Let's wrap things up with a bit of fun Can you give me one interesting fact about yourself? One book that you're reading And we'll leave it there. So john over to you Oh one interesting fact about myself. That's putting me on the pressure, isn't it? How about as an interesting fun fact that I was on the price is right and uh, You know for anyone And I did with I got through to the final I won a coffee machine. I won a Uh, a little fridge and I won Something else. I can't remember and but I got to the grand final and I didn't win the speed boat and the kitchen And the holiday to fall with spending money because they're really throw prizes at you in that show, don't you? So that was uh, yeah, that was the uh, That was the one about me. I don't know what you're reading john I'm reading a book called the five a.m. Club, uh, robin charmer So about getting up at five a.m. In the morning And uh, winning by getting a couple of hours when everyone else is in bed I talked to a colleague laura barrett at university of buckinham. We were sharing some Doctoral research tips and she gets up super early two or three hours in the morning and she's cracking on with her research That's a great strategy. Are you getting up at five still john? well, I did this morning, but not my Not on purpose just with everything going through my head on what I need to do before I can Finish just mine off to go to dubai Well, john, I wish you all the best and have a safe trip and I'll see you when you get back k um one interesting fact Do you know what linked to that theme? I'm a huge fan of the chase I've met I can't remember his name, but I have met Yeah, and in the retrieval practice, too I actually got the chase in there and like When I present the teachers I talk about the bradley walsh effect They went to teachers design a multiple choice question. They often put a comedy Answer in and I say that's great for the chase because it's entertainment But not not perhaps in the classroom because it dilutes the challenge of retrieval But any time I get the opportunity to mention the chase like now Now there you go. What an interesting fact and what book are you reading? So you'll be reading lots of different sources for your books, but Can what are you reading for fun? Well, you know that I love audible because you're on audible Listen to your book and I'm currently listening to barack obama the promised land It's incredible But I thought david died out's book was long because that was about 10 hours But obama is is 28 hours. So I've still got a long way to go Through an audible book 36 hours understand the rain. It's 30 minute lectures on my dog walk each day All right, so I'll finish off. Um I've danced with sister sledge at g a y in top and there you go many many years ago That's an interesting fact about me. Uh books. I'm reading. Um Will the leopard change its spots a book about off-steads? And two books that are really giving me a bit of a headache from a doctoral research social media for academics And social research methods being a dt teacher now working in the field of social science I feel like an inky tea all over again. Um, I'm going to leave it there folks. Thank you kate. Thank you john Thank you And um by for now everyone I'll put this Recording somewhere where you can get all the resources and all the links And all the details for teach active the free trial where you can sign up and the links to kate's books Um, hope to see you again. Uh, keep well keep safe and thanks for watching. Bye for now