Editorial | International Teaching Magazine

January 2021

The importance of the wider curriculum in 2021: sport, innovative service projects and outdoor education.

Also: school leaders under pressure and is a teacher shortage looming?

Looming teacher shortage for 2021 – 22?

Race4Good

ITM looks at R4G, a stunning service project that would not have taken place without lockdown.

Fully focused

Far from being marginalised, sport moved centre stage at Giggleswick School during lockdown.

HUGS Uganda

Set up to provide a good education in sustainable schools, HUGS is a model for great low-cost learning.

The Great Escape

Nicholas Chaddock looks at why reevaluating the importance of outdoor education is vital in 2021.

Fašenk!

According to Doroteja Kostanjevec, schools play a vital role in preserving Slovenian culture.

Teacher shortage?

Diane Jacoutot analyses the impact of Covid-19 on recruitment, predicting a teacher shortage in 2021.

Lost in time

Painting enhances a sense of being in the moment, but for Peter Hudson there may be more to it than that.

AISTA TA Training

The way a school plans training is revealing, writes Peter Hogan, who looks at new CPD for TAs.

SLT under pressure

According to Helen Kelly, colleagues in leadership positions ended 2020 under massive pressure.

Going international

ITM reviews a new guide to international education, a must add to your 2021 reading list.

Little troopers

Frequent moves and family separation mean service children need support, writes Louise Fetigan.

Emotional literacy

Whatever you teach, argues Richard Evans building, emotional literacy transforms lives.

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December 2020

Picking up the baton for the Learning Revolution, intercultural-mindedness and is it time to start thinking about travel again?

We can all dream.

New revolutionary?

Andy Homden asks if the baton of the Learning Revolution has been picked up by a new champion.

Teaching on principle

How can we create effective, shared, learning cultures? Using principles, not rules, writes Kevin Bartlett.

Uzbekistan

After visiting Uzbekistan, Elly Tobin has no doubt it should be high on the bucket list of any serious traveller in 2021.

Leaders who learn

For Natalie Croome, the impact of professional development is enhanced if school leaders participate in staff training.

Borneo fieldtrip

Having spent 10 years in Malaysia, foraging in the Borneo rainforest is a vivid memory for Hannah Rae.

Intercultural mindset

Felicity Gunn suggests intercultural sensitivity can take any school community to new heights.

Reimagining our craft

Daniel Shindler looks at the core values which have enabled him to take an optimistic view of what we all do.

Fully protected

Rachel Thorpe suggests how to secure the best cover for your staff when renewing a school’s medical insurance.

Think tank

Holly Warren describes Think Tank, an innovative studio environment for young learners at a school in Italy.

World of Sport

Phil Mathe looks at how PE teachers from around the world have collaborated online to keep students active in 2020.

When I grow up

Who knows what jobs today's young people will be doing in 10 years? Ger Graus looks at how we can prepare them.

Gift of the Nile

Mansoor Ahmed reminds us that many data indicate further growth in international education. Egypt is a case in point.

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November 2020

Student engagement in the online classroom, the benefits of animals in the classroom, what kind of learning really matters, and a new online suppliers directory for international schools.

Music therapy

Students in schools around the world are confronting Covid with music. Laurie Lewin invites your school to join in.

Whole school values

When conducting a review of school values and philosophy, Roger Sutcliffe suggests that you do so philosophically.

November momentum

Andy Homden looks at an innovative tender concept that connects schools with suppliers of resources & services online.

What to learn

Kevin Bartlett explains how the Common Ground Collaborative focuses on the kind of learning that really matters.

Historic social media

Alexis Anderson and Himani Sood describe how they have been using Social Media to support historical inquiries.

One step ahead

Roz O’Shea and family were trapped by quarantine and closed borders but still got through to their new school!

First steps

Fionna Heiton looks at how a new approach to teacher training in a remote district in Nepal is making a difference.

Classroom tails

A new book by Helen Lewis and Russell Grigg explores how animals can affect children’s learning and wellbeing.

Digital motivation

Gargi Sarkar argues that student self-assessment enhances enagement during online learning.

Parent communication

Gwen Byrom thinks we need to see school-home communication from a parent’s perspective.

State of flow

For Denny Berndt, simple ideas to stimulate engagement keep students ‘in the zone’ when online.

Return of the mask

Matthew Savage considers what social and emotional masks international students will be wearing in 2020.

JOBLINK

ITM's convenient JOBLINK page of leading international school associations and agencies advertising the latest positions.

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We would be delighted to hear your ideas for articles to be published in International Teacher Magazine.

Consilium Education

ITM is published by Consilium Education, specialist consultants for startup and emerging international schools.

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October 2020

Kevin Bartlett on the DNA of learning, medical insurance in the Covid age, Marcus du Sautoy on pandemic maths, Ger Graus wants to raise aspiration and the launch of ChildSafeguarding.com

The DNA of learning

In a quest to create a new pedagogical paradigm, Kevin Bartlett and the CGC ask ‘What is Learning?’

The 2020 factor

Reeling under the pressure of Covid-19, schools have shown resilience, but what in fact is going on? Will Bedford reports.

Keeping it simple

Discovering Cognitive Load Theory was a eureka moment for Steve Garnett. Here are 4 key ideas for CLT in the classroom.

Viral maths

Professor Marcus Du Sautoy explains the mathematics of exponential growth behind the spreading of a virus.

Opening doors

In the second of two articles Ger Graus argues for changes to the curriculum which will excite the imagination and raise aspirations.

Flexible admissions

Esther Clark looks at how international schools can offer greater breadth and stronger continuity for their students.

ChildSafeguarding.com

Matt Harris reports how a gap in safeguarding training for schools is being filled by a group of international educators.

Health risk

Rachel Thorpe looks at medical insurance as Covid-19 challenges basic assumptions about teaching overseas.

Leaders who learn

Natalie Croome looks back at her own learning – as a child, as a trainee and as a teacher, and reflects on her ‘special teachers’.

Lockdown voices

Elly Tobin, has been listening to teachers and students talking about the experience of online learning.

The big move

Experienced international teacher, Jess Gosling has advice for those starting an overseas career or contemplating a move.

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September 2020

Unconscious bias in international schools, what’s trending in international edtech and inclusion, teaching the 2020 WEF skills, role modeling for student aspiration

Fair balance?

Gwen Byrom thinks we all need to take a hard look at the cultural climate in which international learning is taking place.

Trending 2020

Diane Glass of ISC Research looks at two important 2020 studies about edtech and inclusion trends in schools.

Start with why

Kevin Bartlett explains why he founded the Common Ground Collaborative with other like-minded educators.

Our role to play

Ger Graus looks at the role models we all look up to and asks how ‘heroes and she-roes’ affect the aspirations of young people.

Animal care

Nicky Cook of the Worldwide Veterenary Service looks at a new animal welfare project and invites schools to get involved.

Teaching WEF 2020 skills

Jackie Beere reviews the ‘must-have’ skills as defined by the World Economic Forum in 2020 and how we can teach them.

Life models

Whether you are a teacher or a parent, wanting to protect your children is natural. But there are limits, says Nicola Pearson.

Wishes for Nepal

When living in Nepal, Fionna Heiton and partner Durga Aran could not ignore the challenges faced by local schools.

Get personal

Derek Devine thinks that distance learning can be personalised without adding to the pressure that teachers are already under.

Total inclusivity

2020 has been a turbulent year, Stephen M. Whiteford thinks it will force us to face some difficult truths.

Education pandemic

Stephen Cox reflects on the state of world education, using Covid-19 as a metaphor for outdated systems that need changing.

Special places

When we are able to travel again, it will be the people we meet that make a place special, according to Susan Bennett.

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When they were living in Nepal with their twin toddlers, it was difficult for teacher Fionna Heiton and her partner Durga Aran to ignore the challenges faced by local schools. Fionna takes up the story.

July 2020

Looking to the future: cautious optimism in the UAE, recruitment during the pandemic and is the Asian Century gaining momentum?

Magnolia

Two sisters in North London take advantage of lockdown to enter the world of digital publishing.

Supporting independence

‘Dropping out of uni’ is getting worse. Do schools have a bigger role to play?

Is West best?

Dr Stephen M. Whitehead looks at how the default position that ‘West is best’ is being questioned in Asia.

New beginnings

When lifelong international educator Ron Stones was issued his Work From Home (WFH) order, he wondered what would happen next.

Fine balance

What do parents, school leaders and operators see in the future for the United Arab Emirates? Mansoor Ahmed reports.

Open up!

For Dr. Helen Bilton of the University of Reading, distance learning opens up new worlds for adults as well as for children.

Online chat

Online chat expert, Kaitlyn Shipp explains how a 'live' chat feature can be used by admissions teams to build student numbers.

What's the point?

Daniel Shindler asks some important questions about teaching, and the whole point of being an educator.

Dialogue

Stephen Walshe thinks we make time for ‘dialogue’ between children, as it can transform levels of literacy.

Strange times

Andrew Wigford looks at teacher recruitment and sees the 2020 season extending into September.

Skill gap

For David Gregory, effective outdoor education risk management depends on the collective skillset at a school’s disposal.

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June 2020

Adapting, responding, surviving and creating: how schools and teachers are coping with the pandemic.

Design principles

Design Technology teacher Joan Brown looks at how schools in Wales became involved in the design and manufacture of PPE.

Storm resistant?

Will Bedford of ISC Research, asks how resilient the international schools’ market has been in historic times of crisis.

Being adaptable

Education has become a rushed process with skills that students most need left behind. Time to recalibrate, says Robert Lloyd Williams.

Survival

Stephen Whitehead analyses key variables that will affect the ability of international schools to survive Covid-19.

Here and now

For Stephen Walshe, engaging young learners in philosophical enquiry helps build constructive confrontational skills.

Expect the unexpected

Janice Ireland talks to the Early Years team at Panaga School in Brunei as they reflect on the experience of distance learning.

Filling a gap

Kevin Keller looks at the value of a Gap Year, which might appeal to even more students if universities are not fully open next year.

Hungry for Math

A group of Finnish educators want us all to be hungry for Mathematics. They know you will be sceptical, but that’s part of the problem.

Walk on

Uma Shankar Singh describes the journey his Grade 9 students undertook, inspired by Paul Salopek and his “Out of Eden Walk”.

Home worked

There were unexpected results when Munir Mamujee and his staff continued to run their recruiting agency from home.

Reporting to Parents

As the academic year draws to a close Leah Davies has some useful hints to help write those all important report cards.

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Schools, teachers and organisations writing for ITM are being noticed. Contact Andy Homden to find out more.

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May 2020

Loss and laughter, supporting children and teachers through lockdown, raising aspirations and getting back to school in China.

Feature image of Forget-me-nots by Anne-Marie Large from Pixabay

Laughter

It’s official – laughing is good for you, and as far as Dave Keeling is concerned, the more we use humour in class, the better our teaching will be!

Loss

Ian Gilbert reflects on the nature of loss, and the contradictory ways in which it might be confronted with a bereaved child.

Raising aspiration

Whatever else changes in education after lockdown, according to Ger Graus, raising children's aspirations must be part of the ‘new normal’.

Back to school?

Stephanie Quayle of ISC Research looks at how schools may be coming through the lockdown phase in China.

Thinking Moves

Stephen Walshe argues that children as young as 5 can be introduced to a vocabulary to help them access their thinking.

Keeping safe

Jason Tait suggests that student wellbeing during lockdown is even more important than the online academic programme.

Changing course

Robert Lloyd Williams looks at the needs of teachers and how they might be supported as they switch to online teaching during lockdown.

CAScape

Does getting out of the classroom help you de-stress? Caroline Ferguson at Bangkok Patana School looks into CAS and stress levels.

Dreamcatchers

Leah Davies outlines strategies to help children cope with their worries. These may be even more important than ever in 2020.

More than coping?

Janice Ireland talks with Henk van Hout, Global Head of Shell Education Services, about how families are coping in lockdown.

Lockdown library

The library is at the centre of any good school. Why should things be any different during lockdown, asks Sally Flint.

Global reading

Orla Redmond's lockdown goal is compiling a list of favourite children’s books from around the world. She needs help!

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April 2020

Adapting to the lockdown, going digital with safeguarding, setting up a new website and just what does creativity mean?

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The importance of the wider curriculum in 2021: sport, innovative service projects and outdoor education.

Also: school leaders under pressure and is a teacher shortage looming?

Picking up the baton for the Learning Revolution, intercultural-mindedness and is it time to start thinking about travel again?

We can all dream.

WRITE FOR ITM

TELL US YOUR STORY

Student engagement in the online classroom, the benefits of animals in the classroom, what kind of learning really matters, and a new online suppliers directory for international schools.

Kevin Bartlett on the DNA of learning, medical insurance in the Covid age, Marcus du Sautoy on pandemic maths, Ger Graus wants to raise aspiration and the launch of ChildSafeguarding.com

Unconscious bias in international schools, what’s trending in international edtech and inclusion, teaching the 2020 WEF skills, role modeling for student aspiration

Transforming Early Years education in the Himalayas

Looking to the future: cautious optimism in the UAE, recruitment during the pandemic and is the Asian Century gaining momentum?

Adapting, responding, surviving and creating: how schools and teachers are coping with the pandemic.

Loss and laughter, supporting children and teachers through lockdown, raising aspirations and getting back to school in China.

Adapting to the lockdown, going digital with safeguarding, setting up a new website and just what does creativity mean?