News From International Schools | International Teaching Magazine

March 2022

Leading in an era of change, being ‘I.M’, gender disparity at the top, using the Harkness Method in the classroom and ‘do – don’t talk!’ – an active approach to wellbeing.

Action, not words

For Nicholas Chaddock just talking about wellbeing in the classroom achieves little. Doing rather than talking is the key.

Room at the top?

Katie Tomlinson argues that seven steps should be taken now to address the gender disparity in school leadership.

Being I.M.

Are schools only paying lip-service to international mindedness? Nalini Cook talks with Chris Allen & Anson Wong.

Challenge & response

Critical incidents cause distress. Responding in the wrong way makes things worse. Ian Gross looks at the issues.

Compassionate leadership

Dame Alison Peacock, considers the future of the profession during the post-Covid recovery.

Democratic discussion

Isla Phillips describes how she uses the Harkness Method of discussion for student-lead interaction in Years 7 to 10.

Mental wanderlust

We refer to the idea of curiosity routinely. What is it? Holly Warren’s prose poem provokes us to think more deeply.

Coordinating inclusion

Anita Soni reports on research at a district level in Malawi designed to support children with disabilities.

Future imperative

Is the future of learning in safe hands? Not unless we follow three imperatives, according to Sir John Jones.

One family at a time

The winning entry of the 2021 FOBISIA R4G Journalism competition from The British School in Tokyo.

The leadership pivot

Ever had that moment when your words lack meaning? Diana Osagie makes the case for 'the leadership pivot'.

Ways forward

According to Lord Jim Knight, dealing with Covid came at a cost, but ways to improve teacher wellbeing are also here.

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ITM’s best of 2020 – 21

This has been the most difficult of years for educators, but new ideas have never been far from the surface since the pandemic began.

Here’s our pick of this year’s ITM articles from 2020 – 21.

New revolutionary?

Is Christopher Pommerening the new leader of the Learning Revolution? In December we looked at his ideas.

High-impact feedback

In March, Elen Harris looked at giving high-impact feedback to students, while saving teachers time. Total win-win.

Globally competent

At the COBIS conference in May, Andreas Schleicher of the OECD looked at the vital new skill of 'global competence'.

Viral maths

Professor Marcus Du Sautoy explained the mathematics behind the spreading of a virus in our October edition.

Leading in a whirlwind

Looking back over an incredible year, Phil Mathe spoke from the heart about Covid and the lives of middle leaders.

Teacher shortage?

By January 2021 Diane Jacoutot, was predicting a teacher shortage in 2021 – 22 and with very good reason.

Fair balance

Are international schools culturally biased? Gwen Byrom thought we should ask ourselves some hard questions.

What to learn

Kevin Bartlett showed in November that some of the old questions about education are still some of the most radical.

Data first

The message from Ashley Kirk and Doris Suchet in June was when planning strategically, don't guess - follow the data.

Outside in

School design is more important than ever. In June, Ian Bogle looked at connections between spaces, inside and out.

White water ride

For Richard Gaskell the year had been a white-water ride - but ways are emerging to help schools steer their way through.

Inclusive careers

Kyra Kellawan and Andreu Gual i Falco asked schools to challenge attitudes that undermine student aspiration.

Unfair and unreliable

The year has seen chaos in the world of formal assessment. Time for change wrote Ian Grove-Stephenson in April.

OT and learning

The time is right for new ideas. In May, Rachel Gillespie argued Occupational Therapy should be mainstream in schools.

Teaching sustainability

According to Kirsty Knowles writing in June, teaching sustainability should be centre stage. Who would argue?

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June 2021

Floella Benjamin and Andreas Schleicher at the COBIS conference, Sir Anthony Seldon on looking after yourself, using global data in strategic planning, music and dyslexia, teaching sustainability and outside-in school design.

Opening minds

Two keynotes. Two stories. One message from Floella Benjamin and Andreas Schleicher at COBIS21.

Outside in

Architect Ian Bogle argues that a school’s interior must connect with its external environment for great learning to take place.

Music and dyslexia

For Julia Kiggell understanding links between dyslexia and mastering a musical instrument can transform learning.

Taking care

Sir Anthony Seldon reflects on five restorative practices with an impact both on ourselves and on those around us.

Data first

For Ashley Kirk and Doris Suchet the use of data must be embedded in the strategic planning cycle for real impact.

New perspective

Tom Richmond introduces EDSK, a UK think tank which aims to influence policy by the analysis of educational issues.

Eating for teaching

Dietitian Breanna Baildon knows how busy teachers are - but that's why what we eat has to change.

RSE support

Rachel Coathup on two new video releases for teaching Relationships and Sex Ed, free to both schools and parents.

Dynamic review

How do you review a popular international curriculum like the IPC? Gregory Biggs of Fieldwork Education reports.

Theory into practice

Adam Seymour explores the impact of Barak Rosenshine's ‘10 Principles’ in real classrooms with his team at La Côte IS.

Teaching sustainability

For Kirsty Knowles, bringing sustainability to the core of the curriculum just cannot be delayed.

On the scale

Jess Gosling shows how student wellbeing and involvement in the Early Years an be monitored using the Leuven Scales.

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February 2021

What we can learn from the Danish experience in 2020, setting high standards for SEN learning and the crucial role of middle leadership during the Covid crisis.

Danish example

Kevin Goggins thinks the Danish experience of Covid may point the way to more lasting educational change.

Leading in a whirlwind

Phil Mathe takes off his hat to the middle leaders who are playing a crucial role in schools around the world during Covid.

Virtual can be virtuous

Gary Minnitt, Director of Accreditation at COBIS reviews a pilot series of online school visits. So far, so good.

High standards for all

Colin Bell and Kamal Bodhanker want to raise the bar for Additional Educational Needs (AEN) in international schools.

Learning and making

Farida Danmeri looks at the link between constructionism and ‘making’, analysing how one enhances the other.

A question of balance

Robert Young thinks the idea of the balanced curriculum is under further threat as a result of Covid-19.

Careers inclusion

Kyra Kellawan and Andreu Gual i Falco ask us to challenge the attitudes that undermine student career aspirations.

Pandemic reflections

Imagining a ‘new normal’ is backward looking, argues Ger Graus. It’s time to build on what we have learned in 2020.

Better Boards

Matthew Savage and Helen Wright explore effective school governance, asking how schools can grow 'better Boards'.

Transformational hub

President of the School Library Association, Richard Gerver, explains why libraries are more important than ever.

Two-way process

Supporting local employees as they encounter “international school micro-culture shock” is vital, argues Henry Wong.

Self-care

For Angelo Castelda, in order to help others effectively during the ongoing pandemic, make sure you look after yourself.

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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.

Write for ITM

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

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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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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.

Write for ITM

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

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December 2019

Seasonal books and videos, getting the right blend for online learning in international schools, P4C, discussion and helping children understand dementia.