Success in high school is not just about hard work: it’s about working smart, using proven strategies that boost learning, memory, and motivation. Here are 10 powerful tips, distilled from years of classroom experience and research-backed methods, to help students achieve their full potential.
Tip 1: Use Retrieval Practice with the P.O.W.E.R. Method
Retrieval practice strengthens memory and deepens understanding. The P.O.W.E.R. method offers a step-by-step approach:
Prime the mind with mind maps and summaries.
Organize thoughts using mnemonics, diagrams, and structured notes.
Wrestle with challenging recall questions in a low-stakes environment.
Evaluate progress using self-assessment tools like traffic lights or digital journals.
Reinforce learning through hands-on, real-world tasks.
Clarity in teaching is essential. Share resources before lessons, use simple and organized slides, and avoid overwhelming students with too much or irrelevant information. Speak clearly and slowly, reinforce key terms, and use everyday language to explain complex concepts. Focused activities and careful resource selection also boost lesson effectiveness.
Variety in lessons keeps students engaged. Incorporate games like Splat, Mystery Word, Bingo, and True or False Walls to reinforce key concepts in a fun and interactive way. These activities not only motivate students but also enhance their recall and application of knowledge.
Learning journals promote reflection and metacognition. Students can track their progress, note areas for improvement, and set goals. Journals also provide valuable feedback for teachers and encourage ownership of learning.
Instead of focusing on one topic at a time (blocked practice), interleave different topics and question types. This improves problem-solving skills and helps students see connections between concepts. Interleaving has been shown to enhance long-term retention and adaptability.
QLA allows students to analyze their performance question by question, identifying specific strengths and weaknesses. This targeted approach helps students focus their revision on areas that need the most improvement, leading to more efficient study habits.
Encourage students to assess their own and each other’s work. This develops critical thinking, helps them understand marking criteria, and builds a deeper awareness of quality work. When done correctly, it empowers students to take responsibility for their progress.
Timely, specific, and actionable feedback is key to student improvement. Focus on what the student did well, what needs to improve, and how to move forward. Feedback should be an ongoing dialogue, not a one-time event, and should encourage growth mindsets.
Teach students how to structure their notes and study materials. Tools like mind maps, graphic organizers, and timelines make complex information easier to understand and remember. Organized learning enhances clarity and confidence.
Richard’s Award-Winning Book for High School Teachers
Tip 10: Motivate Students with Positive Reinforcement
Motivation is crucial for high performance. Use praise, rewards, meaningful goals, and real-life relevance to inspire students. Show them how their learning connects to their future ambitions, and create an environment where effort is recognized and celebrated.
These strategies, when combined, create a powerful framework for academic success. By embedding these tips into daily teaching and learning routines, students can build the skills, mindset, and confidence they need to excel.
Like what you see? 🎯 Check out my shop for unique merchandise and products that support this blog. Every purchase helps me keep creating content you love. – Richard
We welcome you to join the Richard James Rogers online community. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram for the latest news, blog posts and commentary.
Don’t forget to check out the full bibliography and recommended reading list at the end of this blog post.
Like what you see? 🎯 Check out my shop for unique merchandise and products that support this blog. Every purchase helps me keep creating content you love. – Richard
Artificial Intelligence (AI) used to sound like science fiction, and was once confined to the creative genius seen in movies I loved as a child, such as WarGames (1983), The Terminator (1984) and Short Circuit (1986). These days, however, it has graduated beyond the illustrious imaginations of movie directors and authors and is actually having an impact in schools: helping students write essays, solve mathematics problems, and even brainstorm ideas for group projects. Welcome to 2025, where generative AI is fast becoming an essential tool in the high school classroom.It’s also the technology behind some bizarre and fun recent trends, such as the current AI Doll image creation craze. A doll version of me, created by ChatGPT, is given below. I hope the similarity does me justice!
On a more serious note, however, generative AI has presented school teachers all over the world with some pressing challenges. It’s important to consider how we, as teachers, can use this technology responsibly and effectively. In this blog post I’ll outline some practical, classroom-friendly ideas that even complete beginners can start utilizing right away!
What is Generative AI?
Before we begin, it’s important to make the distinction between generative AI, and other forms of AI. As I alluded to earlier, AI has actually been around in various forms for quite a while. It’s what allowed me and scores of children in the 80s and 90s to play single-player computer games on systems like the Atari ST, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Sega Mega Drive (remember Sonic the Hedgehog?) and many other devices.
What’s relatively new in the AI space, and what’s caused so much debate and excitiement in the past two to three years is generative AI, which refers to algorithms that can create new content based on existing data. This includes text, images, music, and more. One of the most famous examples is ChatGPT, which can write essays, summaries, and even simulate conversations (Center for Teaching Innovation, 2023).
Rather than replacing teachers, AI is best used as a co-pilot. It can help to lighten workloads, support differentiation, and provide new ways to engage learners.
Five Practical Ways to Use Generative AI in Your Classroom
1. Boost Writing with AI Examples and Prompts
Ever had a student stare at a blank page, unsure where to start? I certainly have. Reaching such students can be real challenge at times. Generative AI, however, may be able to help you by offering writing prompts, providing structured outlines, and generating example paragraphs in various tones and styles. These can be used to help students compare good versus poor structure, or to kick-start a creative writing project (XQ Institute, 2023).
💡 Try this: Ask ChatGPT to produce an essay introduction on climate change, or any topic, then let your students critique it or build on it with their own arguments.
2. Teach Critical Thinking Through AI “Mistakes”
Generative AI can sometimes produce responses that are incorrect or subtly flawed, and that can be a gift in disguise. Use AI-generated answers with embedded errors and ask students to fact-check and edit them. This teaches critical reading, evaluation of sources, and digital literacy, all of which are key 21st-century skills (TIME, 2023).
💡 Try this: Present an AI-generated paragraph with factual errors and challenge students to find and correct them using reliable sources.
3. Differentiate Learning Materials
Students learn at different paces and levels. Generative AI can help you rephrase content in simpler language or adjust reading levels to suit English Language Learners (ELLs) or students with learning difficulties (CRPE, 2024). It is like having a personalized assistant that adapts your materials on demand. If you’re looking for additional tools to add to your differentiation toolkit, then generative AI may be just what you need!
💡 Try this: Take a science article, or an article on any subject matter, and ask the AI to rewrite it for different reading ages or to include more visual metaphors. You can do this with existing worksheets, slides, guides and other resources, too.
4. Fuel Student Creativity
Generative AI can co-create stories, invent fictional dialogue, compose poems, or help design imaginary worlds. For creative projects in English, drama, music or even business studies, it can be a brilliant brainstorming tool (Ali et al., 2023).This allows the AI system to become a ‘creation expansion’ tool that can extend and relate students’ current creative abilities.
💡 Try this: Ask students to work with AI to co-author a short story, with students editing and expanding the AI’s ideas. The prompt ‘I would like to co-author………with you’ should work well with most generative AI systems.
5. Streamline Your Workload
Let’s be honest, teaching is a really demanding job. AI can help with lesson planning, quiz creation, report card comment generation, and even drafting parental emails (Wired, 2023). It is not about replacing your voice, but about saving you time so you can focus on what matters: your students. If you’re struggling with your workload as a teacher, then you should always talk with your line manager in the first instance, as they will know the context within which you are working and will be able to best advise you. However, you may wish to experiment with AI tools too, as you may find that they will relieve you of some of the pressure created by administrative tasks.
Tip from experience: If you want to use AI to generate student report cards, then please seek the permission from your school first, as copyright/data privacy may be an issue to consider. If you are given the green light to go ahead, then check that the correct English is being used (British, or American, for example) and always double-check the reports before officially publishing them,
To make the most of generative AI while keeping things ethical and purposeful, consider the following:
Discuss ethical use with your students: Talk about plagiarism, misinformation, and AI’s limitations (Center for Teaching Innovation, 2023).
Always verify facts: AI can sound confident, even when it is wrong. Teach students to double-check.
Use AI as a tool, not a crutch: Guide students to be critical thinkers, not just content consumers.
Address access equity: Ensure all students have access to tools, especially those from underserved communities (CRPE, 2024).
Final Thoughts
Generative AI is here to stay and that is exciting. With the right approach, it can support better learning outcomes, help differentiate instruction, reduce our workload and spark joy in the classroom. The key is to use it with your students, not for them. As educators, we still provide the wisdom, mentorship, and heart that AI can never replicate.
So why not give it a go this week? Whether it is generating a debate prompt or helping a student craft their first poem, AI might just become your new favourite teaching assistant.
Bibliography and References
Ali, S., DiPaola, D., Williams, R., Ravi, P. and Breazeal, C. (2023) Constructing Dreams using Generative AI. arXiv. Available at: https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.12013 (Accessed: 12 April 2025).
Liu, L., Chen, J. and Singh, R., 2023. Implementing Learning Principles with a Personal AI Tutor: A Case Study. arXiv. [online] Available at: https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.13060 [Accessed 13 Apr. 2025].
James Madison University Libraries, 2024. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education: AI and Ethics. [online] Available at: https://guides.lib.jmu.edu/AI-in-education/ethics [Accessed 13 Apr. 2025].
We welcome you to join the Richard James Rogers online community. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram for the latest news, blog posts and commentary.
A full bibliography of sources cited in this blog post can be found at the end.
The Netflix miniseries Adolescence has sparked widespread acclaim for its gripping storytelling and innovative production. However, as an educator and school leader, I believe it also demands a more critical lens. While the series raises important issues such as online radicalisation and so-called toxic masculinity, it does so through a narrative that often paints men as aggressors and women as victims, with little room for nuance or balance. In reality, many boys today are grappling with a deep sense of confusion and disconnection, lacking positive male role models and meaningful guidance. Masculinity, when expressed through integrity, service, and courage, has an essential place in our communities. Rather than vilifying young men, we should be supporting them. Adolescence offers a powerful starting point for discussion. Yet, we must go further toward a more compassionate, realistic, and inclusive conversation about what it means to grow up male in today’s world.
The Plot That Sparked a National Conversation
Adolescence tells the fictional story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, played by Owen Cooper, who is arrested for the alleged murder of his female classmate, Katie Leonard. Told in a real-time, one-shot format, the drama unfolds over the course of a single day per episode, immersing viewers in Jamie’s psychological descent and the influences that shape his world (Netflix Tudum, 2025).Having seen all episodes myself, I can definitely speak to the excellent cinematography that has taken place: even if I don’t agree with the way that the series portrays certain aspects of modern life in Britain (more on that, later).
The show features a cast led by Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco, portraying Jamie’s parents, and uses tension and claustrophobia to magnify the real-life pressures facing today’s adolescents (IMDB, 2025). The technical execution alone earned it acclaim as a “technical masterpiece” (Forbes, 2025), but its societal relevance is what has elevated it to educational importance.
The Manosphere and Digital Misogyny
At the heart of Adolescence lies a chilling exposure of the ‘manosphere’, which is portrayed as a cluster of online spaces promoting extreme and often misogynistic interpretations of gender roles. Andrew Tate, a prominent and controversial figure in these circles, is not directly portrayed but looms large in the type of online content Jamie consumes (Business Insider, 2025).
The dangers of such content are not fictional. Many teens fall into these digital rabbit holes unknowingly, encountering ideologies that validate resentment, blame, and aggression. (Independent, 2025). These online narratives offer simple answers to complex emotions that can be devastating when internalised by teenagers.
BritishGovernment Response and the Role of Schools
In response to the show’s impact and the wider societal issues it reflects, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a national summit on online safety, calling attention to the urgent need to combat the radicalisation of boys online (Sky News, 2025). Subsequently, the UK government has now partnered with Netflix to make the series freely available to all secondary schools across the country (Netflix, 2025).
Education leaders and safeguarding organisations, such as the Diana Award, have endorsed the show as a powerful tool to initiate difficult but necessary conversations around misogyny, online influence, and emotional wellbeing (Diana Award, 2025).
Classroom Applications and Resources for Teachers
For educators, Adolescence opens doors to a variety of curriculum-aligned conversations. Teachers can use the series as a gateway to:
Discussions about media literacy
Promoting respectful relationships and consent
Exploring the psychological impact of digital echo chambers
Examining the roles of empathy, family, and communication in teenage development
Organisations such as SecEd and Services for Education offer downloadable lesson plans and discussion guides (SecEd, 2025; Services for Education, 2025). See the bibliography at the end for links to these resources.
Critical Responses and Debates
Despite its success, Adolescence has not been without controversy. Some critics accused the show’s creators of “race-swapping” a story that echoed a real-life case. Co-creator Jack Thorne addressed these concerns, asserting that the series was entirely fictional and designed to address masculinity rather than race (Entertainment Weekly, 2025).
Others have raised concerns about the depiction of educators in the series. A piece from TES questioned why school staff were portrayed as unsympathetic or ineffective. While such portrayals may serve dramatic purposes, they also invite reflection on how schools can better support vulnerable students (TES Magazine, 2025).For educators outside of the UK, like myself, the series shines a light on challenges that UK teachers face on a daily basis, such as behaviour management, active engagement strategies (teachers are portrayed as showing videos to their classes a little too often, in my opinion) and safeguarding.
The Need for Nuance
Multiple commentators, including writers from The Guardian, stress the importance of addressing online safety in nuanced, evidence-based ways. Not every boy exposed to manosphere content becomes radicalised, and not every digital experience is harmful (The Guardian, 2025). Effective teaching and parental engagement remain the most powerful defences against dangerous ideologies.
A Call to Action?
More than just a fictional mini-series, Adolescence is (apparently) a wake-up call. It explores how easily young people can spiral when left unsupported (Harper’s Bazaar, 2025). Its release has catalysed national conversations, encouraged governmental policy shifts, and provided some educators with a compelling resource for classroom use, if they wish to use it.
For educators, the series offers a timely reminder: We are not only teaching subjects; we are guiding lives in an era where influence comes from both the classroom and the algorithm.
Final thoughts
As an educator with over two decades of classroom experience and a firm belief in the power of teachers to positively engineer a child’s future, I commend Adolescence for sparking a national conversation about the digital influences shaping our young people. However, while the show courageously tackles the rise of misogyny and online radicalisation, it misses a deeper and equally urgent reality. Boys today are crying out for positive identity formation, structure, and purpose. In casting men primarily as perpetrators and women as victims, the series presents a one-sided narrative that risks alienating the very demographic it seeks to help. Masculinity, when grounded in responsibility, courage, and empathy, plays a vital role in society. This is a message that is absent from the series but essential in any educational conversation about gender.
Let us not allow Adolescence to become another well-meaning yet unbalanced depiction of complex issues. Instead, educators should use it as a springboard for wider discussions. These should not only address the dangers of the manosphere but also highlight the value of healthy male role models, the pressures boys face, and the often invisible expectations placed upon them. From dangerous jobs to frontline rescue work, men continue to carry burdens that deserve recognition and not ridicule. As teachers, we must move beyond binary blame games and create classroom spaces that nurture all students, including boys, into becoming thoughtful, resilient, and compassionate individuals. That, after all, is the heart of great teaching.
