Tag: teacher wellbeing

The Global Teacher Shortage: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

An article by Richard James Rogers (Award-Winning Author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management and The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback). This blog post is illustrated by Pop Sutthiya Lertyongphati.

Don’t forget to check out the full bibliography and recommended reading list at the end of this blog post.

The world is grappling with a significant teacher shortage crisis. According to UNESCO, an additional 44 million teachers are needed by 2030 to achieve universal primary and secondary education (UNESCO, 2024). This shortage is not just a statistic; it has profound implications for the quality of education and the future of societies worldwide.

A simple glance through teacher forums, such the incredibly popular International Schools Review, reveals a dark abyss that’s peppered with bleak testimonials:

“I believe that many of my colleagues feel unheard and mistreated – this has been shown time and again in our staff surveys. Of course, someone in the inner sanctum would not be subject to the toxic, exclusionary, bullying behaviour meted out by SLT; it does not mean it does not exist. Some colleagues are leaving this academic year due to feeling disenfranchised.“

– A teacher at a school in Singapore, May 2025

“The school is working to improve vertical curriculum alignment, but since the school has been in operation for many years, it is surprising that the curriculum is such a mess, at least in the department I taught in. I think that will get better in the next few years though. If you order your materials the year before, you can get things, but don’t expect to have them at the beginning of the school year. If you need classroom supplies like pencils, markers, erasers, etc, good luck.”

– A teacher at a school in Brazil, May 2025

“Walking through the corridors is akin to walking through a zoo. Children scream, shout and run about with no regard for safety. No teacher dares make an attempt to challenge this behaviour for various reasons. Two of which are fear of the parents and lack of support from the principal.”

– A teacher at a school in Kazakhstan, May 2025

These reviews, and others like them, offer some insight into the world of teaching at an international level, and go some way to explaining why so many teachers are quitting the profession. In today’s blog post, I aim to describe the key factors that are driving this exodus, and describe some much needed advice for all stakeholders who want to retain their brightest and best teachers for years to come.

Understanding the Crisis

Several factors are contributing to the current global teacher shortage:

  • High Attrition Rates: Many teachers are leaving the profession due to burnout, low salaries, and lack of support. In the United States, for example, 51,000 teachers quit their jobs in 2023 alone (Devlin Peck, 2025).
  • Uneven Distribution: Rural and underserved areas often struggle more with teacher shortages, exacerbating educational inequalities (UNESCO, 2024).
  • Aging Workforce: A significant portion of the teaching workforce is nearing retirement, and there aren’t enough new teachers to replace them (Devlin Peck, 2025).

Impacts on Education

When there aren’t enough teachers in schools, this leads to:

  • Larger Class Sizes: Overcrowded classrooms make it challenging to provide individual attention to students (UNESCO, 2024).
  • Reduced Educational Quality: Unqualified or overburdened teachers may not deliver the curriculum effectively, impacting student learning outcomes (Education Week, 2025).
  • Increased Inequality: Disadvantaged communities suffer the most, widening the education gap between different socioeconomic groups (UNESCO, 2024).

Strategies for Addressing the Shortage

To mitigate the teacher shortage crisis, stakeholders can consider the following approaches:

#1: Enhancing Teacher Training and Support

  • Mentorship Programs: Implementing structured mentorship can help new teachers acclimate and reduce early-career attrition (Frontline Education, 2025).
  • Professional Development: Ongoing training opportunities keep teachers engaged and improve teaching quality (Education Week, 2025). One of my favourite platforms for this is the excellent Great Teaching Toolkit. My Blog Index for Teachers is also a very popular for those seeking free, yet high-quality, CPD material.

#2: Improving Compensation and Working Conditions

  • Competitive Salaries: Offering salaries that reflect the importance of the teaching profession can attract and retain talent (Devlin Peck, 2025). If pull factors, such as decent pay, are not present to begin with then many fresh graduates are simply not going to choose teaching as a profession.
  • Work-Life Balance: Flexible working arrangements and manageable workloads can reduce burnout (The Guardian, 2024).

With respect to managing workloads we must not forget about teachers who work online, too. Jessica Robinson from The Speaking Polymath write this great post for me back in 2022 with some good tips for preventing burnout whilst teaching online.

#3: Alternative Pathways into Teaching

  • Career Changers: Encouraging professionals from other fields to transition into teaching can bring diverse experiences into the classroom (Education Week, 2025).
  • Residency Programs: Programs like Urban Teacher Residencies provide hands-on training and have shown success in retaining teachers in high-need areas (Wikipedia, 2023).

#4: Policy Interventions

  • Legislative Support: Policies that provide financial incentives, such as student loan forgiveness or housing assistance, can make teaching more attractive (UNESCO, 2024).
  • Streamlining Certification: Simplifying the certification process without compromising quality can help fill vacancies more quickly (New York Post, 2025).

What does the future hold?

In addition to the above points, there’s a massive issue looming in the background that virtually no one is talking about: People simply aren’t having as many babies as they used to. Fertility rates have been falling steadily across much of the developed world for decades, and many countries are now well below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman. For example, South Korea’s fertility rate hit a record low of 0.72 in 2023, while countries like Japan (1.26), Italy (1.22), and China (1.09) are also experiencing unprecedented demographic decline (World Bank, 2024; United Nations, 2023).

This trend has profound implications for the future of education. While teacher shortages are currently critical, the long-term demand for teachers is likely to decline as school-age populations shrink. According to projections by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the number of children aged 5–14 will decline significantly in many high-income countries by 2050. This suggests that some of today’s recruitment pressures may ease over time: not due to systemic reform, but because of demographic inevitability (UN DESA, 2022).

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In essence, what this means is that current teacher shortages are likely to persist for a good while yet but by around 2050 we may see an inversion of this scenario as far fewer children exist to begin with. With the advent of generative AI, and it’s subsequent widespread adoption, we may soon see the role of educator becoming fully automated as schools cut back on salaries due to low student numbers.

Conclusion

The teacher shortage is a multifaceted issue requiring coordinated efforts from governments, educational institutions, and communities. By investing in teacher support, improving working conditions, and implementing innovative recruitment strategies, we can work towards a future where every child has access to quality education delivered by qualified and motivated teachers.

In terms of the longer term plan for teachers (i.e. 20 – 40 years down the road), I advise everyone to keep busy with studies and acquire as many skills as you can – we may soon be replaced by automated systems, and the ability to seamlessly transfer to another profession, or to capitalise on your skills in a business capacity, will be a tremendous advantage (hence my development of Corporate Training programs, which are becoming incredibly popular).

References

How I Use SEL in My High School Lessons (And How You Can Too!)

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

A blog post by Richard James Rogers (Award-Winning Author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management and The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback). This blog post has been beautifully illustrated by Pop Sutthiya Lertyongphati.

Accompanying podcast episode:

As high school teachers, we know that our students need more than just academic knowledge to thrive. They need tools to manage their emotions, build relationships (isn’t this so crucial in business?), and make thoughtful decisions. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) gives them these tools and helps us, as teachers, create classrooms where students feel supported, engaged, and ready to succeed.

In my classroom, SEL forms an integral part of each lesson’s structure and delivery, and today I’m sharing ten practical ways you can integrate it into your teaching too!

What is SEL?

At its core, SEL equips students with five essential skills:

  • Self-awareness – Understanding their emotions, strengths, and areas for growth (target-setting, which is something teachers have been doing for decades to assist with academic goal setting, can certainly help with this too).
  • Self-management – Managing stress (note: teachers need this too!), setting goals, and staying motivated.
  • Social awareness – Showing empathy and valuing others’ perspectives (collaboration through group projects is a good way to facilitate this, provided there is a reflection on the interpersonal skills developed).
  • Relationship skills – Building meaningful connections and resolving conflicts.
  • Responsible decision-making – Making thoughtful, ethical choices.

A handy phrase that helps me to remember this list is “Three S’s and Two R’s”

When these skills are taught alongside academic content, students not only perform better in school but also develop confidence and resilience: character traits that will help them navigate various challenges throughout life.

10 Ways to Bring SEL Into Your Classroom

Here are some strategies I use that you can easily apply to your teaching:

1. Start with Emotional Check-Ins

Take a few moments at the start of class to check in with your students. A simple prompt like, “How are you feeling today?” using mood meters or sticky notes fosters self-awareness and helps you connect with your students on a deeper level. In my debut book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, I emphasize the importance of having ‘check-in’ conversations with your students on a regular basis (even as you are on duty, or walking around the corridor, for example). These are perfect for a homeroom/tutor group team-building activity. Any non-confidential information that you gather from such conversations (e.g. students’ hobbies and interests, life events, music preferences, etc.) is called ‘Professional Intelligence’, and it can be used to inform your teaching/interventions.

2. Facilitate Collaborative Projects

Group work is a great opportunity to practice relationship skills. Assign roles to each team member—such as leader, timekeeper, or presenter—to teach accountability and effective communication.

3. Introduce Mindfulness Practices

Short mindfulness exercises, like guided breathing, a mindful body scan, or a moment of silence, can help students manage stress and refocus their energy. These work wonders before a test or during a busy day. In my experience, these work best if they are deployed on a regular basis, rather than ad hoc, as there will be some initial awkwardness on the part of the students when they first try these exercises. Regular practice, and a class culture of acceptance and a recognition of the importance of mindfulness practices, are needed in order for the techniques to be truly effective.

If you’re new to mindfulness (as many teachers are), or if you’re struggling to come up with ideas for mindfulness activities, then this blog by American University contains lots of good information.

4. Encourage Journaling

Journaling allows students to reflect on their emotions and experiences in a personal, non-judgmental way. It’s a simple activity that promotes self-awareness and emotional regulation. This can be done in the traditional way, using personal notebooks, or online (e.g. via systems like Google Sites or Docs).

Make sure you make the journaling interactive in some way. You may wish to allow students to form ‘buddy groups’ with others they are comfortable sharing their emotions with or initiate some kind of ‘anonymous disclosure’ activity (e.g. students fill in an anonymous Google Form with reflections, or write something on a piece of paper, and the teacher reads responses to the class).

I’ve written a very popular blog post about Learning Journals here (feel free to adapt these ideas to SEL journaling too).

5. Practice Conflict Resolution

Present scenarios or real-life conflicts and guide students in resolving them through role-playing. This builds empathy, social awareness, and decision-making skills.

Edutopia have written this brilliant article on using role-play as a SEL teaching tool. I highly recommend that all teachers read this, as it contains ideas that are highly practical and actionable.

6. Celebrate Cultural Diversity

Create space for students to share their backgrounds, traditions, or interests. Whether it’s through classroom discussions, projects, or celebrations, this fosters social awareness and inclusion. Whilst diverse classrooms do sometimes come with unique challenges for the subject teacher, they also offer tremendous opportunities for team-building and cultural awareness.

7. Focus on Goal-Setting

Help students set and track SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). This activity encourages self-management and shows them how to turn aspirations into action. This can be done within individual subject areas, or as a more holistic PSHE, homeroom or mentoring activity.

8. Create a Peer Mentorship Program

Pair older students with younger ones in a mentorship program. Mentors build leadership and empathy, while mentees gain guidance and support—everyone wins! Such a programme will probably require some training for the mentors initially, and ground rules should definitely be established, but when organized and monitored properly this can be a very rewarding programme for individual students who need support.

I’ve written a separate blog post about executive coaching strategies here. Whilst that blog post is primarily aimed at adults who mentor adults, much of the material is applicable to secondary school mentoring scenarios too.

9. Build Gratitude Practices

Incorporate simple activities like gratitude walls or weekly affirmations. These encourage optimism, build confidence, and create a positive classroom environment.

Colorin Colorado have written this great article that outlines fifteen ideas for incorporating gratitude practices into your classroom.

10. Make SEL Part of Your Subject Lessons

Infuse SEL into your curriculum by highlighting its connections to your subject. For example:

  • In English, analyze a character’s emotional growth.
  • In History, discuss ethical dilemmas faced by historical figures.
  • In Science, explore the societal impact of discoveries or technologies.

This approach shows students that SEL is not just an add-on—it’s essential to real-world problem-solving.

Can you think of some ways to incorporate SEL into your subject area? Please feel free to comment below.

Why I Love Using SEL

Incorporating SEL into my classroom has transformed the way I teach and the way my students learn. They’re more engaged, more resilient, and more empathetic toward each other. I’ve seen firsthand how these small, intentional practices can create a big impact. The only frustration that I sometimes have with SEL practices, however, is that it can take quite a considerable length of time before the classroom teacher sees the fruits of their labour. This time-investment, however, is worth it in my opinion.

I encourage you to try some of these strategies in your classroom and see the difference SEL can make. Have you already used SEL in your teaching? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below—let’s grow together! 😊

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10 Rookie Blunders New High School Teachers Make (and How to Avoid Them!)

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

A blog post by Richard James Rogers (Award-Winning Author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management and The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback). This blog post has been beautifully illustrated by Pop Sutthiya Lertyongphati.

Starting your teaching career is an exciting adventure, but it can also feel overwhelming. When I first starting teaching high school science back in 2005, for example, I soon found myself struggling to succeed at (what I see today as) basic tasks, such as marking, lesson planning and managing behaviour. So many aspects of the job were completely new to me, despite the limited teaching experience I gained from the Army Cadet Force as a teenager. I even found it difficult to think straight with so many students making requests and needing attention at the same time. Even writing basic sentences on the classroom whiteboard, in a large and tidy format so that the students could read the words clearly, was a challenge for me at first!

The reassuring news is that every teacher makes mistakes – it’s part of the learning process. To give you a head start, here are ten of the most common rookie blunders new high school teachers make (and, that I have made at some point on my journey!), along with some friendly advice on how to avoid them!

1. Doing Too Much Marking

Marking mountains of work is a fast track to burnout. Many new teachers feel they need to mark everything in detail, but that’s not sustainable! Start exploring alternatives like peer assessment, self-assessment, verbal feedback or even automated tools like online quizzes. You could also try live marking during class, where you give immediate feedback as students work. This not only saves time but also boosts student understanding.

2. Trying to Be Too Friendly with Students

It’s natural to want to be liked by your students, but remember: you’re their teacher, not their buddy. Building rapport is important, but you still need to maintain a professional distance. Being too friendly can blur the lines, making it difficult to manage behavior or assert authority. Keep your role clear, and your students will respect you more in the long run.

3. Inappropriate Use of Social Media

We live in a digital world, and social media can be a fun way to share ideas, but it’s important to be cautious. Avoid posting anything that could reflect poorly on you, your school, or the profession. It’s always better to keep your personal and professional online presence separate. Remember: once it’s online, it’s forever!

4. Oversharing with Colleagues

It’s great to get to know your colleagues, but be mindful of what you share, especially in the early days. Oversharing personal information can blur professional boundaries and lead to awkward situations. Keep conversations friendly, but professional – save your deeper personal stories for your friends outside of work.

5. Not Pacing Lessons According to Long-Term Plans

Pacing is one of the trickiest things to get right. New teachers often get caught up in the moment, spending too much time on early topics and falling behind on their curriculum goals. It’s important to balance the desire to be thorough with the need to stick to long-term plans. Keep an eye on your timeline and adjust your lessons to stay on track.

6. Being Too Lenient with Grading

Being too kind with your grades can do more harm than good. New teachers sometimes grade work too generously, not realizing that they aren’t preparing their students for the higher standards of external exams. Make sure your grading reflects the rigor of official exam boards so students get used to working at the correct level.

7. Relying on Quickly Sourced Content from the Internet

The internet is a treasure trove of resources, but not everything online is classroom-ready. Some teachers fall into the trap of quickly grabbing videos, slides, or worksheets without checking them thoroughly. Always preview your resources before using them in class to ensure they’re accurate, appropriate, and aligned with your lesson goals.

8. Not Preparing Marking Schemes

Without a clear marking scheme, grading assessments can become a time-consuming nightmare. Having a well-prepared scheme not only saves you hours but also ensures consistency and fairness across all students. It’s worth the extra effort upfront to develop marking rubrics and criteria that make assessment straightforward and manageable.

9. Making Promises You Can’t Keep

As a new teacher, you want to impress your students, but making promises you can’t keep – like grading a mountain of work in just a few days – will quickly erode their trust. Be realistic with your deadlines and commitments. It’s always better to under-promise and over-deliver than the other way around!

10. Engaging in Gossip

Gossip can be tempting in any workplace, but in a school environment, it’s especially toxic. Avoid conversations that focus on negative chatter about colleagues, students, or policies. Instead, foster positive, professional relationships. Being a person of integrity will earn you respect from your peers and create a healthier working environment generally.

Recommended further reading

Peer or Self-Assessment? Benefits and Challenges
Using Verbal Feedback: The Ugly Truth
5 Awesome Live Quiz Apps You Can Use in The Classroom
5 Efficient Marking and Assessment Strategies
Effective Feedback: The Catalyst of Student Progress
Maintaining Professional Distance as a High School Teacher: Ten Essential Guidelines
Behaviour Management Basics
How Should Teachers Behave on Social Media?
Falling Behind Your Teaching Schedule: Prevention and Cures
5 Ways to Use Past-Exam Papers With Your Students
The ‘Four Pillars’ of Time-Saving Marking
Working With Colleagues: The Gossip Mill Produces Toxic Flour

Stress Management Techniques for Online Teachers

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

An article by Richard James Rogers (Award-Winning Author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management and The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback)

Illustrated by  Sutthiya Lertyongphati

Accompanying podcast episode:

Being an online teacher can be both rewarding and challenging. While it offers the flexibility of working from home and a broader reach to students worldwide, it also comes with its own set of stress factors. In 2023, as the world continues to digitize, the number of online teachers will likely increase, and so will the pressure to excel. In this post, we will look at some stress management techniques to help online teachers stay sane and healthy.
 
1. Prioritize Time Management
 
Online teaching requires meticulous planning, preparation, and execution. To minimize your workload and maximize your productivity, develop a routine that helps you stay organized. Create a schedule that balances your teaching workload and personal life commitments. Make sure you allocate enough time in your day for relaxation, exercise, and self-care. Setting limits on work can ensure you have enough energy to teach effectively.
 
2. Avoid Overworking
 
Online teachers often have to work outside normal working hours and weekends to accommodate students from different time zones. However, consistently overworking without taking time to rest can lead to burnout, fatigue, and diminished productivity. To avoid this, ensure you have a set work schedule that includes regular breaks and days off. When you are not teaching, avoid checking your email or working on your laptop to keep the boundaries clear.
 
hobbies
 
 
3. Find a Support System
 
Online teaching can be a lonely experience, especially when you work alone in your home office. Reach out to other online teachers or join online communities where you can share common challenges and success stories. Many online teaching platforms offer peer support groups, mentorship programs, and professional development resources. Take advantage of these opportunities to expand your network and alleviate stress.
 
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4. Practice Stress-Relieving Activities
 
Stress can take a significant toll on your physical and mental well-being. Engage in stress-relieving activities such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises to calm your mind and release tension. Taking a daily walk outside or performing simple stretches can also promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Creating a calming workspace with soothing music and comfortable furniture can also help you relieve stress.
 
exercises
 
 
5. Continuously Improve Your Skills
 
Online teaching technology is constantly evolving, and to stay relevant, you need to regularly develop your skills. Developing new skills through courses, workshops, and reading can boost your confidence and performance. Continuous learning can lead to new opportunities that can alleviate some of the stress of online teaching.
 
Conclusion
 
In conclusion, stress management should be an ongoing process and not a one-time solution. By prioritizing time management, avoiding overworking, finding a support system, practicing stress-relieving activities, and continuously developing your skills, you can stay healthy and productive in your online teaching career. Be kind to yourself, and remember that a little self-care can go a long way in reducing stress.
 
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5 Excellent Ways Educators Can Foster Creativity in Students

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

As learning becomes more software-driven, and cognitive offloading becomes more frequent via apps like ChatGPT and Google Bard, we are sure to see ‘soft skills’ (i.e., those skills unique to humans which cannot be replicated by computers) become more important for students to master.

Colin Salmon, Head of Faculty for Technology and Life Sciences at The City of Liverpool College, has this to say about AI and soft skills:

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it will overtake soft skills such as creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence and, while AI can replicate certain tasks, it cannot yet replicate the human touch or the level of creativity that is required in many industries.

Colin Salmon, Courtesy of FE News [Accessed April 2023]

Today, I’ve invited Jessica Robinson, educational writer at The Speaking Polymath, to share her insights and tips for getting the creative juices flowing with your students.

Introduction to Creativity in Students

Creativity involves breaking out of unexpected patterns in order to look at things in a different way.

Edward De Bono

Creativity helps students use their imagination to their fullest. It helps them to learn new things by opening doors to new thoughts, emotions and expressions. This is the reason why it is important to foster creativity in young minds so that it can improve their future prospects. A student’s learning experience is enhanced when they put their own creativity into a subject, lesson, task or project. 

Every student develops skills that reflect their own set of creativity. When they learn subjects using their creativity, it helps them to:

  • Make learning fun
  • Work upon their emotional quotient (EQ)
  • Manage stress
  • Boost critical thinking
  • Improve communication skills

Let us discuss the 5 best ways educators can foster creativity in their students.

5 Best Ways for Educators to Foster Creativity in Students

#1: Engage students in activities that encourage creativity

In order to foster creative thinking, teachers need to engage students in activities that promote creativity. Though these activities, teachers should guide students to develop and improve their creative skills such as problem solving, innovation and communication skills through inquiry-based learning.

Let us consider an activity that fosters creativity in a student in the early years. Teachers can ask students to make different structures using building blocks. Students can bring in their creativity and make something that isn’t commonly made by students of that age. Teachers can tell students to creatively think upon the uses of the structures they have made.

Teachers can boost creativity in students when they actively engage students in learning activities. In addition to the above, other activities such as storytelling, writing poetry, generating musical ideas, completing the incomplete figure to create new figures, etc., also help to expand creative thinking skills.

These activities can help students to become more mindful and conscious of their creative skills in this manner. Teachers who encourage such innovative solutions foster creativity and flourish a genuine output. It is a teacher’s role to brainstorm a students’ mind in a positive way to foster curiosity and view varying perceptions and their impacts thereof.

#2: Think outside of the box

There is no denying the fact that the role of teachers is to encourage creativity in the classroom by allowing varying ideas to be welcomed and discussed. Allowing students to think outside of the box, beyond boundaries might help them in deciphering something unusual and new. But also, it is important to know that creativity is a skill that not every student is born with. It is the role of a teacher to help a student discover such capabilities. There are various methods to do so. 

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One method is where a teacher can challenge students by questioning them about the dynamic aspects of a topic and how outcomes can vary with changing inputs. Each aspect (input) could foster different levels of creativity in a student and help the student to engage in innovative learning methods that would be useful to develop problem solving skills.

A What-if Analysis can be an excellent way to foster creativity in students. A teacher can ask a student, “What if the prices of your favorite pizza in the market increases?” or “What if Covid persisted for a longer period of time? How would it have affected your education?” Pondering upon the asked questions, students would automatically start thinking over it, considering their own creative sense. Henceforth, it would encourage students to have a growth mindset and improve on their own personality traits.

3. Give constructive feedback

To give students the right direction for initiating creative processes, it is important for educators to provide them with constructive feedback. Appreciations and criticism, both form an integral part of feedback. It forms a great tool to induce ideas into a student’s mind.

Educators can relate giving constructive feedback to students with a Pareto analysis. The Pareto principle emphasizes on focusing on the 20% of work needed to achieve 80% of the output.  Educators can foster creativity by letting students know which activities form the major portion that can help to deliver maximum output. With this belief, students can focus more on the 20% to achieve a lucrative output, through an educator’s valuable feedback. 

The concept of constructive learning from educators helps in providing the right guidance to students for constructive learning and training methodologies.

There are 3 constructive feedback techniques that teachers might use in classrooms for an effective study environment:

  • Feedforward – As coined by Marshall Goldsmith. While feedback focuses on past events, feedforward is the antonym for it. This approach helps educators or teachers to describe the correctness of future probabilities to a student with respect to the current solution of processing information. The main aim is to let a student know beforehand the adversity or favorability of their current performance and take their creativity in the right direction.
  • DESC – Elaborating the abbreviation, DESC stands for describe, express, specify and consequence. It defines valuable feedback as elaborating to a student the reason behind what could have been done to improve upon the given solution. This fosters a way to diligently assess a student’s creative performance and establish effective standards to calculate the positive and negative effects of that performance.
  • What & Why – This is the simplest of the above methods that can easily be applied in classrooms.  Explaining to students, or asking them to explain, the What and Why ofa situation or outcome could enhance creativity.

#4: Promote the sharing of ideas

Sharing concepts in the classroom can broaden the range of viewpoints of the audience on a certain topic. Teachers should encourage such a classroom environment as it increases students’ productivity. It simultaneously fosters a competitive environment as each student is given a voice to shed light on their own creativity and spread it to others.

Instead of having a feeling of being judged and afraid of criticism, teachers encourage students by guiding them to increase their scope of improvement.

Sharing techniques used by teachers in classrooms to promote creativity are mentioned below:

  • Think-Pair-Share – Brainstorming of ideas in pairs, writing those ideas and later sharing them with the entire class helps to indulge in and accept different perspectives and fosters creativity.
  • Sticky-Note Storm – Thinking out of the box in small groups within a stipulated period of time helps to activate the brain cells and generate as many answers as possible.
  • Quiz, Quiz and Trade – This activity is very good in engaging students to be as creative as they can. Teachers hand out cue cards to students and students exchange and circulate them to their peers. At last, whosoever is left with the number of cue cards gets to put in their creativity and answer those questions.

#5: Put breaks into routines

It is usual for students to feel lethargic with the same monotonous routine in their daily life. This situation has a direct impact on their creativity because creativity decreases with repetitive and unexciting methods of learning.

Teachers who acknowledge this bored atmosphere again and again in their classroom environment, can find ways to foster creativity in their students by not teaching in the same way, continuously.

Teachers can do something different from their routines and increase students’ creative thinking skills.

Conclusion

To conclude, creativity is one of the most important aspects of a child’s development and needs to be integrated in children from a very young age. Hence, it becomes the responsibility of the educator to foster creativity in children at a young age. That being the case, the above given tips can effectively help educators in making their students more creative. 

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3 Ways to Keep a High School Student Motivated

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

An article by Richard James Rogers (Award-Winning Author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management and The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback)

Illustrated by Sutthiya Lertyongphati

Accompanying podcast episode:

As your children’s high school career nears its end, achieving good grades becomes ever-more important. There’s a lot at stake, in particular, the range of colleges from which they can choose after graduation. And with the cost of a college education being so high, excellent grades could be worth money in the form of bursaries and sponsorships. Even kids that don’t want to study further need to work hard. If a high school diploma is to be their highest educational achievement, it will be with them for the rest of their working careers.

While being a pushy parent can be counter-productive, keeping your children motivated in their final years of high school can be a challenge. Try the following strategies to improve their chances. 

#1: Get Help From a Private Educational Counsellor

Can you offer the right guidance for your child to get into top colleges? Chances are, you need an inside edge. Going Ivy College Consulting works with your children to help them map out their future for themselves, choosing the right courses and the right elite colleges to set them up for success. 

If going ivy isn’t on the cards, career counselling can still be enormously beneficial. Having an impartial third party to talk to about their future helps your children to feel more in control of their future learning and career paths. With a future they decided for themselves to look forward to, the chances of giving their final years at school their best effort becomes more likely.

#2: Be Supportive

Parents want to see their children embarking on a secure career. Sadly, this can lead to conflict and a lack of motivation at school.  For example, your daughter says she wants to study drama. You’re horrified and suggest accounting instead. With your support for what she really wants to do being absent, how motivated will she be as her final high school year draws to a close? Will your support for her exam preparation make a difference?

If you think your child is making a risky career choice, tell them about your concerns by all means, but never withdraw your support. Your aspiring drama student will open several career paths through her studies. For example, if she isn’t able to become a movie star, she can still apply her skills to teaching theatrical skills to kids. Whatever happens, remember that it’s up to your children to choose their careers, and not up to you. 

#3: Give Them Time

Although you feel that choosing a future career is an urgent matter, your high schooler may not feel ready to commit. Let’s be fair. A school student has no experience of the working world, and may not have found his or her passion yet. Some kids need to spend a year or two in the working world before they discover what they really want from a career. Push too hard, and your children might end up studying something they committed to on a whim only to find that it isn’t really for them. 

By all means, provide opportunities for them to explore possible careers, but make it clear that you aren’t pushing for a big decision just yet. When they find a career they can fall in love with, you’ll be ready to support them. Until they find their path, you’ll still be there for them whenever they need you. Apply too much pressure, leave your child with the impression that it’s about you and not about them, and they might decide the whole thing is a nasty business and start underperforming at school. 

Strike the Balance

We all have ambitions for our children, but ultimately, their future is up to them. Although you may not be sure that your children are making the right decisions, your role is that of wise counsellor and ardent supporter. It can be difficult, but the decision maker in this instance is your child. Opposing their wishes or pushing too hard will be counter-productive. Help your child to build a vision of his or her future that’s all their own. 

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How to Become a Leader in the Classroom

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

richardjamesrogers.com is the official blog of Richard James Rogers: high school Science teacher and the award-winning author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know.

Teachers are expected to demonstrate high competency in a range of skill areas. Some skills that may come to mind are personal organisation, classroom management, behaviour management and confidence in the use of educational technology. One skill that may not immediately come to mind, however, is leadership: yet this is vital, as teachers are required to be good leaders of their students (and, sometimes, other teachers). Today, I’ve invited Mitch from Destination TEFL, Bangkok, to to share his tips on how to be a good leader in the classroom.

This blog post is illustrated by Pop Sutthiya Lertyongphati.

Truly great teachers must also be leaders. By devoting time and energy towards developing leadership skills, along with technical teaching skills, teachers can make a profound impact on their students that transcends the information they teach.

Leadership seems to be a bit of a buzzword these days, but maybe there’s a reason for that.

Just take a look around. In government, the corporate world, and yes, in education too, our world seems to be suffering from a lack of leadership. We have a surplus of bosses, managers, and influencers, but not enough true leaders.

But together we’re going to change that.

The classroom is your domain, one place in the world where you truly can make a difference. You may not be able to fix the government, or even the overall culture at your school (toxic bosses tend not to take feedback well), but you can absolutely change your classroom and, in so doing, your students’ lives.

Here’s how to do it.

What is true leadership?

In order to become great leaders in the classroom, we need to really nail down what leadership actually is. And more importantly, what it isn’t.

Good leadership is NOT:

  • Being right all the time
  • Never making mistakes
  • Making all of the decisions
  • Always being strong, confident, and outgoing

Surprising, right? Many of the usual stereotypes we have about leadership (ones that many leaders today try a bit too hard to represent) aren’t actually what leadership is about at all.

True leadership, especially in a classroom full of students, is much more nuanced and, honestly, more accessible than many are led to believe.

In contrast to the list above, true leadership in the classroom looks a lot more like:

  • Being human, and acknowledging mistakes
  • Letting your students make decisions, and teaching them to make the right ones
  • Being the best version of yourself, not fitting into boxes
  • Focusing on empathy and emotional intelligence

Real leadership is about putting others first, and doing your best to help them become the best versions of themselves they can be. As teachers, this is something that probably sounds familiar to us!

So now that we know what leadership is, how do we grow in these areas and incorporate them into our classroom?

Becoming a leader in the classroom

The first step in becoming a better leader is to know that you can!

People are conditioned to believe that you are either born with leadership qualities or not, and this is true for something like being naturally outgoing. But that’s not what great leaders are really made of.

“An AMAZING book for teachers!”

Emotional intelligence is something you can work on. Taking responsibility and acknowledging mistakes is something you can work on. Becoming the best version of yourself is something you can work on. 

Real leadership is accessible, and it’s accessible to you.

All becoming a leader in the classroom takes is recognizing areas you want to grow in as a leader, focusing on developing yourself in those areas, and (most importantly) finding opportunities to implement what you’re working on in the classroom.

Maybe you want to work on developing your emotional intelligence. So you take the first step and start reading articles about improving your EQ.

You listen to their advice and start doing things like labeling your emotions, practicing empathy, and opening yourself up to feedback. The more you do this, the more you notice your sensitivity to other people’s emotions increasing.

Now it’s time for the most important step: bringing it into the classroom!

What better group of people to practice empathy and emotional intelligence with than your students? You start looking for root causes of misbehavior, and the emotions that underlie them. You teach your students to become aware of their own emotions, and the emotions of their classmates. Most importantly, you provide an example of how to do this.

Congratulations, you have not only become a better teacher, but you’ve also become a true leader. You are now impacting your students not only through what you teach them, but how you teach them.

You’re no longer just teaching them about English, now you’re teaching them about life.

Final thoughts

Becoming a great leader, and a great teacher, takes time. It isn’t something that can be done in one semester: it’s an ongoing process of self-discovery and self-improvement.

However, as people teaching abroad, we’re no strangers to this process. Living and working abroad is a journey of self-discovery, finding new and exciting pieces of yourself in different contexts and cultures, growing in ways you never thought possible.

Leadership in the classroom is another one of those ways, and it’s an area of self-improvement that will end up changing not only your own life but the lives of others.

At the end of the day, that’s what teaching is all about!

We welcome you to join the Richard James Rogers online community! Join us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates, giveaways of Richard’s books, special offers, upcoming events and news. 










How Students Can Help Reduce Single-Use Plastic

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

richardjamesrogers.com is the official blog of Richard James Rogers: high school Science teacher and award-winning author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know. This blog post is illustrated by Pop Sutthiya Lertyongphati.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, at least 14 million tons of plastic end up in our Earth’s oceans every year. Campaigns such as Keep Britain Tidy and the Project Learning Tree aim to inform young people about the environment and the harm that single-use plastics can cause. However, despite these excellent projects, much, much more still needs to be done to bring this critical issue to our students’ attention. Today, I’ve invited Kat Sarmiento (content writer at Katreena’s Content Studio) to share her tips on how to educate children about the dangers of single-use plastics, along with advice on how to utilise sustainable alternatives.

Single-use plastics are a modern convenience, but how much is that convenience costing the environment? The manufacture, spread, and waste of single-use plastic are a major environmental issue that has been talked about yet remain unsolved.

People still openly burn plastic waste and use single-use plastics even when they can not use such things excessively. It has been the great efforts of dozens of organizations to phase out single-use plastics in the industry and replace them with more sustainable options.

Decarbonization always starts on an individual level. The individuals most affected by a toxic environment are the youth who have to grow up in it. But now the question is, where can the youth start on the mission to reduce plastic waste in the environment?

Why Is It So Difficult To Enact Change?

One of the most deceptively simple tasks you can do is actually the hardest. Most people don’t even realize how much plastic and paper they waste. On an individual level, think of how many water bottles you have thrown away in your life.

Whatever the number is, it is most likely too much. Now multiply that number by the population of the globe. This is why it’s so difficult to reduce plastic waste. Most people aren’t even aware of the fact that they are wasting plastic.

Although big strides are being made in reducing the use of single-use plastics in many developed countries, it’s a different story in less fortunate places. Many people fail to consider the necessity of single-use plastics in these areas because of how cheap they are to produce.

Not to mention, the lack of education on the negative effects of pollution is still a real issue. More efforts should be made by local governments to teach their citizens about the effects of excessive waste. Eco-friendly practices, especially the ones discussed in this article, should be commonplace and enforced.

How To Reduce The Impact of Single-Use Plastics

Truth be told, the efforts of the individual do very little in the grand scheme of things. However, it’s important to uphold these practices and share them with as many people as possible.

The more people learn from your example, the better your chances of making a difference. Here are some of the practices you should follow:

#1: Start Reusing More Often

While you cannot stop the production of single-use plastics on an individual basis, you are still capable of going against its intended purpose. Single-use is just a suggestion, not a feature. Things such as plastic bags, cups, bottles, utensils, and food packaging should be repurposed in some form.

The concern with single-use plastic is less about the material itself than the excessive use of it. Plastic wouldn’t be such an issue if there wasn’t so much of it all around the world. However, many supposed single-use plastics are quite handy as use for containers and makeshift tools.

Just make sure the types of plastic you are reusing don’t start leaking the chemicals used in their creation.

#2: Replace Single-Use Plastics With Sustainable Options

That being said, switching to more sustainable materials is not a bad idea. Whenever possible, look for cost-effective alternatives to the usual functions you use single-purpose plastics for:

  • Instead of having them bag your groceries, ask if you can have them put in cardboard boxes instead. Cardboard boxes are much less impactful on the environment and offer far more utility in a home.
  • Alternatively, bring your own cardboard boxes and eco-bags. Eco-bags are one of the handiest grocery things you can have.
  • Instead of buying plastic cups, just shoulder the admittedly less enticing washing of extra glasses. There are several cheap reusable cups in the market that you can look around for.
  • Store your lunch in jars or bento boxes instead of Ziploc bags.

#3: Push Organizations To Value Eco-Friendliness

For a more significant dent in the use of single-use plastics, the best thing students can do is make their voice known. Kids, teens, and young adults are huge demographics for many companies.

If enough of them start caring and demanding products that maximize recyclability and reusability, companies will have to listen. The businesses to start with should always be on a local level because the transport of plastic goods is just as intensive as using it.

Also, push for businesses to consider the impact that end-of-use products have. They should have professional recycling or disposal plants on call for their waste.

Schools are also subject to this. Encourage your school to go green by doing all of the above in their daily routines. Schools often go through a lot of single-use plastics, especially in cafeterias.

Another great way to reduce both environmental impact and printing costs is to print only what’s necessary. For example, some events hand out paper cups with custom-printed logos that won’t last the day. Instead of doing that, just encourage students to bring their own thermos or tumblers.

Kat Sarmiento

Kat is a Molecular Biology Scientist turned Growth Marketing Scientist. During her free time, she loves to write articles that will bring delight, empower women, and spark the business mind. She loves to bake but unfortunately, baking doesn’t love her back. She has many things in her arsenal and writing is one of her passion projects.

We welcome you to join the Richard James Rogers online community! Join us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates, giveaways of Richard’s books, special offers, upcoming events and news. 

5 Ways That Teachers Can Work Effectively With Parents to Help Their Students

Posted on by richardjamesrogers

richardjamesrogers.com is the official blog of Richard James Rogers: high school Science teacher and the award-winning author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know. This blog post is illustrated by Pop Sutthiya Lertyongphati.

I’ve made the point before that parent’s are our allies, not our enemies. It’s important to foster productive relationships with the parents of our students so that our learners feel fully supported in their education. How exactly do we foster those relationships, though? This week, I’ve invited Kat Sarmiento to share her thoughts on how to keep parents on our side.

Kat Sarmiento

Parents and teachers share the same goal: to ensure that students have the most excellent educational experience possible. In a study by the National Committee for Citizens in Education, one of the best approaches to creating a positive learning environment is encouraging parents’ engagement in their children’s school lives. 

Teachers who focus on involving parents see a profound change in their classrooms. Parental involvement begins at home, with the parents providing a safe and conducive environment for learning, experiences, support, and a positive outlook about the importance of education.

Parents actively involved in their child’s education provide the home support and knowledge that their children need—not just to accomplish assignments—but also to develop a lifelong love for learning.

Given that the importance of parents’ help in a child’s learning is beyond dispute, how can teachers work effectively with parents to help their students?

#1: Open reliable channels for communication

In a parent-teacher relationship, frequent two-way communication is essential so parents can stay updated on what is happening at school. At the same time, inform teachers about the important things concerning the child. 

A common mistake amongst teachers is not communicating enough or only getting in touch when there’s already a problem. It is best not to wait for situations to arise before reaching out. Teachers need to interact frequently and positively with parents to build a relationship before facing any roadblocks. Especially with today’s technology, teachers can do weekly reviews and quickly update parents on what’s going on in the classroom. 

It is critical to identify the best communication tools, develop messaging plans early in the year, and maintain consistent communication throughout the year. Maximize video conferencing apps, messaging boards, emails, social media, memos, newsletters, phone calls and find out what works best.

#2: Be collaborative

If communication is frequent, then collaboration will be easier.

A collaborative approach means that parents participate in the school’s decisions and work together to enhance the students’ learning and development.

Parents are well aware of their child’s lifestyle, developmental history, and interests. At the same time, teachers know how they can best guide and help their students perform in school.

Parents and teachers collaboratively sharing knowledge will go a long way to support a child’s growth and academic success. It includes relating what a child learns at school with what they learn at home.

The goal is to create a partnership in which teachers and parents share expertise to provide the best education for the students. Reciprocal respect, sharing of planning, and decision-making responsibilities are the essential components for true partnerships between parents and teachers.

#3: Encourage learning at home

Parents should support after-school learning by talking positively about school and teachers, creating a supportive home environment.

This form of involvement includes parents assisting their children with homework or taking them to a museum. These activities foster a school-oriented family and encourage parents to be involved in the school curriculum. 

Activities that encourage learning at home provide parents with information on what children are doing in the classroom and how to help them. Research shows that parental engagement is associated with increased productivity and academic achievement in many ways.

Participating in a child’s education shows that parents values their learning. The more help and guidance a child feels at home, the more effectively they will learn at school.

#4: Build a trusting relationship

In many respects, the first interaction between a teacher and a parent is the most crucial. During this time, a rapport is established, and trust can begin to develop.

Trust is a crucial component of any successful partnership. Teachers must maintain a trusting, private, open, and honest relationship with parents and ensure they always have the students’ best interest at heart. At the same time, parents should be confident in the competency of the teachers who are professionally involved in their children’s education.

#5: Make the curriculum transparent

Part of keeping parents informed is letting them know what their children are learning, how they are processing it, and how it will help their child succeed.

One way to do this is by conducting workshops for parents to inform them of the school curriculum and remind them that they are still their child’s most important teachers.

The bottom line is that education is a critical stage in a child’s growth and development. When parents and teachers collaborate as a team, children learn more effectively. And like any team, parents and teachers have one goal: provide the most incredible learning environment for children to promote their physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being.

Kat Sarmiento

Kat is a Molecular Biology Scientist turned Growth Marketing Scientist. During her free time, she loves to write articles that will bring delight, empower women, and spark the business mind. She loves to bake but unfortunately, baking doesn’t love her back. She has many things in her arsenal and writing is one of her passion projects.

We welcome you to join the Richard Rogers online community. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for daily updates.