Teacher 👨‍🏫 | Head of Science 🧑‍🔬 | Hinterland Lover ⚛️ | Source Provider 📝 | Subscribe on Substack https://joel120193.substack.com/ 🖋️ |https://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mllu27hvzs2gNew Blog Post 📝 Revision. It is seemingly a thing that every teacher feels like they need to do for their pupils to be successful. But why? If you've taught it well, why do you need to do anything? Surely its now their responsibility? https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/the-three-rs-revise-revise-revise?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true11 May 2026 17:59 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mllu27hvzs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3ml2ar5jvhk2rNew Blog Post📝 For years I have had my PowerPoint and at the start of my career it was my crutch I found it difficult to deviate from. Now, I have changed my planning and found less of a need to stress over a PowerPoint. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/goodbyepptx-why-ive-abandoned-powerpoint?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true04 May 2026 17:58 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2ar5jvhk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mkidrgojuk2xNew Blog Post 📝 I have relatives of mine who have recently become teachers and the most common questions they ask is how do I plan a lesson and why does planning take so long? It doesn't have to. This is how I do it. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/the-simple-framework-how-to-plan?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true27 Apr 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkidrgojuk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mhncyinvik2bNew Blog Post 📝 Science is formed through recall of knowledge of people long since passed. Creating classrooms that allow pupils to deeply 'understand' and discover science does not make a scientist. Allowing them to recall it does. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/understanding-science-is-told-not?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true22 Mar 2026 10:18 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhncyinvik2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mh6tedaxhk2eNew Blog Post 📝 Using stories in your science lessons can help build a students understanding of science, even if its not on the curriculum. This is Hinterland. Here I discuss some examples in science and how to implement them into your lessons. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/what-is-hinterland?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true16 Mar 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh6tedaxhk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mh4tkyt4ks2dFirst blog post from an amazing colleague on the hard work needed to build the literacy of our pupils. A great read on how implementing a strategy and changing culture takes time and effort. https://researchschool.org.uk/bradford/news/building-a-reading-culture-starting-with-why15 Mar 2026 20:59 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh4tkyt4ks2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mg3iiz4v5222New Blog Post 📝 Did the internet change education? I don't think it did. Will AI change education? I don't think so. The internet and AI do not change the motivation to learn. We have access to more info now than ever before but that doesn't make us smarter. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/education-and-motivation-will-ai?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true02 Mar 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3iiz4v5222https://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mg3iiz4v5222New Blog Post 📝 Did the internet change education? I don't think it did. Will AI change education? I don't think so. The internet and AI do not change the motivation to learn. We have access to more info now than ever before but that doesn't make us smarter. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/education-and-motivation-will-ai?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true02 Mar 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3iiz4v5222https://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mexujy36ws23New Blog Post 📝 Over the years I have received a lot of terrible teaching advice, but I have also had some brilliant pointers. Some of the best advice I have had has been seemingly insignificant changes to my practice. Here are five examples. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/stand-still-narrate-and-stop-small?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true16 Feb 2026 10:43 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mexujy36ws23https://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mexujy36ws23New Blog Post 📝 Over the years I have received a lot of terrible teaching advice, but I have also had some brilliant pointers. Some of the best advice I have had has been seemingly insignificant changes to my practice. Here are five examples. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/stand-still-narrate-and-stop-small?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true16 Feb 2026 10:43 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mexujy36ws23https://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3meqwoqz6c22mI enjoyed writing this post. Subject knowledge is such an important factor into becoming an effective teacher. There should be much more of a focus on this when designing CPD. Take into account your individual departments when planning. [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Feb 2026 16:33 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3meqwoqz6c22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3meqwlookv22mSometimes local press isn't always a school's best friend, but this post about our recent Ofsted is such a lovely read. Really goes into the journey we have been on as a school. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/school-once-threatened-closure-now-33415305#ICID=Android_EchoNewsApp_AppShare13 Feb 2026 16:31 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3meqwlookv22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3memavuqgbs2bThis is something I am incredibly proud of. Working in a turnaround school is tough and whilst we do not work for Ofsted, it is amazing to have our hard work recognised. Every single member of the school community has worked so hard over the past three years to achieve this.11 Feb 2026 19:52 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3memavuqgbs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mehh2pslak24The AQA specification is currently 200 pages long. English Lang is 26, Maths is 44, Geography 40, Art 42 pages. Yes, these subjects are not the same, but there is a difference in the expectation of knowledge in science when compared with other subjects. https://joel120193.substack.com/p/science-national-curriculum?r=4r7sq209 Feb 2026 21:59 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mehh2pslak24https://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3medpbo6usk2nNew Blog Post 📝 With the sheer amount of decisions a teacher has to process in a day, our brain often relies on fallacies. This is a look at 10 educational fallacies that often take place in school, what they manifest into, and what we can do to avoid them. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/battleships-blind-spots-and-bandwagons?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true08 Feb 2026 10:16 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3medpbo6usk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3me7nwk46ac2y1970s: UK running out money, received a bailout from IMF. UK economic growth rates: -2.4% Student loans: Free 2020s: UK economy 6th largest in the world. UK economic growth rates: 1.1% Student loans: £30,000. Don't tell me we can't afford it.06 Feb 2026 19:41 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3me7nwk46ac2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3me6cetfl222ySpeaking with a primary school teacher who mentioned that students are coming to school in nappies, a lack of both fine and gross motor skills, not able to hold things for long periods of time, struggling to see, and is having discussions about what a book is. It's dark times.06 Feb 2026 06:41 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3me6cetfl222yhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3me2jopu4kk2cThese have a chokehold on male teachers!04 Feb 2026 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3me2jopu4kk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mdxozyuffc22New Blog Post 📝 Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However. As teachers, its important that we keep our opinions to ourselves and offer a balanced view. The balance is difficult, but in an increasingly political world, we could have undue influence. https://open.substack.com/pub/joel120193/p/the-weight-of-a-teachers-words-the?r=4r7sq2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true03 Feb 2026 15:39 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdxozyuffc22https://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mdolwix3mk2p"all behaviour is an unmet need"31 Jan 2026 00:50 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdolwix3mk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mdodpbjth22wPeople seem to ignore the fact that many events occur in school that, if taken place outside of school, the child would be arrested. This is not just about their age. A child assaulting someone in the street at 14, will be arrested. Assaulting someone in school may not.30 Jan 2026 22:23 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdodpbjth22whttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mdlp6ny35s2fEveryone with a Plan 2 student loan has known it was a poor deal. For a large portion of the population the marginal tax rate is 9% higher. They aren't student loan payments if interest makes it so it never stops. It's a graduate tax. Stop calling it anything else.29 Jan 2026 21:10 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdlp6ny35s2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/joel120193.substack.com/post/3mdlkoxsvlc2fThe government is making a bad decision. Students need to be suspended. If a student comes to lesson and disturbs the learning of the rest in the classroom, the teacher have given them multiple opportunities to improve, and they choose not to, that student should be removed.29 Jan 2026 19:50 +0000at://did:plc:yedm2tyd6nmt6fpwhakbspyo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdlkoxsvlc2f