Practical Teaching Tips with Richard James Rogers

Unless you’ve been hiding in cave for the past five years, it’s highly likely that you have heard the phrase ‘retrieval practice’ being bandied about multiple times at educational seminars, Professional Development workshops and even in the departmental meetings you’ve attended at school. It’s one of those areas of pedagogy that has gotten educators excited due it’s evidence-based effectiveness, as well it’s inclusion, affirmation and promotion ofmetacognitive strategies(another hot topic in education). In today’s podcast episode I provide my listeners with the following:

• A simple, understandable description of what retrieval practiceis
• A handy acronym (P.O.W.E.R.) that we can all use to remember the stages we need to follow as teachers when carrying out retrieval practice with our students
• Some ideas on techniques and activities we can use in the classroom to facilitate good retrieval practice

1. Check out my award-winning book for teachers, 'The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1505701945/
2. Check out the blog post that accompanies this podcast episode at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2024/01/14/introducing-the-p-o-w-e-r-method-of-retrieval-practice/

In the classroom, we are expected to be entertainers, facilitators and imparters of knowledge. This requires high amounts of energy on our part, every single day. Maintaining energy levels is no easy task for a teacher - it involves dealing with challenges outside of school, along with the facing the obstacles that present themselves inside the classroom. Being a high-energy teacher requires a whole-life overhaul, and this podcast episode I'll tell you exactly how to make it happen!

• Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/
• Check out my award-winning book for high-school teachers, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, at https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, traditional teaching methods are being reshaped by innovative approaches that prioritize creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. One such methodology gaining traction is Design Thinking. Originally conceived in the realm of product design, Design Thinking has found its way into education, offering a dynamic framework for educators to foster critical thinking and innovation among students. In this podcast episode, we will explore what Design Thinking is and how it can be effectively applied in classroom teaching.

• This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2023/12/17/what-is-design-thinking-and-how-can-it-be-used-in-classroom-teaching/
• Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TVCWFZ4
• Check out my blog for teachers: https://richardjamesrogers.com/

As we embark on our noble journey of shaping young minds and fostering a love for learning, it's crucial to navigate the realm of assessments with a clear understanding of the three fundamental pillars: Assessment for Learning (AFL), Assessment of Learning (AOL), and Assessment as Learning (AAL). These three components not only guide our teaching practices but also play a pivotal role in student growth and achievement.

• Check out my blog for teacher at richardjamesrogers.com
• Learning Journals: A Powerful Student Feedback System [Blog post]: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2018/02/18/learning-journals-a-powerful-student-feedback-system/
• Check out my award-winning book for teachers, 'The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know', here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1505701945/

Slides are here to stay – that’s undeniable, so let’s discover the common mistakes teachers are making when utilizing them (note to listener – I have made ALL of the mistakes I’m about to mention at some point or another in my career, so I’m a real expert on this topic!).

• This episode is accompanied by a blog post at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2023/11/05/5-mistakes-teachers-are-making-when-delivering-slide-presentations/
• Check out my award-winning book for teachers, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, at https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/
• Check out my Powerful Public Speaker Professional Development Certificate Course at https://richardjamesrogers.com/powerful-public-speaker/

Boo! Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s time to bring some spooktacular fun into your high school classroom. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a fresh-faced teacher, these ten Halloween activity ideas will help you create memorable, engaging, and educational experiences for your students. So, put on your witch’s hat, grab a handful of candy corn, and let’s get started!

• Check out my blog for teachers: https://richardjamesrogers.com/
• My book: The Quick to Classroom Management - 45 Secrets That All That High School Teachers Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1505701945/
• 5 Awesome Live Quiz Apps You Can Use in The Classroom: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2022/02/22/5-awesome-live-quiz-apps-you-can-use-in-the-classroom/
• History.com: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
• Halloween Science Experiments: https://www.weareteachers.com/halloween-candy-experiments/
• Halloween movies for kids: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g2661/halloween-movies/
• Halloween writing prompts: https://kbinbloom.com/halloween-journal-prompts/

Tests and assessments provide students with great opportunities to acquire useful practice and training for the final exams. In today's episode, I will describe some ways in which teachers can provide high-quality feedback on exam-style questions.

• Check out my blog for teachers: https://richardjamesrogers.com/
• Check out my award-winning book for high-school teachers: The Quick Guide to Classroom Management at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1505701945/

It sounds like a dream doesn't it? Give the kids some quick prompts or source material that introduces them to a topic, tell them to 'find out about x, y and z' and then just let them roll with it and hope for the best. With such little input from the teacher, the students are bound to engage in 'deep learning', 'problem-solving' and 'critical thinking', right? Such a great box-ticking exercise!

Unfortunately, however, this is the great delusion that currently surrounds inquiry-based approaches to learning. I this episode, I explain why so many teachers are doing IBL wrong, and what we can do to make the process work better for our learners.

• Santa Ana College article on Inquiry-Based Learning: https://sac.edu/AcademicAffairs/TracDat/Pages/Inquiry-Based-Learning-.aspx#:~:text=Inquiry%2Dbased%20learning%20is%20a,problem%2Dsolving%20and%20experiential%20learning.
• My blog for teachers: https://richardjamesrogers.com/
• Check out my award-winning book for high school teachers: The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/

In today's episode I break down a great article from veteran educator, Suzanne Capek Tingley, which covers the essentials of effective classroom practice.

• Original article by Suzanne Capek Tingley: https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/8-essential-teaching-tips-someone-who-has-seen-it-all1901.html

• Check out my blog for educators at https://richardjamesrogers.com/

As teachers, we play a pivotal and crucial role in the shaping of young minds. This means that we are, in fact, role models for young people. Whilst that concept may seem old-fashioned, it is actually more crucial now, in these times of great flux, than ever before in history.

• Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/
• How Should Teachers Behave on Social Media [Blog Post]: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2018/10/07/how-should-teachers-be-professional-with-social-media/
• Check out my award-winning book for high school teachers: The Quick Guide to Classroom Management