The Boy at the Back of the Class summary

A mysterious new boy arrives in Alexa’s classroom. Who is he? Where has he come from? Alexa befriends this stranger and listens to his story of escape from Syria, his dangerous trek across Europe and his longing to be reunited with his family.  

The Boy at the Back of the Class planning

The Boy at the Back of the Classroom by Onjali Q. Raúf will deeply move children and has a place in every KS2 classroom.

It covers themes of prejudice, difference and courage, all explored in ways which will lead children to ask questions, while enabling them to understand the content in an age-appropriate manner.

It will aid you in exploring what are usually considered ‘difficult’ topics in a way which still feels comfortable.  

Written from the convincing perspective of nine-year-old Alexa, pupils will relate to the ‘adult’ concepts and will be encouraged to consider the views of others, promoting empathy and compassion.  

Activity ideas

This PDF contains a wide variety of activity ideas, all based on The Boy at the Back of the Class. These include:

• Discovering Syria
• P4C enquiries
• Figurative language
• Role play
• Writing descriptions
• Using drama
• Fact vs opinion
• Reading for pleasure

Sample activity

Give the children a pomegranate so they can evaluate the author’s use of figurative language. Let them try a cup of pomegranate juice. Observe different fruits and write your own poems or descriptions.  

Johanna Howard is LKS2 Y3/4 lead at Weeke Primary in Winchester. Jonathan Rooke is a senior lecturer in education at the University of Winchester. 

The post The Boy at the Back of the Class – KS2 planning appeared first on Teachwire.

Take a minute to download this free PDF containing 24 common teacher interview questions. It’s a comprehensive document that covers key areas that school leaders often focus on during teacher interviews. This includes:

• curriculum and lesson planning
• classroom management and behaviour
• assessment and feedback
• CPD and collaboration

Teaching interview questions about lesson planning

Curriculum and lesson planning play a vital role in effective teaching. Our PDF provides you with common interview questions that, if answered well, will help you demonstrate your expertise in developing engaging and student-centered lesson plans aligned with educational standards.

These types of questions are your chance to showcase your ability to adapt lessons and differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of your students.

Classroom management and behaviour

Classroom management and behaviour are crucial for creating a positive and conducive learning environment. Our PDF sets out some common interview questions that will give you the space to showcase your strategies for establishing routines.

You’ll also be able to talk about fostering positive relationships with students and handling challenging behaviour effectively. This section of the interview is your time to demonstrate your ability to create an inclusive classroom where every student feels valued and respected.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback are crucial components of effective teaching and student growth. Our guide covers questions that explore your understanding of assessment methods, data analysis and providing constructive feedback.

Showcasing your ability to use assessments to guide instruction and promote student progress will be sure to impress potential employers.

CPD and collaboration

Furthermore, our PDF covers common CPD and collaboration questions. This is where you can emphasise the importance of ongoing professional development and your ability to work collaboratively with colleagues. Schools highly value these important areas.

Teaching interview questions preparation

Prepare your answers to common teaching interview questions using this valuable resource and enter your interview with confidence. We wish you the best of luck in your job search. Hopefully this guide helps you to excel during your interview and land your dream teaching position!

You can also find more advice about teacher interview questions here.

Jemma Ive is operations manager at Teacher Booker. Teacher Booker offers a comprehensive recruitment platform specifically designed to meet the unique needs of LAs and MATs. Offering a powerful tool that simplifies and streamlines the recruitment process, Teacher Booker’s cutting-edge solution saves time and resources whilst providing a seamless recruitment experience. Visit teacherbooker.com

The post Teaching interview questions – 24 questions you should practise appeared first on Teachwire.

The WAGOLL extract is from Natasha Farrant’s The Rescue of Ravenwood.

On the top of the hill, overlooking the sea, that’s where you’ll find a magical place… To Bea and Raffy, Ravenwood is home.

In its own way, the house rescued them, even if it did have a fallen-down tree taking up most of the kitchen.

So the idea that it could be sold – demolished even – well, that’s unthinkable.

Then again, it’s not like the children get a choice. But the truth is, we can all make our own choices, especially if we care enough… 

Climate change

Every story has a different starting point, and The Rescue of Ravenwood was born of a desire to write about the climate and ecological crisis on a scale that felt manageable for children, and in a way that balanced truth with hope.

It was a difficult book to write, chiefly because I wanted to stay true to the complexity of the issue while delivering not a lecture but a thumping good read. 

In this story, three children band together to save a place they love – a home and garden; a solace for wildlife and for people.

There are stowaways on trains and international police searches, heatwaves and fires, near drownings and swimming with seals, full-blown protests and long-buried secrets, friendship and family.

But of course, it’s those three children who are the key to the story. How can you be swept away, laugh, cry, care, if you don’t love the heroes? Or indeed share their struggle, fear for their lives, and urge them on, if you don’t believe in the villains?   

It’s all very well having an idea as a starting point, but ideas don’t live and breathe.   

The two biggest questions I ask myself when creating new characters are, ‘What do they want?’, and ‘What do they need?’.

These are rarely the same thing. For example, in my book, Noa wants her parents to get back together, but she needs to accept their separation.

These questions, applied to every single character, provide the framework on which the plot will hang, and those twin quests (one conscious, the other subconscious) will drive it forward, making for a satisfying read in which plot and character are completely intertwined.

They will also illuminate all those other questions you will need to ask about your characters’ qualities, flaws, and even their backstory. Here’s how I go about developing my characters… 

Download this WAGOLL resource pack to learn more about how Natasha crafts her characters.

The Rescue of Ravenwood by Natasha Farrant (£7.99, Faber & Faber) is available now.

The post WAGOLL – Creating character appeared first on Teachwire.

Fashion truly is an artform; from practical items that launched decades-long trends like denim jeans, to the modern displays of architectural ensembles at the Met Gala.

The clothes we put on our bodies not only keep us warm and covered, but can also express elements of our identity to those that don’t even know us.

Encourage and excite the future designers in your class with this six-week series of art lessons focused on the colourful and unique world of clothing design.

In this learning sequence, pupils will develop an understanding of the thought processes and design thinking skills associated with this creative career.

Additionally, they will design a spectacular outfit for a chosen celebrity to wear to an event of their choice! 

KS2 art curriculum

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.
• Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design
  techniques.
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and
  cultural development of their art forms.

Learning objectives

Throughout this six-week plan, children will learn to:

• Know what fashion design is and what a fashion designer’s job entails. 
• Create an outfit mood board and exercise some principles of ‘design thinking.’ 
• Design a fabric swatch and create a colour palette.
• Create fashion illustration outfit designs including a front and back view. 
• Design complementary accessories for an outfit. 
• Create branding designs for their fashion house, including a name and logo. 

Adele Darlington is an EYFS teacher and art lead in Rutland. She is also the author of 100 ideas for primary teachers: art published by Bloomsbury. Follow Adele on Twitter @mrs_darl

The post KS2 art ideas – Six-week fashion design plan appeared first on Teachwire.

The template is designed as a Word document, making it easy for you to download and use it on any device that has Microsoft Word installed.

Clear framework

This letter template KS2 example provides your students with a clear and structured framework for writing formal letters. The template works whether you’re writing a letter of complaint, a request for help or something else.

The template includes space for:

• Sender’s name and address
• Date
• Contact details
• Recipient’s name and address
• Greeting
• Opening paragraph
• Main body
• Closing statement
• Sign off and signature

The body of the letter is divided into paragraphs, with each paragraph addressing a specific point or topic.

Using a formal letter writing template can help Key Stage 2 students to develop their writing skills. They’ll gain confidence in their ability to write formal letters.

The template provides a clear structure that can help pupils to organise their thoughts and ideas. It also and ensures that they cover all the necessary information in their letter.

It will also help them to develop their language skills and learn how to use formal language appropriately.

Write your own letter

Use the formal letter writing template as a teaching resource in the classroom by providing students with a printed copy of the template. Alternatively, share the document electronically with students so that they can download it and use it on their own devices.

You can also use the template to demonstrate how to write a formal letter. You can then provide feedback and support to students as they use the template to write their own letters.

For the price of a 2nd class stamp, why not give children’s writing real purpose by posting the letter to its recipient?

Browse more formal and informal letter writing resources.

The post Letter template KS2 – Editable example of a formal letter appeared first on Teachwire.

See Lucy Jarvis’ full explanation of how she uses these worksheets in her class to help develop pupils’ reading skills here.

Lucy is an assistant headteacher, Y6 teacher and English lead at a primary school in Lincolnshire. 

The post Vocabulary worksheets – Toolkit for clarifying and Toolkit for finishers appeared first on Teachwire.

This activity provides an opportunity for both you and your pupils to unwind, relax and have some fun. After all, if you’re using this as an end of term activity, you’ve been working hard all year!

Start or end of year bingo is suitable for different age groups. Customise the board to suit the needs and preferences of your particular class.

In this download we’ve included filled in versions suitable for KS2. There’s also blank versions (for start and end of year) so you can create your own and photocopy it.

Togetherness and teamwork

One of the benefits of start or end of year bingo activities is that they foster a sense of togetherness and teamwork within your class.

This is because players have to work together towards a common goal – to fill up their bingo cards. As a result, pupils get to interact with each other in a relaxed and fun environment. This helps to build stronger relationships.

Teaching tool

You can also use start or end of year bingo activities as a tool for teaching and reinforcing certain concepts or skills. For example, customise your bingo cards to include vocabulary words, maths problems, or historical facts.

This not only makes the game more educational but also helps students to review and reinforce what they have learnt throughout the year.

Lastly, bingo games can be a great way to reward pupils for their hard work throughout the academic year. Why not offer a small prize to the winner of the game? This will help to motivate and incentivise everyone to participate and have fun.

In conclusion, start or end of year bingo activities are a fun and beneficial way to celebrate either the beginning or the end of the academic year. They promote community, teamwork, collaboration, and can be used as a teaching tool.

By organising start or end-of-year bingo activities you’re sure to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Browse more great back to school activities and end of year activities.

The post Start or end of year bingo – Free download for schools appeared first on Teachwire.

You can spend whole terms studying the USA (and I have).

The six lessons I outline below will guide students on a tour of the eastern seaboard of the United States, practising mapping skills and exploring the human geography of these locations.

So strap on your cowboy boots, fuel up your truck, and let’s hit the highway.  

Geography KS2 curriculum

The national curriculum for geography in KS2 says that:

Pupils should extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America.

This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features.

They should develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.

Learning objectives

Throughout this six-week plan, children will learn to:

• Explore a location
• Understand what social geography is
• Understand how a country is governed
• Compare different locations
• Understand the features of a cultural region
• Compare climate data

Matthew Lane is a teacher from Norfolk. Follow him on Twitter @MrMJLane and see more of his work at theteachinglane.co.uk 

The post Geography KS2 – Take a six-week trip across the USA appeared first on Teachwire.

The post Easter maths activities – Number bonds and addition to 10 worksheet for KS1 appeared first on Teachwire.

The book features a monstrous, scary dog prowling around the exterior of a house, and one potent illustration depicts a huge amber eye peering in through the bathroom window.

It was this scene that captured the imagination of my class and inspired us all to complete our own artistic studies of eyes.

What they’ll learn

• How to complete detailed, observational sketches of the intricate details within an eye
• How to create a 3D relief sculpture
• How to combine different materials to achieve a variety of colour and texture effects within a 3D sculpture

Marc Bowen is a deputy head and primary teacher in South Wales, and is always keen to engage in professional dialogue. Contact him at marc.bowen@raglan.schoolsedu.org.uk or follow him on Twitter @RaglanVC

The post KS2 art – create your own 3D relief sculpture appeared first on Teachwire.