My reflections on observations and some suggestions to turn them from a chore into an effective teacher-development tool. Focusing on four ‘lies’ which I feel are endemic to the typical way of doing observations.

Are there any fresh, less utilised topics which will win every time? Probably not every time, but thinking back over my teaching years I can recall five which were pretty successful.

I’ve recently been producing a series of lessons on various aspects of life and culture in the UK. While writing these, I’ve also been thinking about the teaching of British culture and I have to admit I don’t feel completely comfy with it.

An attempt to solve this intractable puzzle.