Practical Teaching Tips with Richard James Rogers

Épisodes

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  #150: How to Make Your Lessons More Exciting 25.08.2026 26min

  The number one question I get asked is "How do I make my lessons more exciting?". In today's episode, I break down the fine details of what it takes to bring excitement into your lessons: things I've learned from being a front-line teacher for just over twenty years. Book me for teacher training at https://richardjamesrogers.com/professional-development/Check out my award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, at https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/Blog post: 7 Starter Activities: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2016/03/04/7-starter-activities-for-pgce-students-and-newly-qualified-teachers/Blog Post: Spatial Learning: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2017/11/12/spatial-learning-a-powerful-teaching-tool/#teacherlife #teaching #learnchat
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  #149: Preparing For The New Academic Year 15.08.2026 26min

  The new school year is almost upon us. It is important to be well-prepared. Find out how to get ready in today's podcast episode.My blog: https://richardjamesrogers.com/blog-index/My award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/#teacherlife #edchat #amteaching
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  #148: From Inspiration to Investigation: The Jason Arday Scandal Shaking Cambridge 10.08.2026 34min

  The recent controversy surrounding Jason Arday and his resignation from the University of Cambridge offers many important lessons for students and teachers alike.Nathan Cofnas' Substack: https://substack.com/@nathancofnasMy website: https://richardjamesrogers.com/My books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Richard-James-Rogers/author/B017OVU06Q#jasonarday #plagiarismrow #nathancofnas
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  #147: The Importance of Vigilance in Teaching 10.08.2026 29min

  'Vigilance' has become somewhat of a forgotten word in education. Today, I aim to rekindle everyone's interest in the subject of vigilance, and how it should be applied in an educational setting. Check out my blog at https://richardjamesrogers.com/Blog Post: The Importance of Vigilance in Teaching: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2026/04/18/the-importance-of-vigilance-in-teaching/Blog post: Using Data to Empower Students: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2020/10/04/using-data-to-empower-students/Book me for teacher training at https://richardjamesrogers.com/professional-development/Check out my books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Richard-James-Rogers/author/B017OVU06Q#richardjamesrogers #teacherlife #edchat
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  #146: Tips for Showcasing Student Work and the Famous WAGOLL 22.03.2026 23min

  Showcasing student work is a powerful technique for raising standards, empowering learners, and creating a positive school ethos where a culture of celebrating student achievement become well-embedded. In todays episode, I explain how to showcase student work correctly.My blog for teachers can be found at: https://richardjamesrogers.com/Check out my award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VCQPF2LCheck out all of my books for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/books-for-teachers/
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  #145: Back to Basics: Things to Think About When Setting Cover Work 01.03.2026 15min

  The time has come for you to miss a day or two, or more, of school. Maybe you are suddenly sick (it happens to all of us), maybe you’re on long-term leave, maybe you have a training workshop to attend, or maybe you have another legitimate reason to take time off school.What happens next could make or break your career at your school. That’s right – I did just say that. Poorly considered cover work, along with other factors, can result in dire consequences for you if you’re not careful. I’ve seen it happen all too often in my twenty years as a secondary school teacher, and I’m here to warn you, to educate you, and to empower you with the right information.This podcast episode is accompanied by a blog post at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2026/02/22/back-to-basics-things-to-think-about-when-setting-cover-work/Check out my four books for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/books-for-teachers/
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  #144: What Will Teaching Look Like in 2026 and Beyond? 02.02.2026 31min

  There are many changes coming to the teaching profession, and in this podcast episode I break them all down!My LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardjamesrogers/My website: https://richardjamesrogers.com/
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  #143: What SLT Really Notice About Their Teachers 06.12.2025 20min

  The Senior Leadership Team at any school have the job of managing a wide-variety of school operations. Often, as educators, we can be anxious about what this group of senior teachers notice on a daily basis, and the behaviours we should adopt, and avoid. Check out my blog for teachers at richardjamesrogers.comMy award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/My second book, The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback, is available here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1689738995#teacherlife #richardjmesrogers #edchat
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  #142: Old School Methods Are Making a Comeback 29.11.2025 35min

  Traditional teaching techniques, such as cut-and-stick, retrieval practice, handwritten note-taking and many more are seeing a resurgence in popularity as the the dark days of EdTech overreach in the Covid times become a distant, yet haunting, memory. Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/My 1st book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management (winner of the Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal for Nonfiction, 2020, is available at https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/My 2nd book, The Power of Praise, is available at https://www.amazon.com/Power-Praise-Empowering-Students-Pedagogical-ebook/dp/B07WJXG4XJ#richardjamesrogers #teachingtips #edtech
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  #141: Back to Basics: How to Start a Lesson Properly 12.10.2025 10min

  The way a lesson begins determines the effectiveness of everything that has been planned. Start the lesson poorly, and watch sub-optimal learning take place later in the lesson. Start effectively, and you'll prime your students for deep, meaningful learning. | A podcast by Richard James Rogers, award-winning author and educator.Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/Check out my award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know, at https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/My second book, The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback, can be purchased at https://www.amazon.com/Power-Praise-Empowering-Students-Pedagogical-ebook/dp/B07WJXG4XJI mentioned that I would include a blog post with ideas for starter activities. You can read that, here: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2016/03/04/7-starter-activities-for-pgce-students-and-newly-qualified-teachers/#richardjamesrogers #teachingtips #edchat #edtech
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  #140: ChatGPT5 and Beyond: My Top 3 GenAI Apps for Teachers in 2025 17.08.2025 22min

  We’ve all been swept up by the hype that has come in the wake of the creation of generative AI (aka GenAI) systems. Back in 2023, when ChatGPT was launched, its capability was limited to text generation, spell checking and rudimentary admin work. Now, however, the form factors of GenAI come in so many shapes and sizes. People are using AI to create slide presentations, images and videos, to record meeting notes, to generate complex documents such as spreadsheets and academic papers and even to act as virtual therapists. In today's episode, I outline my favourite three GenAI apps for teachers in 2025. This podcast episode is accompanied by a blog post at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/08/09/chatgpt-5-and-beyond-my-top-3-ai-tools-for-teachers-in-2025-and-beyond/Check out my books for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/books-for-teachers/Interested in some teacher training? I offer workshops! Check out my courses at https://richardjamesrogers.com/professional-development/#GPT5 #GenAI #EdTech
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  #139: The Truth About Doing Group Projects With High School Students 15.07.2025 20min

  As teachers, we're often drawn to the idea of incorporating group work and group projects into our lessons. After all, when done well, collaborative tasks can boost learning, enhance retention, and strengthen peer relationships. But here's the catch: group work only works when it's structured properly. In today's podcast episode, I reveal the cold, hard truth about what many teachers are getting wrong with group assignments, and how to fix it.Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/Check out my award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High School Teachers Need to Know, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VCQPF2LEmail me for topic requests at [email protected]
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  #138: Does the Gender Gap in Education Really Exist? 05.07.2025 31min

  As a teacher who’s worked with students across a range of schools and contexts, I often hear colleagues say, “The gender gap? Isn’t that old news?” At first glance, that might seem fair. After all, in many parts of the world, girls are now outperforming boys academically. But when you take a closer look, a much more complex picture emerges.Check out all four of my books for teachers at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Richard-James-Rogers/author/B017OVU06QThis podcast episode is accompanied by a blog post at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/06/29/does-the-gender-gap-in-education-really-exist/Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/#gendergap #teaching #edchat #richardjamesrogers
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  #137: How to Discuss War and Conflict with High School Students 23.06.2025 28min

  In this episode, I share practical strategies for discussing war and conflict with high school students, especially in light of current global events such as the escalating situation involving Iran. Drawing on my experience as a teacher and author, I explore how to answer sensitive questions, maintain professional distance, and create a safe space for respectful dialogue. Whether you teach history, science, or any other subject, this episode offers clear guidance on how to support your students through difficult conversations. Read the full blog post at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/06/21/teaching-in-troubled-times-how-to-discuss-war-and-conflict-with-high-school-students/My podcast page: https://richardjamesrogers.com/podcast/Check out my award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VCQPF2L
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  #136: Equity vs Equality in Education: What I’ve Learned from the Front Lines 09.06.2025 20min

  Like many early-career educators, I believed that equality, which means giving all students the same tasks, the same resources, and the same deadlines, was the fairest way to teach. However, time and experience taught me that equity, not equality, is what truly transforms learning. It involves giving each student what they need to succeed. Sometimes that means providing different forms of support to different learners.This episode is accompanied by a blog post at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/06/01/equity-vs-equality-in-education-what-ive-learned-from-the-front-lines/Book me to train your team at: https://richardjamesrogers.com/professional-development/Check out my books for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/books-for-teachers/
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  #135: Using Generative AI as a Teaching Assistant 25.05.2025 21min

  I’ll admit it: I was skeptical at first. When I first heard about teachers using AI like ChatGPT to help in the classroom, I imagined some robotic voice taking over my lessons while I stood awkwardly in the corner. But after giving it a try for a while, I can honestly say this: Generative AI has become one of my most useful classroom assistants, and I don’t even need to buy it coffee.This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/05/25/using-generative-ai-as-a-teaching-assistant/Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/Interested in some teacher training? Book me to train your team at https://richardjamesrogers.com/professional-development/Check out my award-winning book, The Quick Guide to Classroom Management, at https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Pedagogical-ebook/dp/B016ZG1IX0
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  #134: 10 Tips to Help High School Students Achieve High Performance 27.04.2025 23min

  Success in high school is not just about hard work: it’s about working smart, using proven strategies that boost learning, memory, and motivation. In today's episode I describe 10 powerful tips, distilled from years of classroom experience and research-backed methods, to help students achieve their full potential.This episode is accompanied by a blog post at https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/04/27/10-tips-to-help-high-school-students-achieve-high-performance/Check out my books on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Richard-James-Rogers/author/B017OVU06QCheck out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/Check out my merchandise store at https://richardjamesrogers.com/
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  #133: AI Dolls and Adolescence: My Take on Things 19.04.2025 26min

  In today's podcast I dive deep into two recent viral trends: AI dolls (a.k.a. the 'Barbie Box' trend) and the Netflix mini-series, Adolescence. I describe what teachers can take from these issues, and how teachers can use AI to their advantage in 2025 and beyond. Blog post: AI Dolls and Digital Desks: High School Teaching in 2025Blog post: Adolescence: What Netflix’s Latest Drama Teaches Educators About the Manosphere, Misogyny and the Modern TeenMy books for teachers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Richard-James-Rogers/author/B017OVU06Q
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  #132: How Interleaving Works: Universal Strategies for Secondary School Classroom Practice 13.03.2025 25min

  In my twenty years of teaching, I’ve come across numerous pedagogical techniques designed to boost student learning, but few have been as transformative as interleaving. This technique, backed by cognitive science, has the power to enhance long-term retention and application of knowledge: yet it remains underutilised in many secondary school classrooms. Today, I want to explore generalisable rules for interleaving (a structured approach that any secondary school teacher can apply) and one that, to my knowledge, has never been formally outlined before. Accompanying blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/03/09/how-interleaving-works-universal-strategies-for-secondary-school-classroom-practice/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/Quick-Guide-Classroom-Management-Teachers-dp-B08VCQPF2L/dp/B08VCQPF2L/ref=dp_ob_title_bkBjork, E. L., & Bjork, R. A. (2011). Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning. Psychology and the Real World: Essays Illustrating Fundamental Contributions to Society, 56-64.Pan, S. C., Tajran, J., Lovelett, J., Osuna, J., & Rickard, T. C. (2019). Does interleaved practice enhance foreign language learning? The effects of training schedule on vocabulary learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(8), 1172–1181.Rohrer, D., & Taylor, K. (2007). The shuffling of mathematics problems improves learning. Instructional Science, 35(6), 481-498.Keep, B. (2022) ‘The spaced practice effect: what it is and how to leverage it’, Benjamin Keep, 15 December. Available at: https://www.benjaminkeep.com/the-spaced-practice-effect-what-it-is-and-how-to-leverage-it/ (Accessed: 9 March 2025).Rogers, R. (2022) ‘Deep learning vs surface learning’, Richard James Rogers, 24 May. Available at: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2022/05/24/deep-learning-vs-surface-learning/ (Accessed: 9 March 2025).
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  #131: Responding Thoughtfully When Students Ask About Controversial Topics: The Example of Bonnie Blue 05.03.2025 19min

  When students unexpectedly bring up sensitive or controversial topics in class—such as questions about Bonnie Blue (a British adult content creator who recently became wildly infamous due to provocative activities and public notoriety), or other ignominious public figures, such as Andrew Tate—teachers may feel unprepared. How should we respond when children ask about such material?Check out my blog for teachers at https://richardjamesrogers.com/This podcast episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2025/02/23/responding-thoughtfully-when-students-ask-about-controversial-topics-the-example-of-bonnie-blue/Bibliography and referencesCRLT (n.d.) Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or Controversial Topics. University of Michigan. Available at: https://crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsd (Accessed: 23 February 2025).Harvard Graduate School of Education (2022) You Want to Teach What? Managing Controversial Topics in the Classroom. Harvard University. Available at: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/22/02/you-want-teach-what (Accessed: 23 February 2025).Teen Vogue (2021) Why Schools Should Teach Media Literacy to Combat Misinformation. Available at: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/media-literacy-schools-misinformation (Accessed: 23 February 2025).The Choices Program (n.d.) Teaching about Controversial Issues: A Resource Guide. Brown University. Available at: https://www.choices.edu/teaching-news-lesson/teaching-about-controversial-issues-a-resource-guide/ (Accessed: 23 February 2025).Yale Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning (n.d.) Teaching Controversial Topics. Yale University. Available at: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/teaching/ideas-teaching/teaching-controversial-topics (Accessed: 23 February 2025).