Operation Education

Do your pupils greet you when they enter your classroom? Do they thank you at the end of a lesson? And when they need a pen, do they ask politely or simply announce their stationery emergency and expect you to come running? In this second instalment of our series on character education, Pritesh & Neena tackle manners, politeness and respect. Inspired by a brilliant question from listener Claire, we explore how to turn good manners from something we hope pupils will demonstrate into someth...

Telling kids to work hard doesn't work. So what does? And can hard work actually be taught? In this episode, Pritesh & Neena get stuck into one of their favourite topics: character education! They explore the surprisingly powerful difference between two ways of setting exactly the same homework. How can the words we use inspire pupils to go above and beyond? What should we do when pupils don't meet our expectations? And just how excited should a teacher get about a beautifully completed p...

You ask and we answer! In this Q&A special, Pritesh & Neena discuss whether turn and talks should only ever be used for rehearsal or for other types of questions? If we use turn and talk, how do we know which pupils need follow-up questioning when we cannot hear every conversation? Should teachers always use high frequency questioning or are there times when it is not necessary in a lesson? Where do mini whiteboards fit into all of this? We end up with a fascinating discussion a...

Whether you've never used 'Turn and Talk' in your classroom before or are a seasoned expert, this episode packs in lots of practical advice for improving pupil outcomes. If you already use Pritesh and Neena's favourite strategy (they swear by using 'Turn and Talk' 20 times or more per lesson), this episode is going to turn conventional wisdom on its head. They say 'no' to specifying which partner goes first. 'No' to 'cresting the wave' (waiting for the buzz in the room to die down as a way of...

Hear Pritesh delivering a live lesson at a conference using explicit instruction (aka direct instruction), where he demonstrates delivering clear explanations, high frequency questioning & warmth. Some cool statistics about the lesson: in 12.5 minutes he asks the audience to actively participate 38 times! On average, that's an opportunity to participate every 20 seconds! That's a lot of questions... there is no room for passivity in Mr Raichura's classroom! Neena unpicks the lesson in dis...

You pose a question. The whole class responds in unison. The energy, the buzz, the feeling of success is palpable for every pupil. Pritesh and Neena discuss the power of 'Choral Response' as a questioning strategy, and contrast it with 'I say you say' from the previous week's episode. These strategies support with 'checks for listening' rather than 'checks for understanding'. They segue into a discussion about 'no hands up' questioning policies and how they'd flip this on its head into 'all h...

Teachers are often faced with pupils who are very reluctant to participate in lessons. Two major reasons for this can be apathy and a lack of confidence. How can teachers tackle these? Pritesh and Neena explore, with the use of 'I Say You Say'. 'I Say You Say' is a where the entire class repeats a word the teacher says. It sounds like a simple strategy but there are so many nuances that Pritesh and Neena unpack. What do you do if a pupil doesn't join in? What if some pupils use a silly voice?...

Pritesh and Neena explore 5 powerful strategies for teachers to secure and sustain 100% attention. From using your body, eyes, and silence, to giving simple instructions that prevent the loss of attention in the first place, this episode packed with practical practices. They also mention Paul Kirschner & Paddington Bear. Make of that what you will. Timestamps: 0:07 Conference Buzz and Attention Strategies 1:36 Five Ways to Secure Attention 3:02 Be Seen Looking 5:09 Scan the Room Clearly 1...

You've never met a class before. They start to arrive at your door. Pritesh and Neena discuss precisely how they would get the class in and into a seating plan, and share mistakes they've experienced to avoid. Seating a new class can be quite tricky because it is so out-of-routine. But it is perhaps the most important thing to get right, especially as it forms the first five minutes of a lesson with a new class. And we know how much first impressions count. Sign up now to receive the weekly O...

So many schools have a system where pupils can trade points they earn for rewards. Is this genuinely improving pupil culture and winning hearts? Or are there unintended consequences? Are there alternatives? Pritesh and Neena discuss! Swap 5 points for a pen. Trade 10 points for a chocolate bar. 50 points might get you a voucher for a high street retailer, or a raffle for a bigger prize! We discuss the difference between reward points as a currency, and emblems like badges and certificates. Bu...

How can we safeguard against pedagogical fads? Is 'engagement' pupils getting up, having experiences and teaching each other? Or does 'engagement' describe pupils enthralled through teacher exposition and questioning, and engaging in lots of practice? Pritesh and Neena explore. Timestamps: 0:10 Seduced by Teaching Ideas 2:27 Blu Tack Lesson Reflections 5:08 Ofsted Panic and Teacher Talk 7:54 Activities Versus Content 12:28 Building the Knowledge Web 17:51 Rehearsal, Feedback, and Practice 22:...

Silent debates, video lessons for bottom sets, poster lessons for cover, market place activities, posters around the room... Pritesh and Neena take a trip down memory lane, recalling classroom practices we were all seduced by earlier in our careers, but have abandoned now. Timestamps: 0:04 Seduced by Fun Lessons 4:02 Macbeth Witches Activity 7:32 Silent Debate Setup 12:26 Photosynthesis By Experience 18:09 Posters and Peer Teaching 24:07 Winning Minds, Winning Hearts Sign up now to receive th...

Whilst Pritesh exemplifies each element of a classroom exit routine this week, Neena leans into her alliteration addiction: 'pack up and praise'; 'authority and anticipation'; 'power of pause'. Somebody stop her, please. Teachers often rush their exit routine. The bell goes. The teacher abruptly ends the lesson. Kids fly out of the door in a mad rush. Pritesh and Neena explore strategies to change the rush at the end of lessons into not only something calmer, but also something that builds a ...

The loudest pupils can often take up most of a teacher's attention. What can we do in the classroom to ensure that no pupils are overlooked, whilst maintaining a high bar? Pritesh and Neena explain their suggestions. Timetstamps: 0:22 First Lesson Disaster 5:34 Optimising Seating Plans for Attention 11:26 Is it Mean to Separate Friends? 14:01 Tick Sheets in Action 18:41 How to Notice Quieter Pupils 19:59 Crowning the Shining Star of the Lesson 26:35 Scenario for next time... Exit Routines? ...

How can teachers tackle passivity, apathy or unwillingness to participate in the classroom? How do you move a class culture from compliance to genuine buy-in? Pritesh and Neena break this down into 'winning hearts' and 'winning minds'. As teachers, we all want hands flying up, enthusiastic contributions from ALL pupils, not just some, and we want pupils to buy-in to our schools. Whilst there are many elements to this, Pritesh and Neena zoom in on the use of warm, specific, named praise. The p...

Welcome to the very first episode of Operation Education, the brand new podcast discussing all things pedagogy, classroom culture, school leadership and the wider educational landscape. In this week's episode: It's not just what you say to your pupils but how you say it that matters. Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma discuss the power of voice in the classroom at getting attention. This leads to a discussion about teacher authority and joy in schools. Time stamps: 0:28 Launching Operati...

When and how did Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma come up with Operation Education? Who was the catalyst behind its launch? How many teachers and leaders will hit subscribe? Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing: One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture. bunsenblue.com/briefing For high quality CPD from Pritesh (INSETs, school visits, including teaching lessons for staff to observe,...