At Teaching Trends we want to make sure that everything we stock is relevant to teachers and really useful for parents, which is why we have a carefully chosen panel of experts on board who are extremely experienced teachers and enthusiastic parents. Our experts scrutinise each and every new item before we show it to you, so that you can be certain that every product will earn its keep in your repertoire of resources, or become a firm favourite at home. And if you have a classroom problem, a question on a topic your child’s being taught, or want to share something that’s bothering you the Teaching Trends panel of experts is here to help you.
Email experts@teachingtrends.co.uk
Now meet the experts …
Hannah Booth
‘Key Stage 2 is my forte and I’ve taught both in single year and mixed classes and in the state sector as well as private schools. My specialist subject is Maths, but in common with many in this profession, I can honestly say that I’ve been responsible for almost every area of the curriculum during the 16 years that I’ve been teaching. I’m currently working in a private school and looking after my two children aged 5 and 7.
‘I find it difficult to choose just one product from the Teaching Trends range but if I have to pin it down I’m going to go for the Magnetic Fractions, Magnetic Decimals and Magnetic Percentages. These would give practical support and a concrete experience both in the classroom and at home and they can be used a individual sets, or combined to develop pupils’ understanding of equivalents. The magnets are colour-coded, click together and feel nice and chunky and tactile for smaller hands. They are also very well-priced at £4.03 a set.
Margaret Edwards
‘I have 24 years teaching experience and have worked for three education authorities – Kent, Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire. I’ve taught the whole primary age range from Nursery to Key stages 1 and 2 and I became a Numeracy Co-ordinator to introduce Numeracy Hour when it first hit schools. I’ve also been responsible for Science and Assessment and have been involved in SATS for Key Stages 1 and 2 for longer than I care to remember. For a number of years I worked for local radio, helping children to produce book reviews for live programmes and I also tested educational products for Nursery Equipment magazine. My most recent post was as Assistant Head and Acting Head and I now work in a whole range of schools as a supply teacher.
At the moment I have two Teaching Trends favourites that I can’t choose between – the
Soft Foam Story Starter Cubes and Hoo Ha! Times Tables playing cards. I find these items great to use as a supply teacher going into a new class.. They provide an excellent lesson starter or activity at the end of a session and they help the children focus and engage with the lesson. (which is perfect when you’re a supply). They also link clearly with Literacy and Numeracy objectives.
The children in my classes have responded very positively to both products- they appeal to them particularly as they are something they can hold and handle. I have also noticed that they are able to use the products independently when working in small groups. I’ve been asked by children to make sure I come back and bring these products with me when I do, which can’t be bad.’
Anne Williams
‘I think it sometimes looks like I’ve been unable to make up my mind when I describe my teaching career! That’s not the case at all, but I have taught in a Secondary School, mainly English, but involved with other subjects, as always happens. I’ve taught English and SEN in a middle school; I’ve been a Junior class teacher, as well as teaching Foundation and Key Stage 1 and 2, although not all at the same time of course and I’ve also taught abroad. I’d say my subject expertise lies in Science, RE and collective worship and PE with Key Stage 1 pupils.
My favourite Teaching Trends products are without doubt the puppets They are all good for individual small play, so it would good to start up a collection. The ones which really stand out for me are the packs of puppets of the traditional tales, which can be used to retell the story. My top favourite of those, in many ways, were the ones of The Nativity. It would be ideal to have a couple of sets of most of the tales.
Read Anne’s Q & A’s
