Bad Days by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter:  @molin_bryan
Sector:  Secondary
Subject:
Position: Assistant Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Bad days

1. We all have them. Recognise you are not on top form and keep things simple.
2. If you have a minute, go for a walk around the school to clear your head.
3. If you are teaching all day, keep behaviour management simple. Don’t overreact and put your best into your teaching.
4. Talk to colleagues. Getting something off your chest feels good at times.
5. Work will always be there next morning. In the evening, take a break, do something nice and get a good night’s sleep.

Running Your First Meeting by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter:  @molin_bryan
Sector:  Secondary
Subject:
Position: Assistant Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Running your first meeting

1. Make sure the agenda and resources are out well in advance so people can prepare.
2. Keep to time. A good meeting should not last more than one hour.
3. Build time for feedback and discussion, but make sure all voices are heard. Involve the “silent voices” in your team.
4. Don’t be afraid to cut a discussion short, for it to be revisited in future or in a different format.
5. The people that are perceived as”blockers” are often good staff who provide important feedback. Listen to all points of view.

Taking a Cover Lesson by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter:  @molin_bryan
Sector:  Secondary
Subject:
Position: Assistant Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Taking a cover lesson

1. Make sure you read through the cover work ahead of time. If there are any questions ask a member of the relevant department.
2. Visit the classroom you will be teaching in ahead of time so you have your bearings.
3. Make sure you have spare paper and equipment for this lesson. You don’t want to be struggling with the basics.
4. Teach it as if it was your lesson. Students appreciate a teacher who makes an effort and cares about their learning.
5. Keep behaviour management simple with lots of praise, but remain assertive. Students need to be quiet when you are giving instructions.

Applying for Your First Internal Promotion by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter:  @molin_bryan
Sector:  Secondary
Subject:
Position: Assistant Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Applying for your first internal promotion

1. Take it seriously. They know you and the good work you put in, but you need to act as if you’re applying for an external job.
2. Ask as many (pertinent) questions as possible prior to the interview. It helps preparation and shows your eagerness.
3. Go into it with full confidence. There is no shame in not getting the job, but make sure you book a meeting to get a full debrief.
4. The evening before the interview, plan to have an evening off work, so you go into the interview with a clear mind.
5. Ask one of your work colleagues for support in preparing. Knowing the school’s context will increase the likelihood of being able to predict potential questions.

Taking Your First Assembly by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter:  @molin_bryan
Sector:  Secondary
Subject:
Position: Assistant Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Taking your first assembly

1. Look for inspiration. I personally watch TED speeches, as it gives both ideas on topics and presentation styles.
2. Have notes and a powerpoint, but rehearse your topic so you are confident with it. Technology fails, good preparation doesn’t.
3. Make sure you plan for the appropriate time, so it does not affect the school day. Plan so you don’t end too early and be prepared to adjust your plan so you don’t overrun.
4. In terms of audience participation, unless you are very confident, avoid at first. You can always start by integrating student readings and drama.
5. Make sure you revisit the purpose of the assembly throughout. Speak clearly and so not be afraid of pauses.

Dealing With Staff Conflict by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter:  @molin_bryan
Sector:  Secondary
Subject:
Position: Assistant Principal
5 Bits of Advice About: Dealing with staff conflict

1. Maintain perspective. Mostly disagreements are not personal, but professional differences.
2. Keel your ego in check. If you have made mistakes, be honest and recognise these.
3. Find common ground. You can connect with most people in some way.
4. If things, get difficult, seek advice from trusted professionals, including unions.
5. Most of all keep your integrity. If someone stoops low, don’t go down to their level.

Dealing with difficult parent phone calls by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter:  @molin_bryan
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Assistant Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Dealing with difficult parent phone calls

1. Eat that frog. If you know it’s going to be difficult the sooner it’s done the better.
2. Have a plan about what to say and go through it with a trusted leader.
3. Keep calm, polite and assertive. Listen more than you speak.
4. Keep the conversation factual and focus on discussing behaviours not the person.
5. If you are being shouted at or offended, calmly tell the parent you will need to refer the matter upwards and end the call politely. Don’t tolerate abuse.

Behaviour Management by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter name: @molin_bryan
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable):
Position: Assistant Principal
What is your advice about? Behaviour management

1: Tackle the primary behaviour. What is it that you want the student(s) to do?

2: Use the language of choice- make sure you are ready to follow up.

3: Silence is golden. Give take up time to reflect.

4: Be relentlessly consistent. Praise students who are getting it right.

5: Speak to parents and carers if there are concerns. Often this is the most powerful consequence.

Teaching Outside of Your Specialism by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter name: @molin_bryan
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable):
Position: Assistant Principal
What is your advice about? Teaching outside of specialism

1: Have a positive attitude. Teaching outside of your comfort zone is a chance to develop your skills.

2: Make sure you have a firm grasp of the key concepts you are teaching. There is nothing worse than to muck up on the basics.

3: If students ask questions you cannot answer in the lessons, be honest and tell them you will get back to them next lesson, or even better set the question for homework.

4: Establish a culture of learning in the class. The fact that you are also learning the subjext adds a degree of comradeship with students.

5: Work with subject specialists, either in person or through twitter to get advice and information. Don’t be afraid to ask. You owe it to your students.

Being a Good Form Tutor by @molin_bryan

Name: Bryan Molin
Twitter name: @molin_bryan
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable):
Position: Assistant Principal
What is your advice about? Being a good form tutor

1: Treat your form time with the same respect and passion as your lessons. Have clear set routines for your students.

2: Be relentlessly consistent and positive with behaviour management. You are your students’ advocate in school and the person who knows how to get them ready for learning.

3: Your form group is a community. Celebrate individual and collective successes – no matter how small – as a group.

4: Remember their wellbeing is paramount. Listen to them, pay attention to their concerns and report them if appropriate.

5: Make time for fun and bonding activities, like reward trips, pizza afternoons, quiz Fridays. Be creative and put a personal touch to your form time.