Operation Education

Should a pupil get a detention for forgetting their pen? Or should we just give them one and move on?

It sounds like a rather trivial question. But Pritesh & Neena argue that how schools approach missing equipment has enormous implications for pupil responsibility, organisation and character development.

We discuss why the debate shouldn't begin with sanctions, but with how we set pupils up for success. From teaching pupils how to pack their school bags, to setting up equipment shops and running daily equipment checks, we explore practical strategies that can transform pupils' habits and school culture.

Pritesh shares how he manages to check 30 pupils' equipment in just 30 seconds (yes, really), and recounts the remarkable story of a pupil with dyslexia who struggled with organisation.

We also tackle the thorny question of consequences. Is a detention for forgetting a pen unnecessarily harsh? Can holding pupils to account actually be an act of kindness? And what should teachers say to pupils when they've forgotten their equipment?

Before all of that, Neena reveals her rather intense passion for stationery shopping, while Pritesh makes a shocking confession about Paddington Bear that leaves Neena questioning his suitability to work with children.

Oh, and we hear about a teacher who demanded pupils hand over their shoe in exchange for borrowing a pen. Teaching really is a remarkable profession.

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

"Sir, have you marked our tests yet?"

"Miss, when are we doing a practical?"

Sound familiar?

In this episode, Pritesh & Neena explore how schools can explicitly teach pupils to become more grateful. Can we really transform a pupil's mindset from one of potential entitlement to one of gratitude? And what practical strategies can teachers use to make gratitude a habit that becomes part of their pupils' character?

We discuss why a simple 'thank you' from pupils at the end of a lesson can be surprisingly powerful, how to help pupils recognise the enormous amount of effort that goes into their education, and why writing heartfelt thank-you postcards to teachers might just be one of the loveliest things a school can do.

We also explore how gratitude can become part of a class's shared identity, the connection between gratitude and belonging, and how to ensure expressions of gratitude are genuine rather than just another box-ticking exercise.

Along the way, Neena subjects Pritesh to a highly sophisticated psychological evaluation involving word association. The results are deeply concerning. We also discover that Pritesh has a rather limited vocabulary when it comes to describing things he likes.

With Christmas approaching, this episode might just help you bring a little extra magic to your school.

And if you're enjoying Operation Education, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. See? We're practising what we preach!

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 something we explicitly teach and embed.

Neena shares the three 'golden opportunities' she used in her Manners Matter initiative at a previous school, with lots of practical strategies and scripts for teaching pupils to be more polite. We discuss what to do when pupils forget their manners, how to respond to a sarcastic 'Good morning, sir', and why simply reminding pupils to say 'please' and 'thank you' isn't enough.

We also have a rather fascinating disagreement about whether teachers should thank pupils for doing the right thing. What's the difference between praise and gratitude? And could saying 'thank you' actually be the wrong response?

Along the way, Neena reveals her love of pumpkin spice lattes, while Pritesh recounts the deeply embarrassing experience of ordering a latte in Italy. Character-building stuff, apparently.

If you're enjoying Operation Education, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. We will use our magnificent manners and say: thank you!

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 piece of homework?

Pritesh shares a recent classroom encounter with a pupil who flatly refused to participate. Was he right to send her out? And what happened when they spoke after the lesson?

Along the way, we discuss how to make hard work a habit, why celebrating effort matters, and why holding pupils to account is every bit as important as showing warmth.

Expect dramatic homework narrations, a few strong opinions and some questionable Christmas vocabulary…

If you're enjoying Operation Education, we'd love you to leave us a five-star review on Spotify, Apple or wherever you listen. It makes a huge difference in helping us reach more teachers. Thank you for your support!

Read more about character here:

Becoming Better People: https://bunsenblue.com/2024/12/23/becoming-better-people/

Building Culture: How to shape character through daily interactions: https://bunsenblue.com/2024/08/20/building-culture-how-to-shape-character-through-daily-interactions/

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 about the differences in instructional / pedagogical approaches in English versus Science.

Pritesh & Neena make a few shocking confessions along the way…

We also celebrate Operation Education's three month anniversary! Get your party hats on, people! If you're loving Operation Education, we would love for you to leave a review. Ideally more than four stars, but fewer than six stars will do. Every review helps us to reach more teachers. Thanks for all of your support!

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 knowing when to end the turn and talk). 'No' to circulating during the turn and talk to hear conversations or support a struggling pair. No, no, no. So what do they recommend instead?

Pritesh and Neena discuss when to use turn and talk and, importantly, when NOT to use it. They diagnose why it can go wrong and what to do about pupils not rehearsing sufficiently or going off-task. They go through what they do before, during and after a turn and talk.

Strap in, because this is probably the single highest-leverage technique a teacher can use to transform pupil outcomes and their experience of a lesson.

To read more about Turn and Talk see Pritesh's blog: https://bunsenblue.com/2023/12/30/turn-and-talk/

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 discussion with Pritesh. They identify and analyse four key elements: planning with granular clarity; four principles for effective explanations; when and why to use different questioning strategies; ways of flooding the classroom with warmth.

Make sure you hit that follow button so you don't miss out on the latest episodes of the podcast.

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 hands up' questioning. It is much more culturally powerful, they argue.

To read more about Checks for Listening check out: https://bunsenblue.com/2023/04/08/checks-for-listening-100-participation/

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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? Why would you use repetition when it doesn't involve much thinking?

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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
10:47 Positive Praise After Scanning
12:55 Countdown Pace and Urgency
21:50 Quiet Counts for Writing Time
26:15 Tuck Chairs In
29:55 Silent Self-Interrupt
34:58 Five Attention Tips Recapped
35:51 Next Episode: Participation Culture

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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. But before we even get into that discussion, are the fundamentals of praise points in place? Hopefully, listening to Episode double-0 seven will help schools and teachers Bond with their pupils better... [it had to be done!]

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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
22:48 Engaging Explanations Matter
26:15 Voice, Pause, and Story
30:43 Intentional Teaching Delivery
37:26 Thinking Hard to Learn
41:21 Next Episode’s Reward Debate

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 joyful sense of team in the class. 'Culture building never stops, never sleeps'.

Timestamps

0:02 Best Classroom Gifts You Have Ever Received
4:40 Scenario: How Can We Not Rush an Exit Routine?
6:04 Setting Alarms
7:54 Narrating the Story of the Lesson
11:49 Instruction Sandwich
19:14 Goldilocks Countdowns
21:52 Model Instruction Sandwich
25:48 Scenario for Next Week: Seductive Ideas

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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?

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 power of voice, connecting with pupils and genuine motivation are discussed. We also cover what kind of behaviours to praise, adapting praise for different ages and ponder over how we can ensure we praise quieter pupils.

Timestamps

0:07 Wedding Vibes and Classroom Buy-In
3:07 Compliance or Motivation?
5:17 Winning Hearts with Praise
7:42 Warm, Specific, Named Praise
12:48 The Power of Warmth
16:04 Why Specific Praise Works
23:13 Praise Effort, Not Attainment
27:56 Tailoring Praise by Age
30:09 Praise and Healthy Competition

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.

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 Operation Education
4:39 Cultivating School Culture
9:00 Why Attention Matters
17:29 Crafting Clear Call Signals
22:15 Voice Shapes the Cue
30:39 Authority in the Classroom
37:58 Scanning and Praise
39:10 Next Episode Scenario

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, coaching with groups of teachers), visit www.bunsenblue.com/cpd

Hosts: Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma

Operation Education is a Bunsen Blue production.