Ep 7: For the Love of Reading with Jan Carson 📚✨

Ep 7: For the Love of Reading with Jan Carson 📚✨

March is officially here, and at Twinkl, we are all about celebrating literacy and the absolute joy of reading! 📖✨ As secondary teachers, we know the real struggle of trying to get teenagers to swap endless scrolling for a book . In Episode 7 of Pure Class, Sarah is joined by the incredible Jan Carson! Jan is a Ballymena-born, east Belfast-based author, who won the EU Prize for Literature for The Fire Starters and was shortlisted for the An Post Irish Novel of the Year for The Raptures. Now, she is officially serving as a National Year of Reading Ambassador for Northern Ireland. Jan sits down with us for a wonderfully honest and practical chat about how we can genuinely foster a lifelong love of literature in our schools and communities. 🎧 In this episode, we dive into: * Reading for Joy 🧠: Why we need to ditch the pressure of massive page counts and just let students enjoy the practice of reading. * The Power of Local Voices 🗣️: How providing local Northern Irish texts gives students a sense of worth and relevance by reflecting their own realities. * Bridging Divides 🤝: Using storytelling and creative writing in shared education and integrated schools to foster empathy and help young people articulate their experiences. * Sci-Fi & Fantasy 🚀: Why the current trend of teens writing genre fiction is actually a beautiful sign of them imagining a brighter future. * Safe Spaces 🏛️: The absolutely vital role of school and local libraries for our young people. Plus, we talk about Jan’s upcoming novel, Few and Far Between, and we kick things off with a very modern 'Would You Rather: School Dinner Edition'. (Spoiler alert: we are still reeling over the fact that the Education Authority canteen now serves Thursday "Wings Day" and Friday Spice Bags! 🍗🤣 ) 🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in this Episode: * Jan Carson’s Website 💻: Keep up with Jan’s work and check out Few and Far Between at https://www.jancarson.co.uk/ [https://www.jancarson.co.uk/] * 'Northern Lights' Reading Guide 🌟: A massive thank you to local author Sue Divin for recommending this brilliant PDF from Children's Books Ireland, packed with great reads by Northern Irish artists and writers for ages 0-18. Read it here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1bc3a1 [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1bc3a1] * Twinkl Library Lesson Resources 🎒: Ready-to-use resources to make the most of your school's library space! Download here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1cq85u [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1cq85u] #NorthernIreland #SecondarySchool #KS3English #GCSEEnglish #IrishAuthors #NILiterature #ReadingForPleasure #SchoolLibraries #JanCarson #TwinklNI #UKTeachers #TeacherPodcast #LiteracyMatters

Ep 6: The Truth about Vaping in Schools: Tackling the Trend Without the Stress (ft. HIP Psychology) 🧠✨

It smells like sweets, looks like a highlighter, and it’s causing a massive headache in schools across NI. 🍬😩 Let’s be honest: keeping up with the vaping trend feels like a full-time job. You’re finding them in toilets, they’re hidden in pencil cases, and the old-school "just say no" lectures simply aren't cutting it with students. You’re worried about their health, but you’re also just trying to get through the day without another confiscation battle. In this episode, we’re bringing in the reinforcements. We welcome back Cormac from HIP Psychology, joined this time by Jenna and Carlos. They aren't just guessing at solutions; they’ve collaborated directly with Queen’s University Belfast to uncover the psychological truth about why young people are vaping—and how we can actually get through to them. We discuss: * 🤯 The Shocking Truth: Why one standard vape pod can equal 20 cigarettes in nicotine. * 🕵️‍♂️ Hidden in Plain Sight: How to spot the devices disguised as everyday classroom items. * 🗣️ Better Conversations: Moving away from punishment and towards psychology-backed chats that students will actually listen to. Save time & get support now:Don't reinvent the wheel. If you need immediate support for your school, use the links below: 🧠 Book the Workshop: Bring the HIP team and their Queen's University research directly to your students. 👉 Book 'The Truth About Vaping' Workshop here [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/12ywvn] 📚 Classroom Ready Resources: Download our 'Twinkl Beyond' pack to help you handle this topic in Form Class or Assembly tomorrow (no planning required!). 👉 Download the Vaping Support Pack here [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/17wsam]

Episode 5 : Behind the Scenes with the SENCO 🏫

Pure Class: A Day in the Life of a Northern Ireland Secondary SENCO Teacher 🏫 What does a SENCO do all day? ⏰ Join Sarah as she interviews Meabh McGreevy to pull back the curtain on the very dynamic life of a secondary school SENCO. 🔗 Resource Mentioned by Meabh: Check out the Twinkl Cue Cards for scenarios here:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/mdi05 [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/mdi05] Meet Our Guest: Meabh McGreevy Meabh is a highly valued member of staff at Loreto College Coleraine 🏫. With 19 years of teaching experience under her belt, she has served as a Geography teacher and Head of Department, and has been practising as a SENCO for 11 years! Her dual expertise gives her a unique perspective on classroom needs and whole-school strategy. 🌍 In This Episode We cover everything from the constant calls and emails 📞📧 to the emotional investment required for annual reviews and advocating for every child 💪. Meabh gets candid about the challenges, including creating PLPs and the rise in SEB issues. She also shares essential advice on: * Why the role of the Learning Support Assistant (LSA) is vital. * The importance of SENCO collaborative groups for support. * Using Twinkl resources for differentiation and quick-fix emotional support cards. Plus, hear Meabh’s tips for teacher well-being (including kicking sand and shouting into the wind! 🌊) and her favourite local spot for a chippy tea (spoiler: it's Morton's! 🍟). A must-listen for all NI teachers, LSAs, and parents interested in Special Educational Needs. 🔗 Resource Mentioned by Meabh: Check out the Twinkl Cue Cards for scenarios here:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/mdi05 [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/mdi05]

🎙️ Episode 4: A Wee Blither wi' Anne McMaster for Leid Week 📚

🎙️ Pure Class Podcast: Episode 4 🎉 Join us for a wee blether 🗣️ with Ulster Scots poet Anne McMaster 👩‍🌾✍️ for Leid Week! 📚 In this cosy fireside chat 🔥, we delve into the rich tapestry of Ulster Scots language and culture. ✨ Discover the beauty of Ulster Scots words and phrases 🗣️, explore its fascinating history and origins 📜, and hear Anne's inspiring journey into the world of poetry 🪶. We'll also tackle the language vs. dialect debate 🤔 and discuss the importance of Ulster Scots in education 🏫. Don't miss this insightful and entertaining episode! 🎧 #UlsterScots #LeidWeek #Poetry #Podcast #NorthernIreland #Culture

Episode 3: Building a Well-being Culture in Schools with HIP Psychology

🎉 Half-term's the perfect time to put yer feet up and recharge the batteries! 🔋 This week on Pure Class Podcast, we're joined by Cormac Venney and Kevin Anderson from HIP Psychology 🧠. They're sharing their expertise on teacher well-being and how to avoid burnout 🔥. Listen in for top-notch advice on looking after yer physical 💪 and mental health 🧘‍♀️. #TeacherWellbeing #SelfCare #HIPPsychology #HalfTerm