Anglophone group

Hello everyone!

For those of you who couldn't join us for @Alex Black's masterclass last week, I wanted to share a few ideas that I found particularly interesting.

I think this is something we can all relate to. We want our students to be curious, to ask questions, explore ideas and really understand what they're learning. But we also have a curriculum to cover, objectives to meet and never quite enough time!

What I particularly liked about Alex's approach is that inquiry doesn't have to be something extra that we try to squeeze into our lessons. It can be part of how we teach the curriculum.

A few ideas that stayed with me:

🔹 Find out what students think they know before explaining. Ask them to make a prediction and, more importantly, explain why they think that. It's amazing what we can discover about their understanding!

I’ve been thinking about the InTA Live Forums since I wrote about them a few days ago. And it brought back something I remember very well from my years in schools.

Some of the most useful professional learning I had didn’t happen during a course or a training day. It happened through conversations.

A conversation with a colleague in the staffroom. Someone sharing something they had tried. Asking someone, “What do you think?” Hearing a completely different perspective. Or simply discovering that someone else was struggling with exactly the same thing.

Those conversations mattered.

And I think we sometimes underestimate how much we can learn from each other, and how good it can feel just to talk to someone who understands the reality of being in a school.

That’s really what I would like the InTA Live Forums to be.

This week, I had lunch with one of our InTA members, @shonawright5

We talked about a lot of things, but at one point Shona said something that stayed with me. She told me how great, and helpful, it would be if InTA could have regular Live Forums, where teachers could simply meet and talk with other teachers about the things that matter to them.

And I thought, yes, we should do this!

So, I would like to start something new:

InTA Live Forums - "Let's discuss it"

The idea is very simple.

I spoke with @Alex Black yesterday, one of our teacher trainers at InTA, and we had a very interesting conversation about how many of us find the start of a lesson challenging.

Those first 10 minutes are so important. They are not only about getting our students ready to learn, but also about reviewing what was done in the previous lesson and, especially, giving them something that immediately gets them thinking.

It could be a question, an image, a short problem, a surprising statement or something connected to what they already know.

How do you manage those first 10 important minutes of your class? What do you do to get your students thinking and ready to learn?

A new school year means new classes, new students… and probably a few new questions already! 😊

As we start this new school year, I would really like to know what would be most useful for you to talk about with other teachers this school year?

I've put a few ideas in the poll below, but please don't feel limited by them. If there is something else you would like us to discuss, add it in the comments.

And I don't only mean big pedagogical questions.

It could be something very practical you're dealing with in your classroom, something you've been thinking about for a while, something you would like other teachers' opinions on, or simply a topic you would like to explore together.

This is your community, so I would really like you to help shape the conversations we have this year.

With August approaching, I have been thinking about the new students I will be teaching this year. I know some will be excited to be back, some will be nervous, some will be shy and some confident.

been thinking about all the students we’ll be seeing again in just a few weeks. The truth is, every single one of them will need something a little different from me.

That’s one of the things I love most about teaching… and also one of the things that keeps me on my toes. No two student are ever the same, and that’s what makes teaching so interesting.

It got me thinking…

When you’re planning a lesson, what’s one difference between your students that you always try to keep in mind?

I hope this week has been kind to you. 

I've been thinking about this lately...

Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about what we want to teach...that we forget how much our students have taught us.

When I look back over the years, I can think of students who completely changed the way I explain a concept. Others taught me to slow down. Some reminded me that confidence often matters just as much as ability. And a few taught me that what works brilliantly with one learner simply doesn't work with another.

Those lessons have stayed with me far longer than any textbook.

✍️ What's one thing a student has taught you that has changed the way you teach?

My first post here — and a short survey 🙂

Do you have students in your groups who do not speak (or do not speak exclusively) the classroom language at home? And/or students who have been socialized in a cultural environment different from the one that is dominant in your current classroom context?

If so, have you developed any teaching methods or pedagogical stances that turn this diversity into a resource, benefiting the whole group?

I am thinking both of language classes and other subjects (French, philosophy, social sciences, history, etc.). It seems to me that this diversity can enrich understanding of course content, increase student engagement, improve learning efficiency (and therefore save time and energy), bring deeper and more grounded perspectives, and foster group cohesion.

But concretely, how do you make the most of this situation?

I would very much like to read your thoughts and experiences.

For some of us, it's soon time to close the doors. Is this you too?

But, before we do, some school days remain.

For those who are drained of energy, please help!

What are your favourite ways to keep learning happening yet keeping it fun in those last weeks of school? Inspire us ✨ with some fresh ideas!

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all having a nice week.

I’m new to the group here, and as the founder of Inform(Ed), my focus is on ensuring the platform is a supportive, teacher-first pedagogical tool.

I’d love to learn a bit more about your current classroom realities. Specifically, what are the main hurdles or pain points you experienced in your practice this term? And, when it comes to tracking student progress or reflecting on your lessons, what kind of insights do you wish you had at your fingertips?

I’d love to use your feedback to shape what we do next. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with me!

Best,

If you have not yet signed up for Ali Ezzeddine’s upcoming InTA free Masterclass, don’t miss out!

WHAT DOES IT TRULY MEAN TO BE A LIFELONG LEARNER?

In this interactive 1-hour session, you will explore learning as a mindset, not just a skill.

Through hands-on activities and reflection, you will uncover how curiosity, growth, and continuous learning can transform both your teaching and personal journeys.

Bring your laptop, your questions, and your openness to learn, unlearn, and relearn.

Thank you Dunja, I appreciate your nomination and I will try my best to support the group

Amna

I want to take a moment to recognise a few people who have been quietly shaping the energy of this community:

@Laura Buechel

@Amna Bedri

@Nivine Naboulsi

@Ary Yulistiana

@Marina Kollatou

You know the one.

The brilliant protocol from a PD session.

The reflection routine you meant to try.

The discussion structure you saved in a folder somewhere.

Great ideas, sitting there like clothes in the closet with the tag still on.

And honestly, it makes sense.

Good morning everyone,

I hope you’ve had a great week. Today, I’m excited to share a new opportunity within our community: the InTA Community Ambassador role.

Some members already make such a positive difference by sharing ideas, contributing to discussions, asking thoughtful questions, and supporting others. Your energy and generosity help make this community a valuable and inspiring space for teachers everywhere.

To recognize and encourage this spirit, I’ll be inviting a few members to become InTA Community Ambassadors.

As an Ambassador, you would:

✔ participate regularly in the community

Over the past weeks, we have tried to make participation easier in this group.

I would now like to go one step further and introduce a small system to encourage active members and recognise contributions.

From now on:

✔ active members may be invited to become InTA Community Ambassadors

✔ contributors will be mentioned regularly

✔ small participation challenges will continue

Happy Monday.

I hope you had a good weekend.

Today, I would like to ask you a classroom reality question.

In your lessons at the moment, what takes the most energy?

A — behaviour 

B — motivation 

What was your biggest achievement this quarter?

Let's celebrate together.

When a strategy seems to work one day but not the next, what helps you decide whether to keep it, change it, or stop it?

Which sentence feels closest to your reality this week?

A — I feel on top of things 

B — Busy but manageable 

C — Tired but coping 

D — Completely overloaded

You can just write A / B / C / D.

Have you ever received a piece of advice that changed the way you teach?

Not a big theory.

Not a long training.

Just one sentence… at the right moment.

Sometimes the most useful advice comes from another teacher in the staff room, during a conversation, or after a difficult lesson.

In this group, we have a lot of experience, from different countries, subjects, and school contexts. Sharing one idea can really help someone else move forward.

Share one real classroom moment from recently.

It can be:

• Something difficult

• A small success

• A student reaction that stayed with you

• A lesson that didn’t go as expected

Sharing something from your classroom this week can be simple.

You can use this structure if it helps:

What I tried…What happened…What I’m wondering…

It does not need to be long.

My reflection this week:

▫️What I tried: I decided to give written instructions first

To begin this two-week dialogue, here is a first reflection:

In your current teaching, what takes the most energy right now?

◾Classroom behaviour

◾Planning load

◾Differentiation

◾Motivation of students

Over the next two weeks, I would like us to gently strengthen the dialogue in this group.

Not by posting more for the sake of posting, but by participating a little more intentionally.

Professional communities grow through small, consistent contributions.

🍀a question,

🍀a classroom moment,

🍀a reflection,

Hey everyone,

Just popping in to say hi and send a little support as we all deal with this serious heat!

Whether you're still in school mode, easing into prep for the year ahead, or fully in holiday mode (yes, please!), I hope you're finding ways to stay cool and take care of yourself. These hot days are a good reminder to slow down, rest when you need to, and check in on one another.

If you’ve got a fun tip, a go-to cool-down routine, or just want to say hi, feel free to drop it in the community. It’s always great to hear from you.

Stay safe, enjoy the break, and keep cool,

Dunja

• Maybe it’s not answering emails.

• Maybe it’s not planning next term’s units (yet!).

• Maybe it’s not feeling guilty about doing nothing.

Let’s normalize pausing, disconnecting, and just being.

What’s your “non-plan” this summer?

Hello, InTA community!

I hope your weekend offered a bit of rest and recharge.

Here’s a simple prompt to ground us this week:

• What’s one challenge you regularly face in your day-to-day teaching life?

Let’s open up space to support and learn from each other.

 Let’s get to know each other a little better 

Which one would you pick?

1. Morning duty or after-school duty? 

2. Parent-teacher conference or staff meeting? 

3. Group project or individual essay? 

What’s your go-to song to pump yourself up for the day, and why does it give you that extra boost?

I’d love to hear your favorites and the stories behind them — let’s create the ultimate energizing playlist together.

Drop your song and why below!

We’ve all seen some surprising things in class… but this one’s too good not to ask:

👉 What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve ever found in a student’s backpack?

Drop your story in the comments — let’s have a good laugh together!

If you could magically eliminate one teaching woe … which of these would you banish forever with one wave of a magic wand?

1. Endless staff meetings that could’ve been emails

2. Copy machine jams right before class

3. Students “forgetting” their homework…again

4. Grading a mountain of essays at midnight

5. Tech that crashes during your perfect lesson

Sometimes, it’s the little tweaks that can make the biggest difference in how our students engage and learn. Whether it's adjusting a classroom routine, trying a new teaching method, or using a simple tool, small changes can lead to big results. I’d love to hear about the changes you’ve made that have had a positive impact!

Share your experiences in the comments.