Anglophone group

One of the biggest challenges we face as teachers is giving students time to think deeply.

We want our students to be curious, ask questions, investigate ideas, make connections and develop their own explanations.

But we also have a curriculum to cover, learning objectives to meet and assessments to prepare for. And time is always limited.

So often, we end up explaining things ourselves because it’s quicker. Or we save inquiry activities for when we’ve finished teaching the content.

But what if inquiry didn’t have to compete with curriculum coverage?

We’re planning our next InTA masterclasses, and I don’t want to keep guessing when you’re actually available or what you’d most like us to offer!

So, could you give us 3 quick choices? It should take about 10 seconds.

1️⃣ DAY

A = Monday B = Tuesday

How do we talk about sustainability with students without leaving them feeling overwhelmed or powerless?

This Wednesday, Elaine France will join us for the free InTA Masterclass:

From Anxiety to Agency: Use Futures Thinking to Build Hope and Agency

Rather than adding another sustainability initiative to an already crowded curriculum, Elaine will explore how Futures Thinking can be integrated into what you already teach — across subjects and age groups.

You’ll experience a practical Futures Thinking activity and explore how we can help students move from simply hearing about the challenges facing our world to imagining possibilities, asking questions and seeing themselves as people who can help shape the future.

📅 Wednesday, 7 October

I watch how difficult it is for my two young adult sons to find their place in this world.

There is so much uncertainty around them. Climate change, conflicts, the cost of living, AI changing the world of work… And they are constantly exposed to all of it.

It makes me think about the students sitting in our classrooms today. How are they feeling about their future?

We spend a lot of time preparing young people for the future. But perhaps we also need to help them believe that they have a role in shaping that future.

Because if all they hear about are the problems, it’s very easy to feel powerless.

What I find interesting about Futures Thinking is that it doesn’t ignore the challenges. Instead, it gives young people opportunities to explore different possibilities, imagine alternatives and recognise that the future isn’t something that is simply going to happen to them.…

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.

A TEACHER ASKED ME:

“Could you show us how to use ChatGPT for differentiation?”

That’s how this masterclass was born.

I’ve decided to offer a new free masterclass on using ChatGPT in the classroom.

And this time, the topic didn’t really come from me.

I'm delighted to share that the replay of my conversation with Laura McGahey, "How can I help my students become truly ready to learn before the lesson even begins?", is now available in the InTA Professional Learning Hub.

https://www.innovating-teachers-academy.com/discussions-with-educators

This conversation really stayed with me.

Like many teachers, I've often focused on planning the best possible lesson, choosing engaging activities, and thinking about how to help students understand new concepts. But Laura reminded me of something even more fundamental:

Before students can learn, they first need to be ready to learn.

Can I ask something honestly to the teachers in this group?

How are you currently feeling about AI in education?

Curious?

Overwhelmed?

Skeptical?

Hello everyone,

On Tuesday night, we had a truly inspiring masterclass with Ali Ezzeddine on the theme:

✨ What does it really mean to be a lifelong learner? ✨

We had educators joining us from many different countries, which created such rich and meaningful discussions. Throughout the session, teachers reflected together, shared experiences from their own classrooms, collaborated in breakout rooms, and explored what lifelong learning really looks like in practice.

One idea that stayed with many participants was this:

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.

Good morning,

I just wanted to personally share something with you about a new InTA course, because I think many of us are facing the same challenge right now.

How do we talk with students about climate change, sustainability, uncertainty, and the future… without leaving them feeling powerless?

I think sometimes these topics can feel so big that we either simplify them too much or avoid them altogether. But one thing I deeply believe is that your students do not only need information about the future. They also need opportunities to imagine themselves within it.

That is why I am really excited about tomorrow’s (Tuesday, May 12th) course on Futures Storytelling.

Empowering teachers through instructional coaching and CLIL: building 21st-century classrooms

If you are working with CLIL or pluriliteracies, this discussion may be especially relevant to your practice.

I’ve been invited to take part in a live conversation today. We’ll explore how instructional coaching and CLIL can support deeper thinking, strengthen language, and encourage real student participation.

Some of the questions we’ll explore:

◾ How does instructional coaching transform classroom practice?

We are live right now until 18h30 CET with Aimée Skidmore to talk about 

"How to flip the load so students think, participate, and take more responsibility for learning".

If you are a teacher, school leader, or educator looking to increase student engagement, this session is for you.

Join us now on Zoom and bring your questions.

🔗https://lnkd.in/e7--UDTc

Meeting ID: 949 4035 3554

Turn up. Wait. Do the minimum. Get the grade. Leave.

It's not laziness, it's a rational response to a system where the teacher does most of the thinking.

Ready to flip that?

Free Online Masterclass: From Compliance to Ownership

How to flip the load so students think, participate, and take responsibility for their learning.

You'll leave with:

Hello everyone, 

I hope you are well. InTA is offering a free live masterclass and I wanted to make sure it is on your radar. 

From Compliance to Ownership with Aimee Skidmore. 

How can we help students move from passive participation to real ownership of their learning? This practical session will help you notice where students may still be dependent on the teacher and explore small shifts that build greater responsibility, thinking, and engagement.

📅 April 21 | 17:30–18:30 GMT+2

📅 April 29 | 17:30–18:30 GMT+2

Dear InTA community members,

If you sometimes feel that students don’t fully understand, that language slows learning down, or that you need strategies you can use right away, these two upcoming webinars are designed for you.

🔹 March 19 — Supporting multilingual learners in the moment

Learn how to support EAL/multilingual students without interrupting the lesson or adding extra workload.

You will gain:

✔ simple techniques you can use instantly