Topical and seasonal

Loneliness is a common human experience that we are all likely to feel at some point in our lives. Defined as the negative feeling we have when there is a difference between the relationships we have and those that we want, how we experience loneliness will be unique to each of us.

During this year's Mental Health Awareness Week, the Mental Health Foundation aims to explore the experience of loneliness, its effect on our mental health, and how we can all play a part in reducing loneliness in our communities. Listed below are helpful tips and links of how you can build connections with yourself, others and the world around you to reduce feelings of loneliness.

Michael Chiles is an Associate Assistant Principal and author of a range of CPD books for teachers, including The Feedback Pendulum: A manifesto for enhancing feedback in education. Here he shares his advice for encouraging students to follow up on the feedback they are given.  

Language teachers and students love games, but what exactly are the benefits of using them – other than injecting a bit of fun into the MFL classroom – and what types of games does Teachit have to offer?

History teacher and Teachit contributor Alex Fairlamb shares her favourite lesson: Can you cure the Black Death?

How can we help history students recall and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways?

History teacher Sarah Jackson reflects on the creation of her Holocaust Memorial Day lesson which focuses on the role played by Oskar Schindler in resisting Nazi persecution of the Jews.

Teacher trainer Dave Stacey offers 20 ideas for using technology in the history classroom.

Whether you're teaching the youngest or the oldest, we have resources to support children starting school and children making the transition to year 7. 

Making space for creativity in English is a priority for many English teachers, particularly in the key stage 3 curriculum, where there's more freedom to experiment and explore. As a Head of English, Steph Atkinson believes writing poetry offers an opportunity for students to let their imagination run free. Here's her selection of favourite Teachit classroom resources and lesson ideas to help with the fundamentals of writing poetry. 

Beth Kemp, English teacher and diversity in literature researcher, offers her suggestions for classroom resources and reading recommendations to help you to diversify and enrich your KS3-5 English curriculum.

Classroom layouts can have a huge impact on learning. We share the latest evidence-based research and experienced teachers' views on the most effective classroom layouts. 

Writer and English teacher Alison Powell shares her suggestions for classroom resources to inspire KS3-4 students with a range of creative writing experiments. 

Educational research suggests that one of the keys to a successful transition from primary to secondary is to create a sense of belonging. Here are some ideas to help to warmly welcome new students and create communities of learners. 

A mother shares her story of her teenage son's diagnosis and the challenges of parenting a teenager with Tourette (also known as Tourette's) Syndrome.

Find resources to support schools and students with Tourettes Syndrome here. 

Offer space for creativity in your classroom, and teaching Shakespeare will be a dream. Alison Powell, an experienced English teacher and writer, shares her open approaches to teaching Shakespeare at KS3.