ONLINE RESOURCES
LEAVING WORK AT WORK (BOOK)
A practical guide to improving work/life balance for ANYONE working in education!
Many teaching staff and senior leaders work more hours than they are meant to, because the job often feels too big to fit in a 37.5 hour week. In our workbook entitled "Leaving Work At Work", we help you to change your mindset about work/life balance and empower you to make lots of small changes that should make a big difference. Split into 6 sessions, where you will learn how to leave work at work physically, emotionally, and mentally, this revolutionary approach will help you set achievable targets which can be easily implemented in real situations.
E-book: £3 - available at: amzn.to/2Y56jbk
Paperback: £7 (includes additional content) - available at: amzn.to/3f2W8KB
LEADING WORK AT WORK (E-BOOK)
Supporting SLTs to create a supportive culture with wellbeing at the centre
School leaders are ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of all staff who work there - a huge privilege but a big responsibility! This 5-session e-book, designed to be worked through individually or together as a whole SLT, provides a solution-focused outline of current research in staff wellbeing, outlines how schools can ensure they're meeting Ofsted's requirements on staff wellbeing, and makes 10 recommendations which can be implemented using our Action Plan tool which we believe would transform staff wellbeing across any school. As a school leader with a never-ending to-do list, reading this should empower you to do much more of your leading at work, making more time for resting at home.
Price: £5
Available at: amzn.to/38ao1gz
LEARNING WORK AT WORK (E-BOOK)
Top tips for new teachers learning on the job
If you’re just beginning your career as a teacher, you’re starting an exciting and hugely rewarding journey! However, there are lots of challenges you’ll face as you take your first steps into teaching, and “Learning Work At Work” is a perfect quick read to help you navigate the pitfalls and equip you for success, particularly with regard to your wellbeing.
Price: £2
Available at: amzn.to/3kYt09H
ONLINE TRAINING COURSES
Watch this space...
As James Birchenough Education Services expands, we hope to offer online courses in areas falling under the umbrella of school improvement and staff wellbeing. Watch this space for more details! To register your interest, please complete the contact form below.
OUR BLOG POSTS
Please also consider taking a read through some of our blog posts: they are an excellent online resource for teachers and senior leaders alike.
Some are written by me, on topics including workload management and school leadership in difficult seasons. And, some are written by some wonderful guest authors in the "Perspectives" series, exploring how we can truly cultivate a culture of wellbeing for all through understanding each other's unique viewpoints. The most recent three are displayed here; previous blog posts are viewable by clicking the button below.
Finally, here are a selection of other resources that I have written or featured in, hosted externally.
TES: BLOG POST
I was asked by TES to write a blog post, as part of their series on wellbeing; I wrote about my top three tips for a good work/life rhythm. Following this, I was asked to contribute to a different series, a Q&A about my journey in teaching so far.
TLG: BLOG POST
Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) work with struggling children and families across the country. They are doing some amazing work and you should really check them out (could you even consider supporting them financially and becoming a Hope Giver?) On their website you'll find a blog post I wrote, about how whatever tough season we're going through, we can always have hope that things can change.
TEACH FIRST: BLOG POST
I was honoured to be asked by Teach First to write a blog post about wellbeing, for mental health week 2020; especially honoured because it was with Teach First that my teaching career first began! It's about how looking after your wellbeing, and the wellbeing of those you line-manage, is the best thing you can do for your students.
TRUE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS: BLOG POST
As we returned from the first Covid-19 lockdown to a new form of teaching in smaller groups, this blog post outlined helpful advice for adjusting and looking after our wellbeing, including lessons from my time teaching small groups in alternative provision.
BIG EDUCATION: BLOG POST
As part of this amazing blog outlining learning we can take forward after Covid-19, I wrote an article about keeping more balance in our lives and looking after ourselves.
ADVENTURES IN YARNCRAFT: BLOG POST
Adventures in Yarncraft create beautiful hand-dyed yarns (you should definitely check them out if you're a knitter or crocheter!). I wrote a blog post for them about the ways in which having a creative hobby can help your wellbeing. I have also written or co-written other blog posts on their website, including this one, with ten top tips for a simpler life.
#EDUTEACHERTIPS: VIDEO
I was invited to be part of a series of 2-minute videos offering top tips for aspiring and new teachers! Check out my video, and do consider watching others on the channel; there's a wealth of experience and ideas here!
TOM ELLIOTT: PODCAST
Check out the Oh My Days Academy podcast from the amazing comedy magician Tom Elliott! Each week he releases a new episode, covering different ways we can live life to its fullest. In episode 11, we chat about how to achieve a work/life balance in teaching, and what practical strategies help you take a step closer to that place, whatever your current reality is. Head to ohmydaysacademy.co.uk or subscribe using your favourite podcast provider.
NON CONTACT TIME: PODCAST
I was invited onto this brilliant podcast to discuss lots of aspects of teaching and learning, with a focus on teacher wellbeing. If you work in a school, it's a must-listen-to, for light-hearted discussion of important issues in education.
SARAH MULLIN: BOOK
Ok, so this isn't really an online resource, but I wanted to mention it anyway! Sarah Mullin MBE, writer of #1 Amazon bestseller "What they didn't teach me on my PGCE", selected some of my writing, alongside that of many other teachers and leaders, to be featured in her book "Chronicles from the Classroom"!
I am open to further collaborations like this; please get in touch through my contact form if you'd like to explore working together!