So… on a day that the BBC is raising millions for Children in Need (which we shouldn’t need if the state could offer the right support) The President of The United States has confirmed he intends to sue the corporation for a billion. For the broadcast of HIS OWN WORDS. Madness.

Complex thinking posters for every lens of the approach. Some varied quotes covering a range of historical disciplines and periods. @helencarr.bsky.social @peterfrankopan.bsky.social @historyeats.bsky.social @hallierubenhold.bsky.social

Stage two of the complex thinking project is to have examples from historians own work to demonstrate to students what these look like. Here is the poster for “Contrast” using @sathnam.bsky.social work from Empireland.

Testing out some new posters around complex thinking. Please le me know what you would think and how you would tweak the visuals or message.

Wonderful evening at @britishlibrary.bsky.social listening to @drmirandakaufmann.bsky.social & Sudhir Hazareesingh discuss their new books as part of “Heiresses and Rebels: Stories of Money, Exploitation and Resistance in Caribbean and Atlantic Slavery”.

Incredibly poor customer service from @britishgashq.bsky.social Been told I am £7,000 in debt despite being in credit in December of 2024. Raised a complaint 3 months ago, which got an initial response and gone nowhere. In mean time direct debit is now £815 (x3!). Any help to escalate further?

Please tell me @thehistoryguy.bsky.social has a plan for a special podcast recorded on board.

When a Viking longship docks in London, what history teacher wouldn’t want to climb aboard??? Thanks to the crew of Saga Farmann for being so hospitable and answering all my questions!

Apparently, the pencil-pushers at the Home Office also have no clue how prohibitively expensive it would be to be treated in the US without insurance. I've lived in the UK for 23 years, and I'm a citizen. Why am I being treated like a non-citizen?

Immigration Update: the Home Office asked me to provide documents re: my medical condition, which I did. A few hours later, they asked me to provide evidence for why I cant be treated in the USA. Um...what? I'm a British citizen. Why am I not allowed to return home for my breast cancer care?

On World IVF Day I’m celebrating the science, alchemy and miracle that occurred to bring F&F into our lives. Fertility issues are a taboo that needs breaking. It’s not a guarantee (19 failed cycles) but it’s made parenthood possible for soo many more. #worldivfday

Here is my summer list for the holidays. Something to give the weeks structure and maximise the time I have.

It’s sports day tomorrow. So of course I’ve packed a bag full of so many snacks you would think I was competing in the Heptathlon.

Wonderful anniversary episode of History Hit on the Battle of Waterloo. Make sure you listen all the way to the end as the coda with @thehistoryguy.bsky.social and his Dad is brilliant. Congratulations on 10 years!

Taking the EEF 7 steps model to increase students independence in revision, combined with our active revision strategies of audit, understand, memorise, organise and apply. The active revision clock models the value of structured and meaningful revision.

Listening to the fantastic “Iran & Israel: Allies to Enemies” from @historyhitsuk.bsky.social I told @thehistoryguy.bsky.social the other day that these “emergency briefing” podcasts are exceptional and a must listen. Perfect lens to understand the present through the past.

Just received a treat from @foxlanebooks.bsky.social Beautifully wrapped, speedily delivered with a personalised message! Cant wait to tuck into “Leftovers” @historyeats.bsky.social after hearing her at @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social on Monday. @booksaremybag.bsky.social #choosebookshops

Great use of gained time to be able to engage with @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social .This session on history of food waste and preservation by @historyeats.bsky.social is such an interesting window into social history! #gainedtime @ttradioofficial.bsky.social

It's that time of year when we evaluate our curriculum. I would really appreciate it if anyone could have a look over ours. What are we missing? What needs changing? Does it flow properly? Does it prepare students from KS4 & 5? Any Feedback much appreciated. #historyteacher

It’s not “Daddy day care”, it’s being Dad.

Fantastic night celebrating the launch of “Sceptred Isle” by @helencarr.bsky.social . Her flair for engaging narrative combined with fresh insight is on display again. Cant wait to put it into our curriculum. #historyteacher @hatchards.bsky.social

hearing Felicity Cloake discuss her new book at Chorleywood Bookshop The journey across the USA discovering its food culture sounds amazing. Looking forward to reading!

The biggest story in education as we return from half term… a seismic shake up.

Finished this excellent book today. The Wager by @davidgrann.bsky.social is a fascinating insight into the perils of sea voyages in the 18th century. It reads like a thriller. Once I picked it up, I could not turn away from the trials and tribulations of the crew.

Wonderful evening @ British Museum for opening of the “ancient India, living traditions” exhibition. Superbly curated by @sushmajansari.bsky.social .Can’t be many openings that receive a tri-religious blessing! Added bonus of meeting history idols @wmarybeard.bsky.social @willdalrymple.bsky.social

Fantastic afternoon @wembleystadium.bsky.social watching @chelseafcw.bsky.social win the @adobewomensfacup.bsky.social and secure the treble! F&F loved it. #KTBFFH

I have just heard the UK Eurovision entry for the first time. I’m not a fan.

Looking forward to @davidolusoga.bsky.social deploying his own Razor to win Celebrity Traitors.

Mixing things up for Year 12 with a “chess challenge” for their revision. Testing knowledge of Eisenhower and Truman whilst they play each other at chess. To move or take a piece they have to apply their knowledge. Will hopefully show the power of collaborative revision.

Year 13 requested it, so their last lesson was a JFK murder mystery. With string and a board to boot.

Happy VE Day. Somewhere in this crowd my Nan (Heather) and her sister (Joan) were celebrating the end of the Second World War with thousands of other Londoners. #veday80thanniversary

My colleague, investigating a student for obvious GenAI use, sent me a bibliographical reference to a chapter I'd apparently written in a volume I had apparently edited. Neither title of course exists. But they were both titles I COULD have written, and he emailed because he felt he had to check.

Final lesson with Year 13 and keeping up the tradition of discussing the papers over pastries and tea/coffee. Received a lovely gift of a life size Marx!

Whilst helping clear out the library of a sadly departed relative I came across these April 1945 copies of the Picture Post. A fascinating insight into Britain on the cusp of Victory. #VEday80

Good luck to all the runners in the @londonmarathon.bsky.social today! Takes me back to Oct 21! Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, stick to your pace and the crowd will sweep you to the finish line!

Well, I’ve got the promotional photo. Now I just need that history book deal, tv series or podcast to go with it.

I should hope so!

Whilst helping clear out the library of a sadly departed relative I came across these April 1945 copies of the Picture Post. A fascinating insight into Britain on the cusp of Victory. #VEday80

All are available to download and edit here: drive.google.com/drive/folder...

The most recent “Rubenhold’s Social History” is a great explanation of the importance of studying every day lives in our classroom. @HallieRubenhold

Showing student’s how interpretations of the past change based on the contemporary is explained by “Holland’s Heuristic”. Tom Holland

Churchwell’s Vernacular explains how important it is to analyse and evaluate the motivations behind sources and historical interpretations. @sarahchurchwell.bsky.social

We love teaching Climate History and “Frankopan’s Frame” is the viewpoint that the Enquiry is based on. @peterfrankopan.bsky.social

The late Hilary Mantel’s description of how we learn about History is always powerful. “Mantel’s Sieve”

The issue of how to find the silences in the past are identified through “Lipscomb’s Reading”. @sixteenthcgirl.bsky.social

The difficulty of historical issues is addressed in “Riddel’s Rule”. @drfernriddell.bsky.social

The first poster. “Olusoga’s Razor”, contends with the nuance of the past. @davidolusoga.bsky.social

A thread of all the posters we’ve created for our department to show the insight of historians. Some are in our curriculum and other’s have valuable insight that can help students’ understanding of the past and the discipline of history. 🧵

Always meet your heroes and heroines. What a superb night on Monday celebrating the launch of @hallierubenhold.bsky.social new book #storyofamurder. A room full of the nations top historians who have shaped my understanding, lessons and curriculum.