My latest for @tesmagazine.bsky.social: are you getting goal setting right in your classroom?

Minute Cryptic - 8 January, 2026 "Get out! Shakespeare to banish Romeo and bring in Charlie?" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (46,520 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

My latest for @tesmagazine.bsky.social: are you getting goal setting right in your classroom?

Minute Cryptic - 7 January, 2026 "i’m eyePAtched!" (5,5) ⚪️🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟡🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🤝 7 hints – matched the community par (71,263 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Are you getting goal setting right in your classroom? Research shows that setting the right kind of goal with students is crucial for motivation and progress, writes @mrenglishteach.bsky.social

Minute Cryptic - 6 January, 2026 "Ghostbusting duo to start uncontrollably blasting weapon" (7) ⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 1 hints – 1 under the community par (35,440 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 5 January, 2026 "String from viola you tuned for composition" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (66,495 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 4 January, 2026 "It's not just bad acting that he's into" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (47,553 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 3 January, 2026 "Way? No way! Way. Way?" (3) ⚪️⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 2 hints – 1 under the community par (40,128 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 1 January, 2026 "Chicken crosses avenue to get to the other side?" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (47,663 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 30 December, 2025 "Spell POTS, SUN, OLD & CAR wrong?" (9) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (45,918 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 26 December, 2025 "Places to read two signs overlapping" (9) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (43,763 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 25 December, 2025 "Christmas now?" (7,3) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 3 under the community par (32,883 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 24 December, 2025 "Prancer prances, adorning exterior of tree for Jesus, perhaps" (9) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (68,090 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Best clue I came up with for Christmas dingbats quiz:

Should've got this without hints. Knew what to do but brain not up to it Minute Cryptic - 19 December, 2025 "Completely and utterly sacred?" (6) ⚪️⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 2 hints – 1 under the community par (47,040 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 18 December, 2025 "Out-of-control car leads to something horrible!?" (5) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (34,545 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 17 December, 2025 "Drops in between Tue-Thu on the way back?" (3) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (46,670 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 16 December, 2025 "Kangaroo chewed oak leaves, eucalyptus bark & fruit" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (31,058 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

The b/bee ambiguity made this a poor clue imo Minute Cryptic - 15 December, 2025 "Honey bear fails at beekeeping and misses start to hiving seasons altogether?" (3,4) ⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 1 hints – 1 under the community par (70,465 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 14 December, 2025 "Sweetheart leaving honey all over appendage? Sounds nice!" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 3 under the community par (27,535 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 13 December, 2025 "Time's up, drunk driver" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (52,020 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 11 December, 2025 "Awkward silence after beloved ultimately says "I do... not"" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (30,080 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 10 December, 2025 "Canine denied stick?" (4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (35,280 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 9 December, 2025 "Maybe professional sweaters unravel the least?" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (30,665 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 8 December, 2025 "Went inside, texting "thanks xx"" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (28,538 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

"Dad, did Shakin' Stevens do any other really good songs?"

Minute Cryptic - 7 December, 2025 "Tease astrologer, half curiously" (5) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (37,995 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 6 December, 2025 "Witch, removing cauldron lid, gets toad's tail and uncooked chicken out" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (55,223 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Interesting experimental research on how attributions around effort differ for males vs females. Essentially, do we automatically presume laziness in boys more than we do for girls? #EduSky @mrenglishteach.bsky.social feels like this is right up your street! aibm.org/research/why...

Minute Cryptic - 5 December, 2025 "Clients cast non-speaking character in scene?" (6,1) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (30,353 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 4 December, 2025 ""Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" karaoke practice progressing bit-by-bit" (5) ⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 1 hints – 1 under the community par (66,230 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 3 December, 2025 "False image in which water finally appears!?" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (33,150 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Latest edition of CGS Research/Read/Reflect, featuring @bradleybusch.bsky.social and @teacherhead.bsky.social: open.substack.com/pub/cgsresearc…

Minute Cryptic - 2 December, 2025 "Sitting in class, I'm pleading for a piece of cake" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (34,268 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 1 December, 2025 "Neo-liberal produces writing with a lot of feeling?" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (28,668 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 28 November, 2025 "Log location if returning by sub" (9) ⚪️⚪️⚪️🟡🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🤝 4 hints – matched the community par (23,150 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 27 November, 2025 "Praise for animating Kate Winslet in "Flushed Away"" (5,4) ⚪️🟡🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 2 hints – 1 under the community par (74,153 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Minute Cryptic - 25 November, 2025 ""Ludicrous!" I interjected. "Ludicrous, ludicrous!"" (10) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (79,030 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

"When teachers turn up the classroom pressure cooker, the research picture suggests that most students will experience more test anxiety, have lower motivation & perform more poorly on tasks as a result." @mrenglishteach.bsky.social in @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

"How can teachers motivate learners effectively - even within a pressurised school environment?" @mrenglishteach.bsky.social in @tesmagazine.bsky.social : www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Minute Cryptic - 24 November, 2025 "Unlocking kindness, insight and humility, starts with reflection!?" (5) ⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🤝 1 hints – matched the community par (33,355 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Attempting to motivate students with warnings like ‘you won’t get a decent job without good GCSEs’ can backfire, says @mrenglishteach.bsky.social – here, he shares some alternative approaches

The most difficult element of writing to master is structure. Anyone can stumble across a lovely word or a stylistic flourish. But structure requires big picture thinking and the grind of coherence and cohesion. Outsource your writing to AI and that's where I suspect you'll struggle most long-term.

Minute Cryptic - 20 November, 2025 "Ancestors of polar, grizzly, panda and teddy counted out loud" (9) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (77,368 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

The government will need to tackle the causes of disadvantaged boys' low attainment in the early years if it is to meet its new school-readiness targets, an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report warns

Fear appeals. We've all been guilty of them. I recognise I resort to them far too often as a parent. But as @mrenglishteach.bsky.social makes clear in a @tesmagazine.bsky.social piece today, they are not very effective in motivating people to change behaviours... www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

My latest for @tesmagazine.bsky.social looks at what happens when teachers try to motivate students through fear appeals:

A new national analysis finds no evidence that boys perform or behave better with male teachers in elementary school. This challenges a widespread belief: hechingerreport.org/proof-points... via @jillbarshay.bsky.social

Minute Cryptic - 19 November, 2025 "Splatter half-baked waffles" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 3 under the community par (65,373 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...