DDunc

Make Time for Learning When Checking Becomes the Lesson

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open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...

Too many lessons are filled with checking what pupils know rather than helping them learn something new.

A preserved carved turnip jack o'lantern from the 19th century

A preserved carved turnip jack o'lantern from the 19th century

A reminder that the original Hallowe'en jack o' lanterns date back to 18th century Ireland if not earlier, were based on a shady boozy blacksmith called Stingy Jack who cheated the devil & was trapped between 2 worlds, were carved from turnips and looked like this:

Haha. Would love to be hard as nails. Maybe in my next life.

She was probably (sensibly) isolating during covid instead of risking her life keeping a school going. We were all collateral damage.

I hear you.

It's easier than it used to be. Able to walk up some slopes without thinking I'm going to collapse...

Stunning scenery. Makes me so incredibly happy to be out in the hills. Need to do some proper hiking but not quite fit enough yet.

Need to move to Wales or back to Scotland. I miss proper trees and hills so much. 2 day nature fix in Eryri.

There's a cat. Good vibes. And the house looks gorgeous x

“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”

Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943

Yep. It's the busiest market I've ever seen. Only really bearable as soon as it opens...

Well I say cat. Meant cats. Three possible suspects but I'm pretty sure I know who is the culprit

Cat has irritating and slightly dangerous habit of clawing at my face for attention when I am asleep.

All good apart from random A&E visit this morning as 111 insisted and wouldn't do minor injuries. Infected eyelid. Probably from my cat. Fun times.

perfect

Happy Birthday old man.

German media seems to be taking more seriously than ours the fact a leading light in the party UK press keeps saying will be next government took bribes from Russia to spout their lies. Maybe it’s because they put NEWS ahead of propaganda

Could we please stop pretending that the flags being hung from streetlamps or painted on roundabouts are innocent expressions of patriotic pride? This is the far right marking out its territory. It uses these flags to intimidate its traditional victims and opponents. 🧵1/3

Boris Johnson was paid £240,000 after Maduro meeting, invoice shows Johnson’s office sent invoice to hedge fund manager, which was paid, weeks after meeting Venezuelan leader last year

This feels like the biggest story from the Guardian's Boris leaks... he took £240k from a Venezuelan hedge fund after meeting Maduro. And having denied he was paid.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Everybody in education needs to read this. Fascinating insight and data exploring reported reasons for home-schooling in the UK by @learnwhatyoulive.bsky.social

This is fascinating. Backs up what I have experienced anecdotally both as a teacher and as a parent (of an ASD child with post-covid medical issues that caused significant absence and difficulties). We need to look at how we can better support students with mental health and SEN.

What utter dickheads we are…

Rayner fought for workers: sick pay, maternity rights, protection from unfair dismissal

Farage and his MPs voted it down

Rayner gets binned over £40k in stamp duty

Farage dodges £44k, shrugs & strolls on

The mega wealthy win again.

Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.

Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.

That, right there, is the problem.

The Telegraph Rayner tax scandal - £40k tax dodge - Statement Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty Deputy Prime Minister reduces tax bill for Hove flat by declaring it as her main residence [Photo: Angela Rayner pictured at the weekend in Hove, where she has just bought a flat Credit: Dan Charity/The Sun on Sunday] Robert Mendick Chief Reporter. Amy Gibbons Political Correspondent 29 August 2025 8:57am BST

The Telegraph Money > Property > Second homes How to avoid tax on your second home From stamp duty to council tax, shield your wealth from Labour's tightening net [Photo of houses around a bay - Areas such as Cornwall have added a premium to council tax bills for second homes Credit: iStockphoto] Fran Ivens Senior Money Writer 29 August 2025 1:21pm BST

On the same day in the Telegraph:

Right wing media has had it in for Angela Rayner from the start - they couldn’t bear a working class woman being so powerful & dynamic. She made a mistake and has paid heavily for it. Very much hope she’ll return at some point in the future - our politics desperately needs more voices like hers

YouTube video by Focus Features HAMNET - Official Teaser Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters Thanksgiving

'Hamnet' film trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2xt...

Debra Myhill as always is superb here on writing and the teaching of writing! Her critique of the DfE Writing Framework is absolutely spot on, including its very poor use of research on writing. @beckyfrancis.bsky.social

This is awful

Not sure what's going to give up first: knees, lungs or heart. Hiking after long Covid is a little humbling. But survived another hill walk and now doing a slow wander around Raglan Castle

NEW* for June 2026 onwards: AQA Lang P1 specimen papers and accompanying PPT slide decks. I’ll add to this folder as I update them. Includes:

✅ Enduring Love
✅ Hound of the Baskervilles
✅ Whole Town’s Sleeping
✅To Kill a Mockingbird

Help yourself 😊

www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bd6qg...