222. Teachers' Most Unpopular Opinions: Homework, Tech and Planning From Scratch
What are the most unpopular opinions teachers and school staff really hold? Hayden and Dylan work through your submissions on homework, shared planning, AI lesson tools, screens in the classroom, teacher workload and whether teaching is actually as hard as people say.
This week on Teach Sleep Repeat, we dig into the hot takes you sent in on Facebook and Instagram. First, we sort the genuinely unpopular opinions from the ones everyone secretly agrees with. Then the debate gets going. Do pre-made resources and AI lesson planners risk de-skilling new teachers, and where should the line be for ECTs and trainees? Should primary schools set no homework at all, and does reading at home even count as homework?
One listener argued that teaching is easier than other public services like nursing, policing and firefighting. We explain why we find that framing condescending, and why getting a five-year-old to really understand fractions is harder than it looks. We also ask whether workload differs between secondary subjects and why Year 6 so often carries the SATs pressure. A former head of computing makes the case for less technology in classrooms, which leads us to tech-free Fridays, problem-solving Fridays and what actually makes a good lesson. We finish with high-attainers and special needs, and whether senior leaders should rotate back into the classroom so they don't lose touch.
It's honest, funny and occasionally heated, so it's perfect for any primary school teacher who has an opinion they've never dared say in the staffroom.
In this episode:
- Unpopular opinions that aren't actually unpopular
- Shared resources, AI planning tools and the risk of de-skilling new teachers
- Should primary schools set no homework?
- "Teaching isn't as hard as people claim": our response
- Workload differences between subjects and the pressure on Year 6
- Less technology in classrooms and the problem with tech-free Fridays
- Gifted and talented pupils: is high intelligence a special need?
- Should senior leadership rotate back into the classroom?
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Teach Sleep Repeat, leave us a rating and share it with a teacher friend. Send us your unpopular opinions too, because we'll be back with more!
