Thomas Blakemore

I’ve always found ‘Thank A Teacher Day’ an interesting day.

On the surface, our profession deserves its gratitude. It’s relentless and often thankless.

But it brings me to 2020.

Remember when we all stood outside clapping the NHS. It was a collective realisation of societies most important professionals.

And yet, how many year did it take for us to start questioning payrises and the increasing pressures they face.

Change the words I’ve just mentioned to teaching and it’s the same story.

Respect is appreciated through a specific day but it’s grounded in cultural appreciation and recognition.

I do wonder how much we’ve lost that.

🎨These three tools are well worth having in your teaching toolkit:

✨ Canva for Education
Free for teachers and packed with templates, presentations, worksheets, posters, videos, whiteboards, and more.

🧩 Amplify Polypad
Perfect for maths lessons. Use virtual manipulatives, algebra tiles, fraction tools, number lines, geometry resources, and interactive problem solving activities.

📌 Padlet
A brilliant collaboration tool for gathering ideas, sharing work, creating discussion boards, exit tickets, and class portfolios. The free version does have some limits, but it’s still incredibly useful.

I’ve used all three and they can save hours while helping create more interactive learning experiences.

If you’re looking for even more practical EdTech recommendations, tips, and classroom tools, check out EdTech Empowered 👇

My feed has been awash with opinions from teachers about the proposed social media ban for under-16s.

Personally, I can see the benefits.

As a teacher, and now as a parent, stronger guardrails online could help protect children’s wellbeing, mental health, self-esteem and attention spans. The benefits won’t appear overnight, but fewer hours scrolling could mean more time for reading, creativity, sport and real-world friendships.

However, I don’t think enough responsibility is being placed on the social media companies themselves.

Many platforms employ some of the world’s brightest behavioural scientists and psychologists to maximise engagement. Their business model depends on attention, and I suspect future generations may look back at parts of social media culture in a similar way to how we now view smoking. Not because they’re the same thing, but because we’ve normalised something without fully understanding the long-term consequences.

And I say that as someone who creates content online every week.

The other side of this debate is educational content.

Many teachers use social media to support young people. I’ve created SATs and revision content in the past, and thousands of educators share free explanations, tips and guidance that students access when they need it most.

That’s why YouTube feels like a unique case. For many students, it’s not just social media. It’s where they learn, revise and explore new ideas.

Which raises a bigger question:

Are we tackling the root cause of harmful platform design?

Or are we simply restricting access while leaving the incentives unchanged?

What are your thoughts?

I’m Learning To Let Some Things Go

It’s hilarious to think about all of the different things I told myself I would do when my baby came. Then reality hit me.

If I’m damn honest… I’m struggling with everything. In the past, I’ve been asked how I managed to juggle everything: full-time teaching (back then), content, time for myself, getting steps in, fitness, socialising and seeing family.

It was a fine line but my answer to said people was ALWAYS the same: I don’t have children.

Well… I guess now I do and damn it’s brutal! I wouldn’t have it any other way but it’s brutal.

In an earlier email I spoke about how we spent the whole of paternity in hospital. It wasn’t the start to parent life I expected and in reality, it created a strange void.

It wasn’t a void of love or gratitude. It was quite the opposite.

And ever since that, I’ve been trying to fill that gap as much as possible to fill that void.

What I hoped would be a season of balancing content, steps and work. Progress has come with a reality that ‘more’ requires me to take something away from somewhere else.

Right now, that somewhere else is sleep, recovery or simply being present.

Unlike my old life in Dubai, I’ve come to realise that not every season of life is designed for acceleration.

Some seasons are about life, others growth but this one… survival, while something beautiful unfolds.

I think that’s what I’ve been struggling with in reality. The realisation that I’m not ‘falling behind’ but just that this season looks different.

The content and you guys will (hopefully) still be there. My goals and plans will still be the same and the opportunities I’ve had to put on hold for now should be too.

But these tiny hands pressed up against my chest and little man’s sniffly snoring and big round eyes looking up at me, won’t always be.

I’d love to hear from you. Especially if you have kids.
Tell me I’ll get back to it or find a new normal.

So if you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind because life changed the rules on you, maybe you’re not behind at all.

Maybe you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

For now, I’m trying my best to believe that too.

Teachermaxxing your first teacher interviews

A few different tips and advice I wish I’d known when I first started going through the process.

Made a guide available on my site too.

My Favourite Reading Websites For Teachers (ad)

If you are looking for reading websites that actually save time and keep pupils engaged, these are the ones worth bookmarking.

Here are my favourites:

🧠 Chalkie.AI, brilliant for new audio activities and audio comprehension, plus you can use Thomas20 for 20% off Pro

📚 Phonics Play, a classic for phonics practice and easy classroom use

🎬 Storyline Online, perfect for bringing stories to life with great read alouds

🎧 Storynory, lovely for audio stories that children can enjoy independently

🔤 Phonics and Stuff, a handy extra for phonics support and quick ideas

A good reading website should do more than just fill time. It should make reading fun, support learning, and make your life easier too.

Save this for later and share it with a teacher who is always hunting for better reading resources.

The Teacher Websites I Accidentally Discovered

It’s been incredible to see how many people have found this creation useful after a year of being published.

Thank you so much for supporting and trusting what I do.

Find the guide on my website