Short description:

Bursting with creativity and actionable tips, this book is centred around making tutor time meaningful and giving students the best start to the day. Full of low-cost, high-impact activities, it is an essential resource for teachers looking for concrete tutor group guidance, as well as heads of year, pastoral and PSHE leads.

Long description:

This accessible book is a trusted companion for every teacher who has found themselves in charge of a tutor group. Inside, you?ll find a treasure trove of activities that require little to no planning but will have a positive and engaging impact on your pupils.

Bursting with creativity and actionable tips, the book recognises the myriad demands on a teacher?s time and is centred around making tutor time meaningful and giving students the best start to the day. Divided into three key sections - School Culture and Community, Health and Wellbeing, and Academic Improvement ? a variety of activities are provided, each with helpful background context as well as clear instructions and discussion prompts. The activities cover diverse topics, from SEND support to forming habits, and will create a tutor time curriculum which strengthens your understanding of each pupil in your care and facilitates positive relationships and support amongst students and staff.

Transforming your Tutor Time Curriculum is an essential resource for teachers looking for concrete tutor group guidance, as well as heads of year and pastoral and PSHE leads. It is also valuable reading for senior leaders who would like to think more strategically about the low-cost, high-impact benefits of tutor time.

"I was a form tutor for five years with the same group and it was one of my happiest professional experiences. However, I remember asking the senior leader in charge of professional learning if there were any courses or support or books I could use in order to make sure I was as effective as possible in my tutor role. He didn?t know of any, and it was left at that. How I could have done with Kirsten Colquhoun?s ?Transforming your Tutor Time Curriculum?! It?s beautifully researched, overflowing with ideas and above all makes the case for ensuring a rich, robust and nurturing experience for our young people in Tutor Time." - Mary Myatt, Education Writer and Speaker

"Kirsten?s book makes a compelling case for the crucial importance of Tutor Time, and she gives practical, balanced, actionable suggestions to ensure it is thoughtfully planned and intentionally structured.  The book, which is underpinned by Kirsten?s considerable professional experience and her secure understanding of what the relevant research evidence has to say, should be invaluable for Tutor Teachers working with pupils of all ages and in all contexts." - Dr Jill Berry, Former Head Teacher, Author, Education Consultant

"Insightful and practical, this guide redefines tutor time as a powerful opportunity to strengthen school culture and improve outcomes." - Dr Carl Hendrick, Academica University of Applied Sciences

"A wonderfully engaging book for teachers - full of insight and practical examples - that illuminates how a little dedicated time with pupils at the start of the school day can have a profound impact." - Henry Hepburn, Scotland editor, Tes

"It's hard to imagine a more thorough and thoughtful guide to making the most effective use of tutor time. Colquhoun's book is very well supported with research evidence from psychology and beyond, and it should feature in any CPD library." - Dr Jonathan Firth, University of Strathclyde

"Kirsten Colquhoun has set out a clear, interesting, and evidence-informed approach which will expand your understanding, develop your practice and enhance pupil experiences. The book is a must read for teachers and educationalists alike." - Dr Barry Black, Educational Researche

?Kirsten Colquhoun?s Transforming Your Tutor Time Curriculum is nothing short of a revelation. In a time when schools are facing increasing pressures: rising mental health challenges, concerns over student engagement and the need to foster belonging?this book offers a lifeline. It?s not just a guide; it?s an invitation to reimagine what tutor time can achieve.? - Dr Haili Hughes

Table of Contents:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

?       What is tutor time?

?       Enhancing your skills as a tutor teacher

?       Supporting pupils? emotional and academic wellbeing

?       Making tutor time meaningful

PART 1 - LOGISTICS OF TUTOR TIME

?       Approaches to Tutor Time

?       Time Allocations

?       Record Keeping

?       Attendance

?       Organisation / SEND

?       Schools without Tutor Time

?       Environment

?       Field Theory

?       Sensory Load (/ Extraneous)

?       Alternatives to Tutor Time

?       Setting Up Tutor Time

PART 2 ? DESIGNING A TUTOR TIME CURRICULUM

PART 3 - TUTOR TIME FOR SUPPORTING SCHOOL CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

?       Building Social Connections

?       Annual Observations and Celebrations

PART 4 ? TUTOR TIME FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING

PART 5 ? TUTOR TIME FOR ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT

?       Sub-section 1: Academic Interventions

?       Sub-section 2: Revision Planning

?       Sub-section 3: Strategies in Action

FINAL THOUGHTS

REFERENCES

INDEX