We are here for the latest episode of What Even is RME?
Joining me today is a fantastic guest, Stuart McKinlay. Not only is Stuart an experienced RMPS teacher, but he is also the Chair of STARME (The Scottish Teachers Association of RME). As you learn from the podcast Stuart and I work closely together through the work of STARME but we rarely get the chance to talk about what we get up to in our classrooms.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Holocaust Education: Stuart shares his experience inviting speakers from Generation 2 Generation for Holocaust Memorial lessons—a truly powerful way to bring the subject to life.
- S1 Research Skills: How Stuart approaches building up those crucial research skills with our first years.
- Tech Troubles: We have a candid moan about the state of technology in schools and how its not fit for purpose.
- Rome Excursion: Stuart talks about his trip to Rome with Absolute Travel, including the key religious sites to visit and his top tips for running a smooth trip abroad.
- Extracurriculars: We chat about why helping with the school show is so rewarding. I share a confession about why I was absolutely rubbish at it, while Stuart explains why it’s worth the effort.
Ultimately, it all comes back to the core theme we touched on in Episode 1: Relationships.
Whether it is running a trip to Italy or helping backstage at the school show, getting involved in extracurricular activities is key to building bonds with pupils. Seeing them outside the classroom changes the dynamic inside the classroom.
Check out the work Stuart is doing with STARME here: https://starme.co.uk/
Get in touch! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and listen. I hope you gained something from our chat.
I would love it if you could like, subscribe, and leave a review. Please comment on the social media posts with what you enjoyed or your own “top tips” for school trips!
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