Fe Brewer @mrsbrewtandcake Twitter profile | Pikagi

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

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Lead Professional Mentor @leicesterscitt | English Specialist | ELE | NPQLTD | Co-author of #SuccessinEnglish | Mummy Bear | Wearer of sequins

Leicestershire, England

https://t.co/YVk0UJocr2

Joined February 2017

Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

In case you missed them, my recent 19th century geek fests: #TENConline ‘The Joy of 19th Century Literature’: TENC blog with lots of links: ‘The London Dickens Knew’ @LitdriveUK Remote CPD:

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TENC 2020: The Joy of 19th Century Literature

Dear Reader, thanks for joining me. J This is a rough-ish sort of script from my presentation for the Team English National Conference 2020. Given that it was 20 minutes long, it’s a bit of a long …

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

The year 11 who, in yr 10, was horrid and once etched ‘English is s!*#’ into his desk: ‘I’ve worked really hard this year, Miss. I’ve turned things around and I’m not gonna have the chance to prove it, am I?’ I don’t think I’ve ever felt more heartbroken, or more proud.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

5 years

Anyone else reach the last few days of the holidays and suddenly find themselves feeling overwhelmed, underprepared and just a little bit terrified that this’ll be the year that someone works out that you’ve been faking it the whole time? #teaching #everyyear

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

To all trainees/NQTs, you are ENTITLED to: - be novices. - to ask lots of questions (including stupid ones) - to make mistakes - to be tired or frustrated - to have moments of doubt. If a more experienced teacher tells you they didn’t do the same, they’re lying. Keep going.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

My tutor group don’t know why I was off in Sept, but they’ve spotted I’m not always okay. When I break a bit, they ask random questions to distract me, then check I’m okay. Today’s was ‘what’s your favourite thing about reindeer, Miss?’ They’re proper good eggs. #whyiloveteaching

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

THREAD: for those who need some optimism in this tough, long term. My wonderful Mum - who inspired me to teach - unexpectedly, but peacefully, passed away last week. I’ve debated whether to tweet about it, but I think her approach to life and difficult times is worth sharing 1/

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

1 year

Year 8: Miss, when a baby is born, how do you know if it’s a boy or a girl? Me: well, males and females have different genitals. Yr 8: (stunned) WHAT?! Babies are born with genitals?! So, how was your day?

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

How awesome is this visualisation of the words spoken between all characters in Romeo and Juliet?! Such a clear representation of gendered Renaissance social spheres: Romeo talks to his friends, and Juliet talks to her parents.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

5 years

Unusually for a secondary, our 7s do a #DailyMile . As we walked, 1 girl told me today marks 2 yrs since her father’s death, the other talked about her birth family who she’s not allowed to see. Fresh air; supportive conversation in a safe space. So many benefits! #kidsdeserveit

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

1 year

Revolutionary idea: every few years, members of SLT spend a term as a full time classroom teacher in a different school to their own. On rotation, obvs. I think it would nurture an empathy and understanding of staff, and ground their perspectives.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

My fave analytical verbs: 1: Reveals: when the writer has introduced new information, a development in character, a change. Or, when the writer is bringing to light a behaviour or practice they wish to comment on.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

5/ So if you hear me banging on about mentoring and why it matters so much, it’s because poor mentoring could have been the end of my teaching career. As it is, I’m stronger and more determined for it. And, yes, I still talk ‘too much’: seems to be working tho. End.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

7 months

Let’s talk about trainee teachers… 🧵 Atm, there are thousands of trainee teachers in our schools. Some will be fab; some will be a bit naff. Their planning will probably not be up to scratch; their behaviour management a bit naff. And, you know what, that’s important. 1/

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

4/ - you can only do what you can do. If it’s not enough for some people, find other people. - tough times happen, but they never last. Be kind; be patient, learn from them. They will make you stronger. Stay optimist everyone, and keep looking for those silver linings. x

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Confession: I have a pronoun problem. Whenever writing about things I've done in my department or school, I always write 'we', even if it's solely my work. I find it really difficult to say 'I implemented/initiated X'. Anyone else do this?

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

When your mum makes a promise to your 7-year-old self that she’ll take you and your kids to Lapland one day, but 28 years later isn’t around to join you so sends you the northern lights instead. #lapland #magic #bestchristmaspresentever

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Anyone else relatively relaxed about returning to school, but utterly dreading having to get their children dressed and out the door before 10am?!

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

One day we’ll look back and be astounded at what we’re doing: at how we’ve taught remotely, in masks, with half classes and absent teachers; through confusion, fear, anger, and grief. Let’s not pretend we’re currently doing our ‘normal’ job, and recognise how incredible we are.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

An honest thread. These are the ‘targets’ from my final NQT obvs: - ‘lesson really lacked pace’ - ‘you talked too much’ (also mentioned 3 times in the notes) - ‘difficult to see differentiation’ - ‘tasks were not particularly inspiring’ - ‘plan more exciting tasks’ 1/

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

I start at new school school tomorrow. Today I will be a wobbly-wobbly, bundle-of-nerves, unpleasant person. It’s school no. 5, but I’ll still be horrid. If you’re in a similar boat, embrace the wibbly-wobbly, do whatever you need to do to chill/hype as required. We got this. 💪🏻

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

For the 1st time in 20+ yrs, today I thought about the 1st boy who ever asked me out. Why? Well, there’s an episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody about him & the horrific murder he committed last year. And that, my friends, is the importance of bucking trends and saying ‘no’.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Husband: I’m going for a run, are you going to do a workout? Me: nnnoooooo. I need to do my #WorldBookDay2020 nails. 💅🏻📚 #visualisernails

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

The Boy (6): ‘Mummy, we had to design a stamp with a person who is a hero from history or now and I chose you because you help people because that’s what teachers do.’

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

3/ - no matter how hard things are, you can ALWAYS be kind. - make sure you’re kind; kindness goes a long, long way. - say ‘hello’ to everyone; you might be the only person to talk to them. - be weak when you need to be. There’s no shame in it. We’re all weak sometimes.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

7 months

4/ We need to work out a way of supporting with focus, flexibility and forgiveness so that trainees can make the progress they need to without getting burned.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

8 months

Let’s talk about characters as devices… 🧵 Lots of the time, character will fall into 3 groups: - role models - warnings - plot devices. Teaching students which of these they are can be really helpful when moving students to understanding that texts are constructs…

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

If you had to invent collective nouns for your classes, what would it be? Here are mine: A bounce of year 7s. A scrum of year 8s. A stride of year 9s (when in corridors, a swag of year 9s).

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

2/ So, her key life lessons: - you are always stronger than you think. - You can cover a bridge in scaffolding, but eventually you’ve got to let it stand alone. Don’t worry. It’ll hold. - every situation has a silver lining. You might not be able to see it, but it’s there.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

9 months

Few things in education annoy me more than this misunderstanding. A 3 or below is NOT a fail; it’s as valid a GCSE grade as any other. I’ve had students (quite rightly) over the moon at achieving a 1 or 2. Say it’s not a ‘good pass’, fine, but don’t class it a ‘fail’, @BBCNews .

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

7 months

2/ The thing is, they need to be a bit naff, and are entitled to be so. We were all a bit naff at that stage. What we need to do is support and nurture their potential (sometimes gently; sometimes a bit hard). ‘Cause, atm, they’re not teachers, they’re trainees.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

7 months

3/ So put aside the ‘how will they cope when they’re actual teachers?’ rhetoric, because they’re not. (fyi, a WHOLE LOAD of teachers aren’t, that’s why we have such a shortage!) If we go for a ‘baptism of fire’, we’ll burn some of those trainees. We can’t afford to do that.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

WONDERFUL PODCAST ALERT! If you haven’t listened to ‘You’re Dead to Me’ on @BBCSounds , do. Episodes on Mary Shelley, and Byron, and witches, and vampires in gothic literature, and today’s is on the Haitian Revolution (yanno, like, Toussaint Louverture). Ace context!

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

Once upon a time I swam 7 hours a week and could swim a mile as a warm up. Heading into the pool for the first time in over 2 years this morning. Wish me luck! #teacher5aday #exercise

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

7 months

Often, a writer will repeatedly emphasise the same idea. When we ask students to come up with multiple ‘points’ we make their job really hard. So, teach them: ‘[writer] reinforces this when…’ ‘[writer] builds on this by…’ ‘[writer] emphasises the idea that X, through…’

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

6 months

It’s the tough bit of term, so I’m going to share lots of stuff I used to do in my classroom. Today, self-evaluation: 1: give students different things to highlight in diff colours. 2: get them to spot patterns/anything missing. 3: ask them to rewrite, adding those things.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Today we buried my mum, at the end of 3 disorientating, overwhelming and exhausting weeks. This evening, I feel a little bit me again and I know everything will be okay. #keepsmiling #staystrong #brightdaysahead

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

A thought (probably 🧵) about First World War poetry: Loads of us teacher WW1 poetry: Brook, Owen, Sassoon et al (if you’re looking for some diversity, google Gift of India by Sarojini Naidu). We probably don’t talk to students about WHY we have loads of WW1 poetry tho…

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Well, that’s it. I am ruined. The hallway will remain unpainted, my to-do list unticked, my lessons unplanned, my house unclean, my children neglected. I shall not eat, nor drink, nor sleep. I shall do nothing but read du Maurier novels, I swear it. 😍

@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

It’s an ‘in bed early, tucked up with a book’ kind of evening. I’ve heard so many good things about this one and am very much looking forward to diving in. #iamreading #wellbeing #duvettime

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

6 months

Day 9 of sharing random stuff I used to use in my classroom: Give students a sentence starter, then freeze your board while everyone writes their end to that sentence. Then share loads, incl. yours. Do the same for a whole paragraph. Great ‘there’s no right answer’ models.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

I hate Prospero. With an extraordinary passion. Even more than I hate Claudio in Much Ado (which is saying something). Shakespeare character you hate: go.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

8 months

If you don’t have Shakespeare quotations on your nails when going to a wedding, are you even an English specialist?

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

1 year

Let’s talk poetry… 🧵 As specialists, we see lots of things in poems; sounds, images, metaphors, intertextual references, patterns, structures etc etc. Sometimes, we can think that in order for a poem to be understood, our students need to know all of this stuff too.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

11 months

Tomorrow is my last day (for now) as a secondary teacher. It’s been glorious and challenging, exhilarating and exhausting, and I’m so incredibly grateful for everyone who has made it a wonderful time (you know who you are). ❤️❤️❤️ Time for a new challenge FT in ITT next year! 🥳

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

I don’t mean to boast, but I finished my day with a sneak peek at teeny part of @SPryke2 and @teachals ’s Ready To Teach A Christmas Carol. @Team_English1 , it’s marvellous. If you teach ACC, you’re in for such a treat when this beauty is published. 🦞 🎉 👻 🎄

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

5 years

‘Steal the style’ session with yr 7s inspired by @teacherhead ’s session @leicesterscitt Model paragraph - highlight phrases to ‘steal’; write own paragraph, highlight ‘stolen’ phrases that can be recycled again. #teamenglish #teacherwin

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Morning thought: when teachers become ML or SLT, they teach less and gain other priorities that take their time. It’s almost like they become a part-time teacher. Why would we ever assume that a part-time teacher with priorities outside of the building is any less dedicated? 🤷‍♀️

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

It’s an ‘in bed early, tucked up with a book’ kind of evening. I’ve heard so many good things about this one and am very much looking forward to diving in. #iamreading #wellbeing #duvettime

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Podcasts I listened to last term when teaching lots of Shakespeare… The Tempest Julius Caesar Othello 🧵 Big thread warning 🧵

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

The media: AAAHHH! CHILDREN HAVE HAD NO LEARNING! SO MANY MISSED LESSONS! CATASTROPHE! Parents: So many lessons! Gosh this is a lot of learning! Teachers: Teaching their usual lessons, *nearly* as usual, being their usual everyday awesome. Spot the differences.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

Other than a handful of papers to moderate on Monday, here endeth my GCSE marking. 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

3 years ago I never used twitter and didn’t even know @Team_English1 existed. This weekend, over 450 of you have watched ‘The Joy of 19th Century Literature’ at #TENConline . 😱🥰😅🥳 That deserves a cheers, methinks.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Yr 9 boys in the hand sanitising line this afternoon: ‘How dry are your hands?! Don’t you moisturise?’ ‘No.’ ‘I’ve got a really good moisturiser. I’ll bring some in for you. I’ll put it in a little pot.’ ‘Cool. Thanks.’ #kindness #friendship

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

8 months

Analytical writing 🧵 Oliver, Frankenstein, Juliet, Macbeth etc. don’t do/say anything by themselves and we have to recognise this. They are all constructs created by their writers, so when we model speaking or writing about them, we have to include the writer’s name. 1/

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Found a version of the Nativity at my Dad’s. Not only is it racially-accurate, but it portrays Mary breastfeeding the baby Jesus. 🙌🏻

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

9 months

I’m spending my afternoon at my granny-in-law’s 100th birthday. She’s brought an old handbag she was given by her mother. It was a present from her cousin…Joan Collins. Joan Collins got it from an actor friend… MARILYN MONROE. Yep. I’m at a party with Marilyn’s handbag. 🤩😱

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

I love my children dearly, I really do. But we’re on Week 3 of the summer holiday and I’m nearly at the point where hearing the word ‘Mummy’ is like being poked with a needle.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

4/ Teaching is the absolute love of my life (soz, hubby) and I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. Too many people who also dreamed of being teachers don’t make it, or struggle more than they need to because of poor support at the start of their career.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

7 months

Planning is hard to learn and takes time, BUT it’s also where agency, thought, hinterland, knowledge of children, and experience come together to make something beautiful. I’m not convinced teachers need more plans, they need more time and more space to think and breathe.

@SchoolsWeek

Schools Week

7 months

🤖Ministers will hand @OakNational another £2 million as part of a pledge to provide every teacher with a personalised artificial intelligence (AI) lesson-planning assistant

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

When we say, ‘I’m just tired’, we’re probably not. What we might mean is we’re ill, overwhelmed, overworked, burned-out, struggling, feeling vulnerable, feeling guilty, or maybe even angry. As a profession, we’re tired. But really, that’s just a symptom of bigger problems.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

A thought: if schools closed 2 days early, we’d all have 7 days clear of the mass interaction of school. Teachers are tired, incredibly tired. Hearing that they’re opting out of seeing family to keep them safe is heartbreaking. We all need a mental cuddle, and family 1/2

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

In case you’re one of the people who need to hear it today: we should never have to feel guilty or apologise for taking time out to look after ourselves or our loved ones. Putting our well-being first IS a way of caring for others and being a better teacher.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

When you have to do a mad Thursday evening run around to find a print copy of @tes , only to discover your article’s mentioned on the cover, and then for the kids to ask why Mummy wrote an article about ‘being a lolly pop person’. 🤦🏼‍♀️🥳🙄

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

The progress of one’s teaching capabilities is rarely tangible, and we often neglect to notice it. The progress of one’s caking capabilities, however, is more obvious. Here’s my wedding cake, made when 2 years into teaching, and one I made for this week, 12 years in. Boom.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

I know it is neither ‘cool’ nor echoed by much of the general public, but I LOVE DICKENS*. That is all. *or at least his writing. Not so much the man. He’s a bit of a *insert word of choice*.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

5 years

Living with twitter: How I feel sometimes when I scroll: Oh God, I’m not listening to podcasts! I’ve fewer than 9k followers! No one’s asked me to write a book! I’ve not been published in TES! I’ve not been promoted! I’m so far behind everyone... 1/2

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

3/ I decided to be a teacher when I was 6, following in the footsteps of my mum. Had I not been so bloody stubborn and determined to teach, I genuinely believe poor mentoring and guidance from others would have led me to give up and leave teaching. I’m glad I didn’t.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

@EdmJbg @Katy_primary97 I’m not convinced that’s a particularly helpful contribution to this tweet, @EdmJbg . There was a genuine question posed from someone clearly seeking reassurance, who cares about the children she teaches. Offering a criticism of schools is neither helpful, nor supportive.

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

All it took to get my husband to actually read a book was to write one, get it published, and hold a launch with enough English teachers for him to feel awkward enough to hide in the corner. Easy. 🥂 #succeedingasanenglishteacher

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Girl, 5, loves guided reading at school so much that she’s asked if we can invite her friends over for a guided reading party. Well done, her school. #readingrocks #allthebooks #likemotherlikedaughter

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

The Gerald thing: some thoughts. I was having a good ol’ rant yesterday about Claudio from Much Ado (aka: Renaissance Gerald). One of my year 11s asked why I was so angry about a character because ‘he’s just someone in a book.’ Characters are never simply characters 1/

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

When my current year 11s were in yr 10, we rarely managed a whole lesson without someone storming out, swearing. Today, last year’s most flighty uttered these words: ‘Miss, if I write even more, can I read it to you?’. #proud #whyIloveteaching #highexpectations #perservance

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

My girl, 5: *pupil* called me ugly today. Me: Don’t worry about that. Let her think you’re ugly if she wants. Anyway, it doesn’t matter if you’re ugly. What matters the most? Girl: That I’m loved and that I’m kind. Words to live by. ❤️ #proudmummy #wisechild

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Yr 10: We NEVER do anything FUN with you. All we ever do is LEARN! Just read books and talk about them, and write stuff and learn. Learn, learn, learn!’ Me:

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

@TeacherToolkit ‘When you give him feedback, that makes him feel bad about himself and he doesn’t want to do the work.’ ‘I can appreciate that, but I really wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t at least ask him to use capital letters.’ ‘Well, I really think you should stop that.’

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

9 months

For any ECT, trainees or anyone else who needs to hear it: - You’re not the only one who feels overwhelmed. - You’re not alone in being scared. - New environments/jobs/schools/roles are hard. - there are people who will help you. Just ask. Be kind to yourself. 😊

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

When you get back home after an amazing wedding and find the author copy of your book on the door step! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

6 months

I’ve been pondering A Christmas Carol. 🧵 You know how sometimes we say ‘we don’t have to read ACC at Christmas just time because it’s set at Xmas time’, well isn’t that sort of part of it’s context? Most texts aren’t designed to be read at a particular time, BUT, ACC is. 1/

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Tomorrow is my first full day back in school after bereavement leave. I’ve taken the mature decision to make up for the lost nap time by making myself an identical lunch to my 3 yo, only with the addition of Monster Munch and a Petits Filous. #propergrownup #biggirl #selfcare

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

I am in a pub, wearing a sequin dress and heels, surrounded by people wearing hoodies and jeans. Channelling my inner-Oscar Wilde. #halfterm #datenight

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

@EngChatUK I love using models as scaffolding: highlight the bits you can ‘recycle’ in your own writing, and use them as sentence stems. #engchatuk

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Subtly communicating what your new school have let themselves in for… #Shakespearenails @MoYouLondon

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

I've been asked a few times about how we use @WALKTHRUs_5 as part of our support for trainees and their teacher educators (mentors) at @leicesterscitt . Here's a quick run through: 1/

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Today I learned that the words ‘villager’ and ‘villain’ same a common root word: ‘villanus’, or ‘man who works in a villa’. In short, the word ‘villain’ is etymologically related to being of the common, working class. #funfact

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

Mum had some unspent garden centre vouchers when she died last year, so we spent them on wildflower seeds and made a mini meadow. It’s colourful, and irregular and messy, and perfectly like her. #teacher5aday #connect #notice

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

8 months

Granny-in-law turned 100 last month. She’s cousin to Joan Collins. 3 of us in the family contacted Joan requesting a birthday message. Tweeting = ❌ Email = ❌ Good ol’ letter writing ✅ Tell that to the next kid who says, ‘no one writes letters any more, Miss.’

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Tutor zoom meeting: ‘I’ve spent less time on my phone and more time outside and I’m not, like, just taking a photo, but looking with my actual eyes...I know we’re meant to be finding [lockdown] hard, but I’m not. Like, it’s not that bad; I’m pretty happy.’ Day = made. 😁🌿

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

1 year

@TeacherBusy In truth, we don’t need every teacher our age to write a book: what we need is teachers doing what you do, working hard day-in-day-out at the chalk face, while also having a life outside of school. Keep doing the good work!! 💪🏻

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Husband has taken the kids to the in-laws for the day. I have a billion jobs to do. So far, I’ve watched ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ and eaten biscuits. 🤦🏼‍♀️

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

All ready to be published tomorrow, the blog with links, suggestions and additional texts that accompanies my talk on 19th century literature at @TeamEnglishNC ! #excited #terrified

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Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

My week: - first day at new school 🥳 - the girl’s first day at school 🥰 - BRAND NEW school building opened 🏰💙 - early-finish on Friday so I could pick the kids up ❤️ - off to London today to meet with a bunch of LEGENDS and see @HamiltonMusical 🤩🤩 So, yeah, I win.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Thought for the school leaders: never, ever underestimate the investment and sacrifice your staff might have made in order to be in your school. They are your biggest resource, but also your most important investors.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

5 years

2/2 What 99% of the teachers in my real life say to me: you’re so proactive, how do you have time for all this? You do X and Y?! Wow. You’re a wonder woman. This year, I aim to balance these a bit better. #balance #edutwitter #impostersyndrome #teaching

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Once upon a time there was a teacher who got a job that involved reading research and delivering it to others, and it was AWESOME. #geek #webinarplanning #teachereducator #mentoring

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

I had 21 hours’ notice for this observation; it took 2 days to get feedback. I was heartbroken by it. I’d been heartbroken before, when I was given an ‘ordinary’ level mark for my Phase B placement, and persistently blunt, negative feedback from my unsupportive mentor. 2/

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

8 months

A thought on literary devices. 🧵 We often lump literary devices all together, providing students with a plethora of things to use in their writing. What we neglect to teach them is that not all literary devices are equal. Let’s take foreshadowing vs onomatopoeia...

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

Spending the morning making final tweaks to this afternoon's training session on instructional coaching and @WALKTHRUs_5 for our brilliant teacher educators at @leicesterscitt . My favourite part of the job! 😁

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

To all the lovely trainees, ECTs or anyone who needs to hear it: It’s okay to not know stuff. It doesn’t make you less of a teacher. Own the fact that you’re learning. It makes you a great role model.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

2 years

Had a moment this week when I started at school no. 5 and thought, ‘Working in so many schools looks rubbish.’ Then I realised that 3/4 of those new schools represent a time I could have left teaching, but instead stayed; a sign of my resilience and love for this job.

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

3 years

I spent 4 years reading English and Drama at the world’s best university for sport. Tonight I’m watching Julius Caesar from the @NationalTheatre while the rest of the nation watch football. Reliving my student days. 🙌🏻🥳🤘🏻

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@mrsbrewtandcake

Fe Brewer

@mrsbrewtandcake

4 years

Is there any finer last supper at one’s parents than fish and chips followed by Viennetta? I think not. #queenoficecreams #properposh

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