Lesson Plans & Life Plans

Larissa and Tom are back, diving into the latest education news before getting stuck into the things teachers don't always admit out loud.From stretching a lesson because you've somehow got ten minutes left and absolutely nothing planned to pretending you haven't spotted a student while doing the weekly shop, this episode gets brutally honest about the realities of teaching.They also tackle the growing cost of school uniforms, including new limits around branded items and what that could mean for families already feeling the financial squeeze.And then there's AI.With teachers increasingly using AI to help with planning and marking, where do we draw the line when students start using it too? What happens when a piece of work looks suspiciously AI-generated, but you can't actually prove it?It's a proper teacher dilemma, and Larissa and Tom get stuck into the tricky balance between technology, trust, fairness and good old-fashioned detective work.If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September is back. The alarm is screaming. The uniform is questionable. And somewhere, a teacher is already counting down to half term.Larissa and Tom are back, tackling everything from September dread and inset days to new classes, new names, and the eternal struggle of remembering which system does what. They get brutally honest about why the first term can feel like running a marathon you didn't train for.And then there's the heat.With hotter weather becoming an increasingly regular part of school life, the conversation turns to whether the traditional school calendar and Victorian-style school day still make sense. Should schools start earlier? Finish earlier? Rethink the entire timetable? Or should we just give every teacher a paddling pool?They also tackle a listener dilemma around behaviour management: can a softer, relationship-first approach actually work, or is it time to bring back the serious teacher voice?Expect practical survival tips, plenty of teacher trauma, and the all-important Term Worm scale — because nothing quite describes the school year like slowly transforming from Herbie Fully Loaded into bin juice.If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!Sports Day… the one day of the school year where classrooms are swapped for fields, teachers become unofficial event managers, and someone inevitably forgets to start the stopwatch.In this episode Larissa and Tom lace up their trainers and relive the highs, lows, and hilarious moments that come with one of the biggest events in the school calendar.From egg-and-spoon races and sack races to frantic toilet trips, unpredictable British weather, and trying to keep hundreds of students in roughly the right place at the right time, they lift the lid on what Sports Day is really like behind the scenes.Whether you're the ultra-competitive teacher, the one praying it doesn't rain, or the student who only turned up for the ice cream van, this episode is packed with laughs, nostalgia, and a reminder that sometimes the best school memories happen outside the classroom.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!In this episode Larissa and Tom dive into the wonderfully unpredictable world of school work experience, the rite of passage that can either spark a lifelong career ambition… or leave you questioning every life choice you've ever made.From awkward first days and questionable placements to the reality of trying to secure opportunities in today's world, they unpack why work experience still matters and how it's evolving post-pandemic. Along the way, they share hilarious stories from hospitality, education, and beyond, proving that sometimes the biggest lessons happen far away from the classroom.Whether you're an educator organising placements, a student preparing for your first taste of the working world, or a parent wondering if your teenager will survive a week in an office, this episode is packed with practical advice, honest reflections, and plenty of laughs.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!In this episode Larissa and Tom dive into the wonderfully chaotic ecosystem that is school staff culture, because every school has types of teachers, and honestly… you can probably picture them immediately.From Golden Retriever energy and hyper-organised planners to the permanently exhausted veteran surviving on caffeine and sarcasm, this episode hilariously breaks down the personalities that somehow keep schools functioning. Using animal comparisons, workplace archetypes, and a few very accurate observations, Larissa and Tom reflect on their own teaching personalities and the colleagues we all know (and fear).There’s chaos. There’s self-awareness. There’s a slightly concerning Squid Game comparison. And somehow… it all makes perfect sense.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!In this episode Larissa and Tom tackle the age-old question: what actually makes a good teacher? And spoiler alert, it’s not just being terrifying enough to silence a classroom with one look.From strict teachers vs the “nice” ones, to the chaos of teaching subjects you barely feel qualified for, this episode dives into the myths, pressures, and personalities behind effective teaching. Expect honest conversations about classroom presence, student perceptions, mutual respect, and why some teachers just naturally have it… while others build it through experience (and a lot of trial and error 👀).They also unpack the balancing act between professionalism and personality, what students really notice about teachers, and whether Ofsted’s version of a “great teacher” actually matches reality.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!In this episode, Tom and Larissa get brutally honest about the parts of teaching no one really warns you about, the constant mental load and the way the job quietly creeps into every corner of your life.From overthinking every word you say to filtering yourself in everyday conversations, this episode shines a light on the invisible weight teachers carry long after the bell rings. And it’s not just in the classroom, it shows up in friendships, relationships, and those rare moments when you’re supposed to be “switching off”… but absolutely aren’t.If you’ve ever found yourself analysing a casual conversation like it’s a lesson observation, this one’s for you.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!In this episode of Chalkboard and Chill, Tom and Larrissa gets real about the beautifully chaotic balancing act that is teaching… while also, you know, living an entire life outside of it.From exam-season stress spirals to weddings, house moves, pregnancy, and everything in between, this episode is a candid, honest, and often very relatable look at what happens when personal life and classroom life collide.Expect laughter, a few “you couldn’t make it up” moments, and a whole lot of reassurance that if you’re feeling stretched thin… you’re definitely not the only one.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!In this episode of Chalkboard and Chill, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most important conversations in education right now: how we create classrooms that actually work for every child, not just the ones who neatly fit the system.From SEND support and mainstream inclusion to behavior, burnout, and the difference between equity and equality, this episode unpacks what it really means to build an education system that sees students as individuals, not boxes to be ticked.We explore how SEND provision has evolved over the years, the very real challenges teachers and families face, and why understanding behavior as communication can completely change the game. Expect honest reflections, practical classroom strategies, and a big reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do in education… is adapt.Because let’s be honest, kids shouldn’t have to bend themselves to fit the classroom.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head to:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill!This week, Tom and Larrissa dive into the chaos, costumes, and questionable outfit choices that come with World Book Day in schools.From recycled onesies and last-minute costume panic to the teachers who fully commit (top hats, face paint and all), they share their honest thoughts on dressing up for the big day — including why it’s much easier said than done when you’re actually trying to teach in the outfit.The conversation drifts into some brilliant staffroom memories: mysterious Lady Macbeth sightings, football kits masquerading as literary costumes, and the very real moment when a full Cleopatra walks into a lesson observation. Along the way they reminisce about the Scholastic book fair, childhood book choices, and the strange nostalgia of the mobile library van.They also chat about the other themed days that pop up in school life — from National Poetry Day and creative writing activities to the unexpectedly delicious arrival of Pi Day (yes, involving actual pies).As always, the episode wraps up with Peak & Pit, where Tom celebrates the unexpected joy of receiving a free pineapple from the school canteen, while Larrissa navigates the emotional rollercoaster of Year 9 options choices.Whether you’re a teacher preparing for World Book Day, a student remembering the chaos, or just someone who enjoys a good staffroom story, this episode is packed with relatable school-life moments, humour, and a healthy dose of teacher reality.—If you want to find out more or get involved in the show, head toInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalkboardandchillpodcastTikTok: @Chalkboardandchill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.