Sarah Donarski
@s-donarski.bsky.social
MAT Director of English.
MSc T&L. Author @researchED1.
Expat/Immigrant/Mongrel of AUS/UK/IT/PL 🌎
MSc T&L. Author @researchED1.
Expat/Immigrant/Mongrel of AUS/UK/IT/PL 🌎
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
A reminder that ‘knowing’ is not binary, it's not an on/off thing. We move through stages; hearing, recognising, recalling, mastering, before knowledge becomes truly usable. This example of of children's different phrases of 'knowing' words from Beck, McKeown, and Kucan is so useful
July 15, 2025 at 11:56 AM
A reminder that ‘knowing’ is not binary, it's not an on/off thing. We move through stages; hearing, recognising, recalling, mastering, before knowledge becomes truly usable. This example of of children's different phrases of 'knowing' words from Beck, McKeown, and Kucan is so useful
Here's a reflection tip:
⬇️
Change "Why didn't they listen" to "why didn't they remember?"
⬇️
Change "Why didn't they listen" to "why didn't they remember?"
July 13, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Here's a reflection tip:
⬇️
Change "Why didn't they listen" to "why didn't they remember?"
⬇️
Change "Why didn't they listen" to "why didn't they remember?"
🚨BIG NEWS:
I am moving to Sierra Leone from Sept - March
It's been a difficult decision to give up my current role but I will be working with the charity EducAid on some improvement work whilst I'm there.
If you want to work together remotely please get in contact 😊
I am moving to Sierra Leone from Sept - March
It's been a difficult decision to give up my current role but I will be working with the charity EducAid on some improvement work whilst I'm there.
If you want to work together remotely please get in contact 😊
July 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🚨BIG NEWS:
I am moving to Sierra Leone from Sept - March
It's been a difficult decision to give up my current role but I will be working with the charity EducAid on some improvement work whilst I'm there.
If you want to work together remotely please get in contact 😊
I am moving to Sierra Leone from Sept - March
It's been a difficult decision to give up my current role but I will be working with the charity EducAid on some improvement work whilst I'm there.
If you want to work together remotely please get in contact 😊
👏👏👏 Snuck in whilst everyone was distracted by the boats.
🍾🍾🍾
🍾🍾🍾
July 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
👏👏👏 Snuck in whilst everyone was distracted by the boats.
🍾🍾🍾
🍾🍾🍾
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
Amazing, energising day recruiting our first GM100 cohort with @thereachfoundation.bsky.social. The children of Greater Manchester are in safe hands with this brilliant group of leaders.
June 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Amazing, energising day recruiting our first GM100 cohort with @thereachfoundation.bsky.social. The children of Greater Manchester are in safe hands with this brilliant group of leaders.
Change the culture in an underperforming school, they said.
What a crazy but beautiful ride with this Year 11 cohort. Really looking forward to seeing how results day comes out. ✨️
What a crazy but beautiful ride with this Year 11 cohort. Really looking forward to seeing how results day comes out. ✨️
June 16, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Change the culture in an underperforming school, they said.
What a crazy but beautiful ride with this Year 11 cohort. Really looking forward to seeing how results day comes out. ✨️
What a crazy but beautiful ride with this Year 11 cohort. Really looking forward to seeing how results day comes out. ✨️
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
First up at #ReDBmouth was a very thought provoking look at assessment from @s-donarski.bsky.social - big takeaway being that "assessment" can't be separated from curriculum design and delivery.
June 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
First up at #ReDBmouth was a very thought provoking look at assessment from @s-donarski.bsky.social - big takeaway being that "assessment" can't be separated from curriculum design and delivery.
Wonderful keynote to drive the afternoon on oracy @claresealy.bsky.social ✨️ thank you.
June 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Wonderful keynote to drive the afternoon on oracy @claresealy.bsky.social ✨️ thank you.
"Pupils ignored two years of deeper learning and focused their revision too narrowly, thanks to advice they had watched online"
Good read. More awareness of this is needed.🙏
Good read. More awareness of this is needed.🙏
TikTokTipsters profiteering on the high stakes gambling nature of GCSE exams is where we are now in 2025.
Read my comments in The Observer.
Read my comments in The Observer.
May 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
"Pupils ignored two years of deeper learning and focused their revision too narrowly, thanks to advice they had watched online"
Good read. More awareness of this is needed.🙏
Good read. More awareness of this is needed.🙏
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
Lesson feedback: don't send it, don't give it - co-construct it. Otherwise, it won't be worth it. teacherhead.com/2024/01/28/l...
Lesson feedback: don’t send it, don’t give it – co-construct it. Otherwise, it won’t be worth it.
A big part of my work is around supporting schools to develop effective professional development programmes. I encounter a wide range of approaches to this but schools are always on a journey, look…
teacherhead.com
May 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Lesson feedback: don't send it, don't give it - co-construct it. Otherwise, it won't be worth it. teacherhead.com/2024/01/28/l...
"Technique is what the teacher uses until the real teacher shows up."
Only a few pages in and already inspired to remember the value of teachers as people, not simply deliverers of content.
Thank you @megvertebrae.bsky.social for the recommendation.
Only a few pages in and already inspired to remember the value of teachers as people, not simply deliverers of content.
Thank you @megvertebrae.bsky.social for the recommendation.
May 14, 2025 at 3:06 PM
"Technique is what the teacher uses until the real teacher shows up."
Only a few pages in and already inspired to remember the value of teachers as people, not simply deliverers of content.
Thank you @megvertebrae.bsky.social for the recommendation.
Only a few pages in and already inspired to remember the value of teachers as people, not simply deliverers of content.
Thank you @megvertebrae.bsky.social for the recommendation.
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
Wow.. over 10,000 educators registered for this now.
Going live at 4pm GMT
info.mheducation.com/science-lear...
Going live at 4pm GMT
info.mheducation.com/science-lear...
May 13, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Wow.. over 10,000 educators registered for this now.
Going live at 4pm GMT
info.mheducation.com/science-lear...
Going live at 4pm GMT
info.mheducation.com/science-lear...
Super proud of my husband who has achieved his PhD in parasitology. 🥳
Celebration dinner last night.
Celebration dinner last night.
May 10, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Super proud of my husband who has achieved his PhD in parasitology. 🥳
Celebration dinner last night.
Celebration dinner last night.
HERE WE GO!
All prepped for exam mode, taking 51 beautiful key amber kids in the final stretch. All of our key kids kicking off Friday with 121 support or final intervention.
Can't be more PROUD of these kids.
All prepped for exam mode, taking 51 beautiful key amber kids in the final stretch. All of our key kids kicking off Friday with 121 support or final intervention.
Can't be more PROUD of these kids.
May 9, 2025 at 7:53 AM
HERE WE GO!
All prepped for exam mode, taking 51 beautiful key amber kids in the final stretch. All of our key kids kicking off Friday with 121 support or final intervention.
Can't be more PROUD of these kids.
All prepped for exam mode, taking 51 beautiful key amber kids in the final stretch. All of our key kids kicking off Friday with 121 support or final intervention.
Can't be more PROUD of these kids.
Keats' To Solitude was published on this day, in 1816.
Still beautiful. "If I must with thee dwell..." 🖤
Still beautiful. "If I must with thee dwell..." 🖤
May 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Keats' To Solitude was published on this day, in 1816.
Still beautiful. "If I must with thee dwell..." 🖤
Still beautiful. "If I must with thee dwell..." 🖤
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
Some reflections on two terms on my new role
*** NEW POST ***
Here, @greeborunner.bsky.social reflects on her first term as a school improvement lead in a small trust and considers the lessons learned. teachreal.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/l... #EduSkyUK #EduBlog #EduBlogUK
Here, @greeborunner.bsky.social reflects on her first term as a school improvement lead in a small trust and considers the lessons learned. teachreal.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/l... #EduSkyUK #EduBlog #EduBlogUK
Lessons Learned
I am coming toward the end of my second term in my new role as improvement adviser in a MAT. While reflection is continuous, I think it is important to carve out some time to really sit down and co…
teachreal.wordpress.com
December 17, 2024 at 5:51 PM
Some reflections on two terms on my new role
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
🗓️ Community Forum 🗓️
Grab your ticket for the next community forum for trust leaders with @s-donarski.bsky.social. This session is entitled 'Large-Scale Curriculum Design: When, how and why?'.
To book: https://buff.ly/47PpGH2
Slides from Session 1: https://buff.ly/41kfkOi
#LitdriveCPD
Grab your ticket for the next community forum for trust leaders with @s-donarski.bsky.social. This session is entitled 'Large-Scale Curriculum Design: When, how and why?'.
To book: https://buff.ly/47PpGH2
Slides from Session 1: https://buff.ly/41kfkOi
#LitdriveCPD
December 5, 2024 at 7:00 AM
🗓️ Community Forum 🗓️
Grab your ticket for the next community forum for trust leaders with @s-donarski.bsky.social. This session is entitled 'Large-Scale Curriculum Design: When, how and why?'.
To book: https://buff.ly/47PpGH2
Slides from Session 1: https://buff.ly/41kfkOi
#LitdriveCPD
Grab your ticket for the next community forum for trust leaders with @s-donarski.bsky.social. This session is entitled 'Large-Scale Curriculum Design: When, how and why?'.
To book: https://buff.ly/47PpGH2
Slides from Session 1: https://buff.ly/41kfkOi
#LitdriveCPD
My @litdrive.bsky.social with @greeborunner.bsky.social was an absolutely blast this afternoon. Thank you to everyone who came and shared their experiences of trust-wide leadership; there was a wonderful community feel to the session.
October 24, 2024 at 5:13 PM
My @litdrive.bsky.social with @greeborunner.bsky.social was an absolutely blast this afternoon. Thank you to everyone who came and shared their experiences of trust-wide leadership; there was a wonderful community feel to the session.
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
Some useful reminders and discussion points
www.edutopia.org/article/educ...
www.edutopia.org/article/educ...
5 Popular Education Beliefs That Aren’t Backed by Research
Making adjustments to these common misconceptions can turn dubious strategies into productive lessons, the research suggests.
www.edutopia.org
September 26, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Some useful reminders and discussion points
www.edutopia.org/article/educ...
www.edutopia.org/article/educ...
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
A big problem is that there’s certainly a lasting impact from COVID but it’s difficult to discern from the data because KS2 writing results were probably overinflated pre-pandemic. That drop is not just COVID related. And reading results didn’t drop at all. Hard to tell anything from these results.
September 26, 2024 at 5:54 PM
A big problem is that there’s certainly a lasting impact from COVID but it’s difficult to discern from the data because KS2 writing results were probably overinflated pre-pandemic. That drop is not just COVID related. And reading results didn’t drop at all. Hard to tell anything from these results.
This is an essential read and a sobering reminder for secondary teachers about the oncoming impact of COVID on our learners.
*NEW POST* Writing a wrong? A look at KS2 results pre- and post-pandemic. www.insightinform.co.uk/2024/09/23/w...
Writing a wrong? - Insight Inform
In 2016, Becky Allen wrote an excellent article for FFT Education DataLab, which looked at how teacher assessments of writing compared to the results of the reading test at key stage 2. The data showe...
www.insightinform.co.uk
September 26, 2024 at 4:33 PM
This is an essential read and a sobering reminder for secondary teachers about the oncoming impact of COVID on our learners.
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
🗓️ Community Forum 🗓️
NEW FOR 2024/2025 Community Forum for English Trust Leaders! Join Sarah Donarski @s-donarski.bsky.social in a new series of sessions to share effective practice of leading English at system level. For more info and to book, https://buff.ly/3MNHN6N
#LitdriveCPD #TeamEnglish
NEW FOR 2024/2025 Community Forum for English Trust Leaders! Join Sarah Donarski @s-donarski.bsky.social in a new series of sessions to share effective practice of leading English at system level. For more info and to book, https://buff.ly/3MNHN6N
#LitdriveCPD #TeamEnglish
September 20, 2024 at 6:00 AM
🗓️ Community Forum 🗓️
NEW FOR 2024/2025 Community Forum for English Trust Leaders! Join Sarah Donarski @s-donarski.bsky.social in a new series of sessions to share effective practice of leading English at system level. For more info and to book, https://buff.ly/3MNHN6N
#LitdriveCPD #TeamEnglish
NEW FOR 2024/2025 Community Forum for English Trust Leaders! Join Sarah Donarski @s-donarski.bsky.social in a new series of sessions to share effective practice of leading English at system level. For more info and to book, https://buff.ly/3MNHN6N
#LitdriveCPD #TeamEnglish
205 years ago, on 19th Sept, John Keats wrote 'To Autumn', inspired by his walk along the River Itchen. 5 years ago (on its bicentennial), @drchendrick.bsky.social and I were lucky enough to do the same. I come back to this every year today: "Season of mists..."
September 19, 2024 at 5:14 PM
205 years ago, on 19th Sept, John Keats wrote 'To Autumn', inspired by his walk along the River Itchen. 5 years ago (on its bicentennial), @drchendrick.bsky.social and I were lucky enough to do the same. I come back to this every year today: "Season of mists..."
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
🚨 Exciting news! 🚨
👀 Steplab is bringing the education community together to explore great teaching and PD in a very special conference!
🗓️ Friday 17th January 2025
🗺️ London, UK
❓Want to join us?
📣 Booking now open to non Steplab users!
🎟️ Don't delay, book tickets now: steplab.co/news/steplab...
👀 Steplab is bringing the education community together to explore great teaching and PD in a very special conference!
🗓️ Friday 17th January 2025
🗺️ London, UK
❓Want to join us?
📣 Booking now open to non Steplab users!
🎟️ Don't delay, book tickets now: steplab.co/news/steplab...
September 18, 2024 at 8:43 PM
🚨 Exciting news! 🚨
👀 Steplab is bringing the education community together to explore great teaching and PD in a very special conference!
🗓️ Friday 17th January 2025
🗺️ London, UK
❓Want to join us?
📣 Booking now open to non Steplab users!
🎟️ Don't delay, book tickets now: steplab.co/news/steplab...
👀 Steplab is bringing the education community together to explore great teaching and PD in a very special conference!
🗓️ Friday 17th January 2025
🗺️ London, UK
❓Want to join us?
📣 Booking now open to non Steplab users!
🎟️ Don't delay, book tickets now: steplab.co/news/steplab...
Reposted by Sarah Donarski
For anyone interested in a book club or study group on our book this term, here are some questions to stimulate discussion. @paulkirschner.bsky.social
September 9, 2024 at 10:32 AM
For anyone interested in a book club or study group on our book this term, here are some questions to stimulate discussion. @paulkirschner.bsky.social