Articles about school life
The Power of Writing
Writing, it will make you a better person. As the French teacher at our International School of Saint Petersburg I understand the unique challenges
Why is Pushkin Relevant?
This question surely pops into students’ heads once in a while, especially when reinforced by a popular saying «Пушкин — наше все»[1]. How did he
Navigating the World of Sport: The Impact of Great Discoveries on Different Sports
The era of great geographical discoveries (15th–17th centuries) and subsequent periods significantly influenced the development of sports worldwide. These influences introduced new sports, altered existing
The role of fairy tales in life
“If you want your children to be smart, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be smarter, read them even more fairy tales.“—
The Benefits of Learning Russian in a Multicultural World
One of the first things students learn to do when they acquire a new foreign language is learn how to talk about themselves. They must
The importance of developing an Open Mind in children
In today’s ever-changing world, developing open-mindedness in children is more crucial than ever. Open-mindedness, the willingness to consider new ideas, viewpoints and experiences, is a
Who is a native speaker?
A native speaker is a person who has spoken a particular language since childhood and uses it in everyday life. Native speakers usually have a
What are A-Levels?
A-level (Advanced Levels) are a two-year programme in the UK, taken after GCSEs and typically completed by students aged 16 to 18. They are key
Top of the table
I started teaching in August 2009. It was an outstanding school in Leeds. Even though I had just spent a year working on my PGCE
Do we really need teachers?
I had recently seen a news story back in the UK about a school in London that will be trialling a teacherless AI school. It
Teaching, and Learning, Through Adversity
As a teacher, and a student of life, it is often expected to work though our own personal challenges as well as assist students through
The case method in the practice of school education
We often hear that our education is divorced from practice, that it bears no relativity to life. However, learning at school is effective precisely because
How a Teacher Assistant Can Make a Difference in Students’ Lives
Being a Teacher Assistant (TA) is more than just a job or a title. It’s a commitment to passion to help students succeed. This role
Why International?
We are the International School of St Petersburg, but what does it mean to be international? There are many other schools in the city with
The Art of Humility: Life is filled with obstacles
This past week, I participated in an 8km obstacle race that I thought I had in the bag. As an Ironman athlete, I was confident
Travelling Broadens the Mind
I have heard the title of this piece a million times when I was at school back in the noughties. My teachers, parents and family
Meaningful, not Mean, Mathematics
Mathematics has always been a source for understanding the world for humankind. In the last two thousand and five hundred years, the history of mathematical
Investigative Skills: A Pathway to Life Long Learning
Investigation is a word that has quite a lot of meanings and so people have differing ideas of its exact definition. I hope to touch
Learning The Language
‘To have another language is to possess a second soul’ Charlemagne For me learning languages was always more than an exercise at school, it was
How People Celebrate Maslenitsa in Russia
Maslenitsa has been the most cheerful and noisy folk holiday since ancient times. The purpose of Maslenitsa, a week-long festival, is to help ward off
Building “mental toughness” at school
Perseverance is a word that is often overlooked. From a very young age, most of us are told that we can do anything we want if we set our mind to it. But what happens when we really want something, but our mind is working against us?