What is Redrafted?

Redrafted is a weekly blog about teaching and learning, written by an educator for educators. I want it to be practical first, and honest about the fact that every idea, mine included, can be improved.

My good friend Omar Ahmed inspired me to get started. His writing at omarahmed.blog is well worth your time, so please pay him a visit. We met while working together at a school, and his passion for teaching and learning has fuelled my own ever since. When he started writing and sharing his ideas, he inspired me to do the same and has continued to encourage me ever since. He is a colleague turned lifelong friend, and one of the guest voices you’ll hear on Redrafted.

Why the name?

The name comes from a simple belief: no lesson, idea or teacher is ever the final version. Good writers redraft until their work says what they mean, and good teaching works the same way. Every lesson is a new opportunity to do it a little better. Redrafted shows that process as it happens, including the parts that didn’t work first time.

What you’ll find here

A new post every Friday, each one sitting under one of the four pillars:

Notes from the ClassroomHonest reflections from the job itself. The lessons that went well, the ones that didn’t, and the beliefs I’ve had to rethink along the way.

The ToolkitPractical strategies you can pick up and use. Questioning, feedback, planning and routines, tried in a real classroom before they get written up.

The EvidenceWhat research says about how learning really works, explained in plain English and brought back to the classroom.

The ProfessionThe bigger picture of teaching as a career. Workload, wellbeing, professional growth and the culture we all work in.

How every post works

Every post follows the same four steps:

The QuestionThe moment or problem that got me thinking.
The ThinkingThe idea behind it, and what the research says.
The RedraftWhat it looks like in practice, and what you can take into your own classroom or school.
The ReflectionWhat I’m still unsure about, and a question for you.

Each pillar has its own way of showing the redraft. Notes from the Classroom opens it with a crossed-out first draft and my redraft underneath. The Toolkit uses a step-by-step model you can tap through. The Evidence uses a flip card, with a common claim on the front and the evidence at a glance on the back. The Profession sets out what teachers can do beside what schools and leaders can do.

Every post names and links exactly three pieces of research, with a clear line between evidence and opinion. From time to time, I revisit something I’ve completely changed my mind on.

Guest voices

Some posts bring in guest voices. Many are colleagues I’ve worked with directly. Others are educators I’ve got to know through conversations over the years, and the list keeps growing as I meet new voices who widen my thinking. Each guest answers five questions, and I build their answers into the piece. I still write every post. Their answers add experience from other classrooms and schools, alongside the three pieces of research, and their best line appears as a note in the margin.

Join the conversation

Redrafted works best as a conversation. Take what’s useful, adapt what isn’t, and share your thoughts in the comments under any post. Questions and ideas for future posts are always welcome.

I also share each new post on LinkedIn. Meet the author or get in touch.

Every lesson is a new opportunity.