What I wish I knew with Sandy Thornton

Sandy Thornton has been a primary school teacher since 2003. She is passionate about learning, and has a ‘can do’ approach to all things educational. After gaining QTS, her natural teaching ability was quickly recognised when she became part of the fast track teacher initiative. Then in 2010 she became an advanced skills teacher which enabled her to use her outstanding teaching skills both in her own school and to support teachers in other schools. But she didn’t stop there! In 2011 she became an assistant headteacher, before completing the Post Graduate Certificate for Primary Maths Specialists, and then she became a Specialist Leader in Education. She is currently a Cohort Leader and Senior Trainer with Suffolk and Norfolk Primary SCITT. That sounds enough to be going on with, but on top of that she even finds time to coach the Great Britain junior and senior netball squads for the Maccabiah Games in Israel. She is one busy lady!

During our conversation we discussed ...

• The joy of seeing those magical moments when children light up after they have learnt how to do something new.
• That moment when you are both thrilled and filled with fear as you walk into class for the first time with the stabilisers off!
• How to break the ice by getting the guitar out and singing a song that everyone joins in with.
• Using music and singing to help children learn. Every lesson has a song don't you know, so learn the key ideas by singing about them.
• The importance of having high expectations of all children because invariably children will meet the high expectations you have of them.
• How the Pharaoh's motorbike in a production of Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat enthralled and energised one boy who was a reluctant learner.
• Teaching is all about having a transformational impact on children and making their lives much better because you have taught them.

You can connect with Sandy on Twitter @thornton_sandy