At the chalk face: High expectations from the first minute

A great lesson doesn’t start when the bell rings — it starts long before!

In this episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave dive into what it really means to have high expectations from the very first minute of your lesson.

From meet-and-greet routines at the door to establishing calm, purposeful starts, they share practical strategies to help you set the tone right from the start — and keep it consistent.

Whether you’re an NQT finding your feet or an experienced teacher looking to fine-tune your classroom flow, this episode is packed with relatable stories, humour, and tips that actually work.

💡 Learn how to:
Create high expectations without being “strict”
Master the art of meet-and-greet
Use Smart Revise quizzes and starter tasks effectively
Build smooth transitions between lesson phases
Stay consistent, calm, and in control — every time

If you’ve ever wondered how to make the first minute count, this episode’s for you!

🎓 Watch, learn, and join the conversation in the comments — how do you set high expectations from the first minute?


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About Smart Revise -
Smart Revise is the continual revision platform built by teachers, for teachers.
• Personalised retrieval practice that saves marking time.
• Auto-marked quizzes, homework, and mock exams.
• Used by tens of thousands of students across the UK.

Discover how Smart Revise boosts attainment and frees up your evenings:
👉 https://smartrevise.craigndave.org/


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🎯 High expectations. But what does that really mean?

Craig and Dave are diving into one of education’s favourite buzzwords — and giving it a proper reality check! For them, it’s not about piling on pressure; it’s about purpose.

In this episode, we unpack how homework can be used as a tool to prepare students for lessons, boost memory retention, and actually make learning easier — not harder. It’s all about making homework something students can achieve, enjoy, and see the value in.

Discover how:
✅ homework can be short, focused, and achievable (no long essays or parental help required!)
✅ the flipped classroom approach helps students prepare for lessons and embed knowledge
✅ note-taking with the Cornell method turns simple homework into higher-order thinking
✅ Smart Revise personalised goals help students manage their workload and track progress

It’s not about making tasks harder – it’s about creating routines, habits, and consistency that really set students up to succeed.

📚 Teachers, if you’ve ever wondered how to get students to actually do their homework and engage meaningfully with lessons, this video is for you.

Check out all our Computer Science teaching resources in our Resource Centre:
https://craigndave.org/study-tools/resource-centre

Check out Smart Revise -
https://smartrevise.craigndave.org/

✉️ Questions? Drop us a line at admin@craigandave.co.uk

💬 Expect laughs, honest reflections, and a few classroom stories along the way — whether you’re a teacher, head of department, or just curious about how schools really work.

#TeachingLife #EducationUK #SecondaryEducation #TeacherStories #Chalkface #CraignDave #UKSchools #ClassroomInsights #EdChat

Craig and Dave reminisce about the days of CD-ROMs, dot-matrix printers, and mischievous bus networks — and connect those stories to a timeless truth: technology will fail you sooner or later. So how do you keep a Computer Science lesson productive when the Wi-Fi dies?

This episode explores practical unplugged activities, quick-print resources, and strategies to stay calm and keep learning moving when digital systems go down. It’s part nostalgia, part survival guide for every modern teacher.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, so you never miss an At the Chalk Face episode.

Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, or just curious about the future of education, this discussion offers a thought-provoking look at innovation, flexibility, and what’s next for classrooms in England.

🔗 More from us:
Website & resources – Craigndave.org
Smart Revise – https://smartrevise.craigndave.org/

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