Unlock the Secrets of Supply Teaching with Mr. D’s London!
Our Schools offer special hours & seven days a week.
We have highly qualified Teacher Aides to suit all special children of the ages we offer. We rotate Teacher Aides every hour or so & this offers male to female connection time(s).
Welcome to Mr. D's London Supply Teaching Secrets—your gateway to a treasure trove of insights and best practices accumulated from a rewarding teaching career spanning from 1999 to 2002. Mr. D’s approach to supply teaching, honed in London’s primary schools, remains timeless and is still highly relevant for educators worldwide.
Creating an ideal playground and recreational space for special children involves designing a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment tailored to their diverse needs. Here’s a detailed vision based on the elements you mentioned:
1. Dark Sensory Zones
- Purpose: A sensory-safe area with dim lighting or dark rooms designed for children who may be sensitive to bright lights.
- Features: Low-light LED setups, soundproof walls, and soft furnishings to provide a calm, soothing environment.
- Supervision: Staff stationed outside or within the area to ensure comfort and safety without being intrusive.
2. LED Uplifting Areas
- Purpose: Zones with dynamic LED lighting, changing colors or patterns, to uplift and engage children, particularly those with sensory processing challenges.
- Features: Interactive light installations or calming, color-changing lights.
- Supervision: Monitored by staff, ensuring that children can safely enjoy the sensory experience.
3. Swings (100% Safe)
- Purpose: Swings designed for children with mobility challenges, providing both physical and emotional comfort.
- Features: Secure, padded swings with supportive harnesses and low height for easy accessibility. Non-slip surfaces and safety locks.
- Supervision: Constant adult supervision, ensuring each child is securely fastened and comfortable.
4. Safe Swimming Pools
- Purpose: A pool area focused on relaxation, with shallow, warm waters to soothe and provide gentle physical exercise.
- Features: Warm water, gentle pool currents, and safety rails. Pool areas with accessible ramps for easy entry.
- Supervision: Adult staff trained in water safety, assisting children who require extra care or supervision.
5. Saunas
- Purpose: Gentle, temperature-controlled saunas that provide physical relief and relaxation.
- Features: Adjustable heat settings, soft lighting, and soundproof walls to enhance relaxation. Accessible designs, including benches for children with mobility challenges.
- Supervision: Adult staff on-site, ensuring children are comfortable and safe while using the sauna.
6. Group Activities for Development
- Purpose: Collaborative activities tailored to children’s individual needs, helping with social skills, motor skills, and cognitive development.
- Features: Structured group activities based on children’s abilities, focusing on teamwork and communication, like cooperative games, group storytelling, or group art projects.
- Supervision: Trained staff facilitating and monitoring group dynamics, ensuring that each child is actively included.
7. Art & Clay Work
- Purpose: Creative expression through art and tactile materials like clay, offering children a way to explore their creativity and emotions.
- Features: Accessible art stations with adapted tools, easy-to-clean surfaces, and various art mediums like clay, paint, markers, and textured materials.
- Supervision: Staff available to assist in the creative process and ensure a safe and comfortable environment.
8. Music Room
- Purpose: A room filled with instruments that allow children to explore sound and rhythm, helping with cognitive and emotional development.
- Features: Soundproof rooms, a variety of instruments (e.g., drums, chimes, keyboards, etc.), and a music therapist or specialist available to guide the children.
- Supervision: Staff on hand to help with instrument use and ensure safety while exploring sounds and music.
9. Bicycles of All Types
- Purpose: A cycling area designed for children with various mobility needs, allowing them to enjoy cycling in a safe and controlled space.
- Features: Adaptive bikes for children with disabilities (e.g., tricycles, tandem bikes, hand cycles), along with helmets and safety gear. Smooth paths and ramps for easy navigation.
- Supervision: Staff available to help children mount and dismount, and to ensure their safety during the activity.
General Features Across the Playground:
- Accessibility: All areas should be wheelchair-friendly, with ramps, elevators, and wider paths for easy movement.
- Sensory-friendly design: Ensuring that lighting, sound, and textures accommodate various sensory sensitivities.
- Safety: Clear signage, secure fencing, and well-trained staff to monitor and assist children at all times.
- Inclusive and supportive: Activities designed with consideration of diverse abilities, fostering an environment of respect, inclusion, and growth.
In conclusion, this type of playground offers a holistic experience that addresses the physical, emotional, and cognitive needs of special children, ensuring both safety and joy through diverse activities and supportive staff.
We have Two Managers on site & we all sit down & make notes collobaratively after every shift or even when needed.
A Journey of Learning and Inspiration
Mr. D’s teaching experience was built upon years of working with leading agencies such as Mark Education, CFBT (Call For Better Teaching), and Abacus Education. During his tenure, he taught in hundreds of primary schools across London, building a reputation as a supply teacher who brought excitement, creativity, and energy into the classroom.
His methods aimed to bring out the best in every child, focusing on reintroducing foundational learning techniques while fostering creativity and self-expression. Even though Mr. D retired in 2002, his innovative approaches, particularly the use of Nivsta Boards and educational games, continue to inspire educators worldwide.
Timeless Lessons from the Gospel of Mark
In addition to academic instruction, Mr. D incorporated life lessons from the Gospel of Mark into his teachings. These insights, such as Mark 12:34, highlighted the importance of personal relationships—both with others and with God. His inclusive approach resonated with children, emphasizing kindness, empathy, and the transformative power of faith in shaping their lives.
The Power of Creative Education
As a supply teacher, Mr. D’s approach was holistic. He balanced essential Numeracy and Literacy hours with interactive, hands-on activities that kept students engaged and excited to learn. One of the children’s favorite activities involved tracing their hands and enhancing them with vibrant colors. This simple yet effective exercise helped foster creativity while building fine motor skills.
Mr. D also introduced students to acrostic poems using their Christian names, encouraging them to express themselves creatively while reinforcing literacy skills. His personalized approach helped children connect emotionally with their learning, ensuring each lesson was impactful.
A Personal Touch in Every Lesson
What set Mr. D apart was his dedication to engaging with each student on a personal level. One of his signature activities was writing students’ names in playful bubble writing at his desk, inviting them to color in each letter, making their names a unique piece of artwork. This simple activity not only fostered creativity but also gave each child a sense of ownership over their learning.
Mr. D also made learning fun by introducing children to the nine times tables theory, a playful yet educational way to reinforce numeracy skills. The physical education lessons, often held in the playground when weather permitted, were another way to keep the children active and engaged.
Introducing Nivsta Boards
A cornerstone of Mr. D’s teaching toolkit was the Nivsta Board, a unique educational tool that helped children better understand concepts through visual aids. Mr. D’s goal was to reintroduce these boards to classrooms, ensuring that children could engage with learning in a way that was both fun and meaningful.
He encouraged other supply teachers to bring Nivsta Boards into their classrooms, as long as they had permission from the headteacher. Alternatively, teachers could collaborate with school caretakers to create their own versions of the boards, promoting a collaborative and resourceful approach to education.
Legacy and Continued Impact
Though Mr. D retired in 2002, the principles he instilled in his classrooms continue to inspire educators. His commitment to returning to the basics of education while fostering creativity, faith, and individual expression remains a touchstone for modern teachers.
Revelation 22:12 (NKJV Strong’s) reminds us that “My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Mr. D’s work in the classroom was a labor of love, dedicated to helping each child grow, learn, and discover their unique potential.
For more information on Nivsta Boards and how you can incorporate these tools into your own classroom, visit,
https://nivstaboards.com/franchise/
https://nivstaboards.com/references/
Also one hour a day.
https://nivstaboards.com/childrens-dictionary-game/
It sounds like you're outlining some fun, educational games for primary schools that blend vocabulary development, dictionary skills, and interactive learning with a lot of energy and engagement! These games are perfect for helping students improve essential skills while having fun.
Game One: Word Search Race
- Skills Targeted: Dictionary use, vocabulary, public speaking
- Setup: Two students with dictionaries at the front, the rest of the class seated.
- Steps:
- The teacher selects a student from the class to call out a word.
- The two students at the front race to find that word in the dictionary.
- The first student to find the word says it aloud and reads the definition to the class.
- The winner stays at the front, while the other student sits down. The process repeats.
Game Two: Definition Match
- Skills Targeted: Word-definition connection, listening, comprehension
- Setup: Two students with dictionaries at the front, the rest of the class seated.
- Steps:
- A student from the class provides a definition (e.g., “I have a long neck” for "Giraffe").
- The two students race to find the word that matches the definition.
- The first to find the correct word announces it and reads it aloud.
- The winner stays at the front, and the game continues with the next round.
Game Three: A-Z Countries and People’s Names
- Skills Targeted: Geography, alphabetical order, turn-taking
- Setup: Each student has a turn to name a country or person’s name starting with the current letter of the alphabet.
- Steps:
- Progress through the alphabet, each child calling out a country or person’s name.
- If students don’t get a turn in one round, repeat the alphabet until everyone has a chance.
Curriculum and Life Skills Focus:
- Curriculum Areas: Communication, concentration, patience, vocabulary building, spelling, reading skills, creative thinking, memory.
- Life Skills: Discipline (staying on the mat or at their seat), self-esteem, confidence, playing under pressure, and maintaining focus without digital distractions.
Tips for Teachers:
- Encourage Active Participation: Ensure all students are involved in every round.
- Use Visual Aids: Use alphabet charts or maps to help students visualize the learning.
- Celebrate Success: Recognize every student’s effort to build confidence and enthusiasm.
- Patience and Fun: Make sure the pace is slow enough for students to think, while keeping the energy level high and engaging.
This structured, interactive approach encourages learning through play, enhancing dictionary skills, vocabulary, geography knowledge, and cooperative play.
As for your mention of "The Days We Went to the Car Wash"—it seems like another great story idea, potentially with educational value for both children and adults. It could tie in with the importance of routines, family activities, and fun narratives that could connect well with the games you're already promoting!
https://nivstaboards.com/the-days-we-went-to-the-carwash/
So all the above daily, plus the rest of the time, free timeš
A Final Thought: Empowering Future Educators
Whether you are a new teacher just beginning your journey or a seasoned professional seeking inspiration, Mr. D’s teaching secrets offer valuable insights into the art of supply teaching. Connect with Mr. D today and embark on a journey of growth, learning, and inspiration.
Remember: Every lesson you teach has the power to change a life.