Thomas Blakemore

Just here minding my own business and BAM!
Thoughts?

📚 3 Free Reading Websites Teachers Need to Bookmark

✨ ReadTheory

Provides personalised reading comprehension activities that automatically adapt to pupils’ ability levels. Great for independent practice, intervention groups, or homework.

🎧 Immersive Reader

A fantastic accessibility tool that can read text aloud, change text size and spacing, break words into syllables, and support pupils with reading confidence and comprehension.

📖 Storyline Online

Features children’s books read by well known actors, bringing stories to life and helping develop a love of reading. Perfect for whole class story time or independent listening activities.

There are plenty of reading resources available online, but these three stand out because they’re easy to use, accessible, and completely free.

Which reading website or tool would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments 👇

Today I’m grateful for the little boy who made me a dad, and the man who showed me what one looks like.

On your first Father’s Day, you won’t remember this moment… but I will.

I hope when you’re older you know that before I ever knew what being a dad meant, I already knew one thing: I wanted to give you the best start I could.

50,000 Followers On LinkedIn 🤯

I still find it slightly surreal writing this.

When I first started sharing on LinkedIn, it was simply to document my experiences teaching and living in the UAE, and help others to do the same.

I was sharing the highs, the challenges, the lessons learned and the things I wish I’d known before moving abroad.

I never imagined those stories would turn into conversations with thousands of teachers around the world, a community I’m incredibly grateful for, and eventually a content business alongside my teaching career.

From full-time teaching abroad, to building resources, creating content, supporting teachers, and now balancing part-time teaching with supporting other businesses with social media… it’s been quite a journey.

A huge thank you to everyone who has followed, commented, shared a post, sent a message or been part of this community.

50,000 people is a lot of humans reading my thoughts online 😂

Appreciate you all ❤️
(reused the photo of when I hit 50k on YouTube 🙌)

I’ve always found ‘Thank A Teacher Day’ an interesting day.

On the surface, our profession deserves its gratitude. It’s relentless and often thankless.

But it brings me to 2020.

Remember when we all stood outside clapping the NHS. It was a collective realisation of societies most important professionals.

And yet, how many year did it take for us to start questioning payrises and the increasing pressures they face.

Change the words I’ve just mentioned to teaching and it’s the same story.

Respect is appreciated through a specific day but it’s grounded in cultural appreciation and recognition.

I do wonder how much we’ve lost that.