learning – Katherine Reilly

June 1, 2026

“Step Aside, Teacher! I’m In Charge Now!”

by Katherine Reilly, ELT Author & Teacher Trainer

As the school year neared its end, my younglings burst into the classroom, sweaty and exhaling heavily after playing under the warm early June sun.

“How was your break?” I teased them, fully aware that their minds were now preoccupied with games and laughter. In all honesty, whose weren’t? Summer was just upon us and we were well into the final lessons of the year.

It was now time for my students to demonstrate how well they had become accustomed to taking the initiative in class. Not an easy endeavour, mind you, but one worth striving for.

“Here we go! The following text is about recycling. Any preference on how to work on it?” I asked.

January 23, 2026February 2, 2026

From Rage Bait to Refusal: Behaviour Escalation Beyond Compliance

I was utterly disturbed by a recent news bulletin, disclosing the harsh reality facing today’s youth. Their uncontrollable temperaments appear to have reached an all-time high, as a reporter stood before a charred school reduced to rubble and debris; an act meticulously perpetrated by the devious mind of a mid-schooler. The school, located in Itea, a coastal Greek town renowned for its tourism and majestic Aegean views, was burned to a crisp; even more appalling was the fact that school equipment had been vandalized or stolen; rendering the act all the more atrocious.

December 11, 2025December 12, 2025

Metacognition: Thinking About Thinking – Em Dashes Included

by Katherine Reilly, ELT Author & Teacher Trainer

Author’s Note: The main inspiration for this article came after witnessing a plethora of articles floating around, mainly produced by AI. Have we completely lost our capacity to produce original materials? What of our ability to contemplate and critically assess tasks? I genuinely believe we have become passive recepients of information – not knowledge – and the need to ‘reignite’ our prefrontal cortexes is more prevalent than ever. I mean no disrespect to well-established colleagues; on the contrary, this article serves as a sharp reminder of the precarious path we face if we do not take immediate action and inspire our learners alike. Enter metacognition: education’s last hope?