TRICIA TAYLOR
Founder and Director
About the book
After 20 years of teaching and leading in schools in London and New York, I founded TailoredPractice to pursue a passion to make research more practical for educators. My goal for TailoredPractice is to communicate complex ideas in more straightforward and meaningful ways and create curricula and strategies that are grounded in research and shaped by expertise.
Since starting TailoredPractice, I have been fortunate to partner with numerous British and international schools and to present at a wide range of education conferences including regular appearances at Learning and the Brain conferences in the US and the Festival of Education in the UK. My book, Connect the Dots: The Collective Power of Relationships, Memory and Mindset in the Classroom, is a culmination of my work over the past several years.
Currently, I am also a Head of English and Teaching and Learning Lead at an international school in Spain. Previously, I was Director of a large creative arts faculty and a Lead Practitioner at an “Outstanding” all-through 4-18 school in London, Head of Department, English and media teacher and an Associate Lecturer for English at Goldsmith’s University teacher training programme. Before that, I taught English at a high school in Brooklyn, New York, where I was given the Leadership Award for Community Action.
My other roles include: Strategic Advisor to Inclusive Schools, whose important work aims to bring gender equality to our schools; ambassador for Leadership Matters, a movement designed to give all schools access to the high quality leadership development; Lead Advisor for PowerTools, Inc in New York and a fellow for the Royal Society of the Arts, where I co-coordinated the RSA Mindfulness Network for many years.
I hold a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Journalism and a Master of Education, but for me, learning is a life-long pursuit.
Tricia speaks to a packed audience at the Learning and the Brain Conference, "Learning How to Learn" in November 2019 with Nina Dibner. Go here for more info.
Testimonials
Leadership
"TailoredPractice has become part of our school’s DNA, contributing to our ongoing success, which includes securing, each year, the best progress and outcomes at GCSE of all Bromley’s non-selective schools. Tricia has worked with parents, students, whole staff, departments and leadership to embed the Mastery Mindset and enable our school community to develop its resilience. More recently, her work has focused on developing strategies to improve memory. Tricia has helped us keep abreast of ongoing developments in the understanding of cognition, memory and learning.
All of Tricia’s audiences – including students and parents – comment on the skills with which she presents and facilitates. Her delivery is engaging and entertaining. Her enthusiasm really is infectious, and teachers, parents and students have been inspired to change their practice and raise their aspirations. Tricia is a skilled coach whose input has helped teachers, middle and senior leaders improve their practice. She has enabled them to capture their own strengths and develop capacity."
— Headteacher, Langley Park School for Girls
Personally, (Tricia's) work has been without a doubt the most influential PD I have received throughout my career. Shaping my own approaches as a classroom practitioner, middle and senior leader. Her book is also an incredibly valuable resource.
— Deputy Headteacher, British International School Hanoi
"The morning (with TailoredPractice) was the best CPD as head I have attended in some time. It reminded me why I wanted to teach in the first place, which was to help children become lifelong learners."
— Headteacher, Kirklees Headteacher Conference
"The session was delivered in a lively way, which left all participants inspired with very useful ideas that can be used straight away. Tricia skilfully adapted the session to be relevant to us."
— Goldsmiths University
"TailoredPractice has fully integrated evidence-based teaching into our primary school. Every adult in the school can talk about the brain and every adult is trained, so the students know we all value persistence, hard work and challenge."
— Asst Principal, Dunraven School
"That was the CPD we've ever had."
—Head of English Department
I went to see Carol Dweck .... This was also an excellent day and gave me a fascinating insight into how growth mindsets work in all walks of life. However, it didn’t give me the practical steps needed to apply these skills in school. Your course did just that! I came away buzzing and have already written my timeline for implementation in my school."
— Headteacher, Leadership Conference
Teachers
"Working with Tricia and TailoredPractice has provided easy access to up-to-date research which has formed the basis of our work at our school over the past several years. Students at our school more readily embrace challenge. Most recently, we have used this to work on two projects aiming to improve children’s outcomes across the curriculum with a focus on vocabulary. There is a real sense of purposeful learning when Tricia works with our students. She has a real passion to implement current research findings into the curriculum and enable greater success for our students in the future."
“I loved the positive delivery and passion. I came away really feeling that I’d learnt something and that I can use it in the classroom. It made me reflect on my teaching and it has inspired me to embrace the ideas.”
"Good suggested phrases to use, focusing things that we already do into a more streamlined and direct train of thought with a more all encompassing feel; excellent. Thank you!"
"It’s been a really long term and I am exhausted, I was not sure anything would go in today but I was actually engaged throughout and actually feel quite energised."
Parents
"Great trainer, great approach, feel so happy this is being used at my child's school."
“Great session and will really make me think about how I verbally reward our child.”
“This workshop was really good and we need more.”
“Found this workshop very useful. It has given me confidence to put what I've learned into practice.”
“We don’t do this enough.”
“Really enjoyed the session.”
“Very, very good—food for thought and some strategies to try immediately.”
This book connects the dots between three high-impact areas for student learning. Together, they are worth more than the sum of their parts.
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Building Strong Relationships
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Maximising Memory
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Cultivating Learning Mindsets
Each chapter is divided into three sections: research, classroom, and leadership for a unique and comprehensive approach that benefits the whole school community.
Designed to be substantive, yet reader friendly, practical and full of “ready-to-use” strategies that we’ve used or seen in real classrooms.
Illustrated by Oliver Caviglioli, the graphics and layout make the book incredibly accessible and a joy to read.
NINA DIBNER
Contributor
HEADTEACHER
from leadership training course
The morning (with TailoredPractice) was the best CPD as head I have attended in sometime. It reminded me why I wanted to teach in the first place, which was to help children become lifelong learners.
Nina is the Executive Director of PowerTools, LLC, an educational consulting service in New York City that partners with youth, schools, youth-serving organisations and families to create systems, environments and experiences that optimise the power and potential of young people. Nina also consults remotely for TailoredPractice.
Headteacher, Kirklees Headteacher Conference
