# Apurva Somvanshi

> Educator · SEND · Psychology · Mentoring


## Posts

- [Learned Helplessness and Motivation: What It Means for Pupils Who Give Up](https://apurva.info/learned-helplessness-and-motivation/): Why do some pupils stop trying? The learned helplessness research, its 2016 revision, attribution retraining, and practical classroom responses.
- [Public Speaking Nerves: Small Steps to Steadier Confidence](https://apurva.info/public-speaking-nerves/): Most people feel nervous before speaking to a group. Practical ways to prepare, manage the physical symptoms and build confidence one small step at a time.
- [Group Work That Includes Everyone](https://apurva.info/group-work-that-includes-everyone/): Why group work often leaves some pupils out, and how cooperative learning principles from Johnson and Johnson help every pupil take part and learn.
- [Self-Determination Theory: Autonomy, Competence and Belonging in Learning](https://apurva.info/self-determination-theory/): Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory explains what keeps motivation alive. What the research says about autonomy, competence, relatedness and rewards, and how to use it.
- [Gratitude Without Forcing It](https://apurva.info/gratitude-without-forcing-it/): Gratitude practices can feel forced when life is hard. A gentler way to notice good things without pretending everything is fine.
- [Inclusive Language in Classrooms: Small Words, Clear Signals](https://apurva.info/inclusive-language-in-classrooms/): The words adults use every day tell children whether they belong. Practical examples of inclusive classroom language for teachers and teaching assistants.
- [Preparing Your Child for a New School](https://apurva.info/preparing-your-child-for-a-new-school/): Starting school, moving up to secondary or changing schools mid-year brings excitement and worry. Practical steps for the weeks before and the first term after.
- [Executive Function, Explained for Parents](https://apurva.info/executive-function-explained/): Planning, remembering instructions, starting tasks and controlling impulses all rely on executive function. What it is, how it develops, and how to support it at home.
- [Homework Without the Battles](https://apurva.info/homework-without-the-battles/): Practical ways to take the fight out of homework: a steady routine, a workable space, knowing when to step back, and talking to teachers when it is not working.
- [Why Comparing Your Child to Others Can Do More Harm Than Good, and What to Do Instead](https://apurva.info/why-comparing-your-child-to-others-can-do-more-harm-than-good-and-what-to-do-instead/): Comparing your child to others can quietly damage their confidence. What children really hear, the hidden effects, and what to say instead.
- [Praise That Builds Effort, Not Pressure](https://apurva.info/praise-that-builds-effort/): Saying 'you're so clever' feels kind, but it can make children afraid of getting things wrong. How to praise in a way that encourages effort and resilience.
- [Serve and Return: Everyday Conversations That Build Young Brains](https://apurva.info/serve-and-return-talking-with-toddlers/): Back-and-forth interactions between adults and young children support language and brain development. What 'serve and return' looks like in everyday family life.
- [The Adolescent Brain: What the Science Says and What It Doesn't](https://apurva.info/the-adolescent-brain/): Teenage brains are still developing, but not in the way popular myths suggest. What research on brain change, peer influence, social sensitivity and sleep tells parents and teachers.
- [Attachment in the Classroom: What the Theory Does and Doesn't Tell Us](https://apurva.info/attachment-in-the-classroom/): Attachment theory is everywhere in schools. What Bowlby and Ainsworth found, how a teacher can act as a secure base, and why attachment labels should not be pinned on children.
- [The Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding, Explained](https://apurva.info/zone-of-proximal-development-and-scaffolding/): Vygotsky's zone of proximal development and the idea of scaffolding are often run together. Where each idea came from, what good scaffolding looks like, and why it must fade.
- [A LinkedIn Profile for Students and Graduates: A Practical Guide](https://apurva.info/a-linkedin-profile-for-students-and-graduates/): How students and graduates can build a LinkedIn profile from scratch: photo, headline, About section, experience that counts, connections and messages.
- [Child Influencers: Opportunity, Exploitation, or a New Responsibility for Parents and Educators?](https://apurva.info/child-influencers-opportunity-exploitation-or-a-new-responsibility-for-parents-and-educators/): Child influencers are part of the creator economy. What children gain from digital fame, what they may quietly lose, and a better framework for parents and schools.
- [Teaching English to Young Learners: Practical First Steps](https://apurva.info/teaching-english-to-young-learners/): Young children learn a new language through play, routine and repetition. Practical approaches for teaching English as a foreign or additional language in the early years and primary.
- [Reflective Practice for Teachers: Quick, Honest and Useful](https://apurva.info/reflective-practice-for-teachers/): Schön, Gibbs and Brookfield in plain terms, and how to make reflection a short habit that improves tomorrow's lesson instead of another form to fill in.
- [Digital Rest: Giving Your Mind Space from the Screen](https://apurva.info/digital-rest-for-adults/): Constant notifications keep attention scattered. Practical ways for adults to build short breaks from screens into ordinary days, without giving up the phone.
- [The Art of Slowing Down: Why Living in the Present Matters More Than Chasing Success](https://apurva.info/the-art-of-slowing-down/): An old man playing a piano outside a library, a restless crowd, and one minute of standing still. A reflection on presence over speed.
- [Talking to Children About Frightening News](https://apurva.info/talking-to-children-about-frightening-news/): How to talk with children about wars, attacks and disasters in the news: honest answers for their age, less exposure, and reassurance that holds up.
- [Growth Mindset: What the Research Does and Doesn't Say](https://apurva.info/growth-mindset-what-research-says/): Growth mindset posters are everywhere in schools. A balanced look at what the evidence supports, where effects are small, and how to use the idea well.
- [Maslow's Hierarchy in Schools: What It Says and How to Use It Sensibly](https://apurva.info/maslows-hierarchy-in-schools/): Maslow's pyramid is everywhere in education. What Maslow wrote, what the evidence supports, where it falls short, and how schools can use the idea well.
- [Dyscalculia: Signs by Age and How to Support a Child with Maths](https://apurva.info/dyscalculia-signs-and-support/): What dyscalculia is, how it differs from finding maths hard, signs to look for at different ages, and concrete, pictorial, abstract support that helps.
- [The More You Seek, The More You Sink: A Mindful Living Guide to Choices and Habits](https://apurva.info/the-more-you-seek-the-more-you-sink-a-mindful-living-guide-to-choices-and-habits/): A mindful living reflection on how the things we seek every day shape our habits, growth and mindset, and how conscious choices change direction.
- [What Influences a Child's Development the Most?](https://apurva.info/what-influences-a-childs-development-the-most/): Nutrition, education and health matter. But the environment a child grows up in, the people, the community and the culture, shapes them in ways that are easy to miss.
- [Learning Strategies That Support Neurodivergent Children: Practical Techniques for Inclusive Learning](https://apurva.info/learning-strategies-that-support-neurodivergent-children-practical-techniques-for-inclusive-learning/): Evidence-informed learning practices that help children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent profiles understand, engage, and thrive.
- [The Double Empathy Problem: Rethinking Autistic Communication](https://apurva.info/double-empathy-problem/): Damian Milton's double empathy problem argues that misunderstandings between autistic and non-autistic people run both ways. The research behind it, and what it means for home and school.
- [Dyslexia-Friendly Reading Habits for Home](https://apurva.info/dyslexia-friendly-reading-at-home/): Reading at home can become a nightly battle for children with dyslexia. Practical ways to protect their confidence while still building skills.
- [Dual Coding: Using Visuals in Teaching Without the Clutter](https://apurva.info/dual-coding-and-visuals-in-teaching/): What dual coding is, what Paivio and Mayer found about words and pictures, and how to use visuals in lessons so they help learning instead of adding clutter.
- [Building Relationships with Pupils Who Push You Away](https://apurva.info/building-relationships-with-hard-to-reach-pupils/): Some pupils test every adult who tries to help them. Steady, small, repeated acts of connection often matter more than any single strategy.
- [Morning Routines That Get Everyone Out the Door](https://apurva.info/morning-routines-that-get-everyone-out-the-door/): School mornings do not have to mean shouting. A short, practical guide to calmer mornings: prepare the night before, picture the steps, and protect sleep.
- [Imaginative Play and Storytelling: Why Pretending Matters](https://apurva.info/imaginative-play-and-storytelling/): Pretend play and shared stories give children rich chances to use language and imagine other points of view. What the research supports, and how to join in.
- [Classroom Routines That Reduce Anxiety](https://apurva.info/classroom-routines-that-reduce-anxiety/): Predictable routines free children's attention for learning. Practical routines for the start of the day, transitions and the end of lessons that help anxious pupils settle.
- [Retrieval Practice and Spacing: Learning That Lasts](https://apurva.info/retrieval-practice-and-spacing/): Testing yourself, spreading practice out and mixing topics feel harder than rereading, yet the evidence shows they produce stronger long-term learning. How to use them at home and in class.
- [Adaptive Teaching Without Three Different Worksheets](https://apurva.info/adaptive-teaching-without-three-worksheets/): Meeting different needs does not have to mean planning three versions of every lesson. Simple adaptive teaching strategies that keep the whole class working on the same goal.
- [ACEs and Trauma-Informed Practice: Using the Research Carefully](https://apurva.info/aces-and-trauma-informed-practice/): The ACE study changed how schools think about childhood adversity. What it found, what trauma-informed practice means, and why ACE scores should not be used to screen individual children.
- [Supporting Speech and Language Needs at Home](https://apurva.info/speech-and-language-needs-at-home/): Everyday ways to support a child's speech, language and communication at home, and signs that it is time to ask about a speech and language therapy referral.
- [Teaching Computing Inclusively](https://apurva.info/teaching-computing-inclusively/): Unplugged activities, pair programming, PRIMM and Parsons problems: practical ways to make programming lessons work for every pupil, including those with SEND.
- [Saying No Without Guilt: Boundaries at Work and at Home](https://apurva.info/saying-no-without-guilt/): Why saying no feels so hard, what research says about how others really react, and kind, clear phrases for setting boundaries at work and at home.
- [Screen Time Without the Shouting: Making a Family Media Plan](https://apurva.info/family-media-plan-screen-time/): Arguments about screens often come from rules that change daily. A family media plan sets expectations in advance, so the conversation happens once instead of every evening.
- [Helping an Anxious Child: Ideas from Cognitive Behavioural Research](https://apurva.info/helping-an-anxious-child-cbt-ideas/): Cognitive behavioural research explains why avoidance keeps anxiety going and how small, gradual steps help. Ideas parents and teachers can use, and when to seek professional help.
- [Making the Best Use of Teaching Assistants](https://apurva.info/making-best-use-of-teaching-assistants/): What the research says about how teaching assistants are deployed, and simple things teachers and TAs can do together so support leads to learning.
- [Questioning That Brings Quieter Pupils In](https://apurva.info/questioning-that-includes-quieter-pupils/): In many classrooms, the same few hands go up. Questioning strategies that give every pupil time to think and a safe way to answer.
- [Calm-Down Corners: A Gentler Alternative to Time-Out](https://apurva.info/calm-down-corner-vs-time-out/): When a child is overwhelmed, sending them away can feel like rejection. A calm-down corner gives them a place and a set of tools to settle, with an adult nearby.
- [Why Children Test Boundaries, and How to Respond](https://apurva.info/why-children-test-boundaries/): Pushing against limits is a normal part of growing up. Why children do it at different ages, and how calm, consistent boundaries help them feel safe.
- [Sensory Overload in the Classroom: Signs and Simple Adjustments](https://apurva.info/sensory-overload-in-the-classroom/): Noise, light, crowded corridors and scratchy uniforms can push some children past what they can cope with. How to spot sensory overload early, and small changes that help.
- [Calm, Consistent Behaviour: Routines, Expectations and Repair](https://apurva.info/calm-consistent-behaviour/): Clear routines, expectations taught on purpose, curiosity about what behaviour is telling you, and conversations that repair. A practical guide for classrooms.
- [Play Is Learning: Why Unstructured Play Matters](https://apurva.info/why-unstructured-play-matters/): Between clubs, homework and screens, free play can get squeezed out of a child's week. What children learn when adults step back and let them play.
- [A Five-Minute Evening Reflection](https://apurva.info/five-minute-evening-reflection/): A short, simple routine for ending the day: three questions that help you notice what went well, let go of what didn't, and set one small intention for tomorrow.
- [Feedback That Moves Learning Forward](https://apurva.info/feedback-that-moves-learning/): What Hattie and Timperley and the EEF say about feedback, and how verbal and whole-class feedback can help pupils improve without burying teachers in marking.
- [How to Answer 'Tell Me About Yourself' in an Interview](https://apurva.info/how-to-answer-tell-me-about-yourself/): The most common interview opener is also one of the easiest to ramble through. A simple three-part structure for a clear, confident answer.
- [Helping Autistic Children with Transitions](https://apurva.info/helping-autistic-children-with-transitions/): Changes between activities, places and people can be hard for many autistic children. Small preparations make each change more predictable and less stressful.
- [Tantrums and Meltdowns: What's the Difference?](https://apurva.info/tantrums-and-meltdowns-whats-the-difference/): Tantrums and meltdowns can look alike but need different responses. How to tell them apart, what helps in the moment, and how co-regulation builds calm.
- [Friendship Skills in the Primary Years](https://apurva.info/friendship-skills-primary-years/): Making and keeping friends is a skill children learn over time. How friendships change through primary school, and how parents can help without taking over.
- [Parents' Evenings and Difficult Conversations with Parents](https://apurva.info/conversations-with-parents/): How to prepare for parents' evenings and harder conversations: start with strengths, be specific, agree next steps, follow up, and know when to bring in the SENCO.
- [Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence in Children: What's the Difference?](https://apurva.info/self-esteem-and-self-confidence-in-children/): Self-esteem and self-confidence are related but not the same. What each means, what the research says, and how adults can help children build both.
- [Safeguarding in Everyday Practice: What Every Adult in School Should Know](https://apurva.info/safeguarding-in-everyday-practice/): The basics every adult in school needs: the statutory guidance, the role of the DSL, noticing and recording concerns, and why you never promise to keep a secret.
- [Selective Mutism at School: Taking the Pressure Off Speaking](https://apurva.info/selective-mutism-at-school/): Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder, not defiance. How schools and families can lower pressure, use small steps and help a child find their voice.
- [Imposter Feelings Early in Your Career: What the Research Says and What Helps](https://apurva.info/imposter-feelings-early-in-your-career/): Feeling like a fraud in a new job is common. What Clance and Imes described in 1978, what later research found, and practical ways to respond.
- [Walking as Thinking Time: Why Ideas Come Easier on Your Feet](https://apurva.info/walking-as-thinking-time/): Walking can loosen up stuck thinking. What the Stanford walking study found, where its limits are, and simple ways to use a walk as daily thinking time.
- [Autism and Masking in Girls: Why It Is Missed and How to Help](https://apurva.info/autism-and-masking-in-girls/): Why autistic girls are often identified later, what masking looks like at home and at school, and practical ways adults can lower the cost of coping.
- [Language Development Milestones from 0 to 5](https://apurva.info/language-development-milestones-0-to-5/): A parent's guide to speech and language milestones from birth to five, what the typical ranges look like, and when to ask a health visitor or GP for advice.
- [Setting Goals You Can Keep](https://apurva.info/setting-goals-you-can-keep/): Big goals often fade within weeks. How to turn an ambition into small, specific actions that fit real life and keep going after motivation dips.
- [Journaling for Busy People: Five Minutes and a Few Good Prompts](https://apurva.info/journaling-for-busy-people/): Journaling does not need an hour or a beautiful notebook. Short, practical prompts for busy people, and what the research on expressive writing suggests.
- [When Your Child Says 'I'm Stupid'](https://apurva.info/when-your-child-says-im-stupid/): Hearing a child call themselves stupid is painful. How to respond in the moment, what may sit underneath the words, and how to rebuild a kinder inner voice.
- [What an EHCP Is, and How Families in England Can Ask for One](https://apurva.info/what-is-an-ehcp-and-how-to-ask-for-one/): A plain guide to Education, Health and Care Plans: who they are for, how to request an assessment, the timeline the law sets, and what to do if the answer is no.
- [Bedtime Routines That Help Children Learn](https://apurva.info/bedtime-routines-and-learning/): Sleep affects attention, memory and mood the next day. How much sleep children need at different ages, and a simple routine that makes bedtime calmer.
- [ADHD and Homework: Shorter Tasks, Clearer Starts](https://apurva.info/adhd-and-homework/): For children with ADHD, homework often stalls before it starts. Ways to make the first step easier, keep attention going and end the evening without a fight.
- [Emotional Regulation in the Early Years: How Children Learn to Calm Down](https://apurva.info/emotional-regulation-in-the-early-years/): How emotional regulation develops from birth to five, why co-regulation comes first, and simple ways adults can help young children manage big feelings.
- [Fine Motor Skills and Handwriting: Play Comes First](https://apurva.info/fine-motor-skills-and-handwriting/): Strong hands come before neat handwriting. Play ideas that build fine motor skills, what research says about pencil grip, and when to ask about OT.
- [Spotting Mental Health Needs in School](https://apurva.info/spotting-mental-health-needs-in-school/): Early signs that a pupil may be struggling, how to listen well, how referrals work through your school, and why looking after yourself matters too.
- [Seating Plans That Help Every Pupil Learn](https://apurva.info/seating-plans-that-help-every-pupil/): A practical guide to inclusive seating plans: what research says about rows and groups, how to plan for SEND, and how to review a plan so it keeps working.
- [Becoming a Teaching Assistant in the UK: Role, Levels, Qualifications and Applying](https://apurva.info/becoming-a-teaching-assistant-in-the-uk/): What a teaching assistant does in a UK school, what Level 1 to 3 and HLTA mean, which qualifications help, how the DBS check works, and how to apply.
- [Sibling Rivalry: Fewer Referee Moments, More Teamwork](https://apurva.info/sibling-rivalry/): Siblings argue. That is normal. A few habits can reduce how often parents have to step in, and help brothers and sisters learn to sort things out themselves.
- [The First Week with a New Class: Routines, Relationships and Expectations](https://apurva.info/the-first-week-with-a-new-class/): A practical plan for the first week with a new class: learn names, teach routines step by step, set clear expectations and get to know every pupil early.
- [Writing a CV When You Have Little Work Experience](https://apurva.info/writing-a-cv-with-little-experience/): School leavers, graduates and career changers can still write a strong CV. How to show skills from study, volunteering and everyday responsibilities.
- [Naming Feelings: Helping Children Talk About Emotions](https://apurva.info/naming-feelings-with-children/): Children who can name what they feel find it easier to manage those feelings. Everyday ways to build an emotional vocabulary at home.
- [Metacognition in the Classroom: Plan, Monitor, Evaluate](https://apurva.info/metacognition-in-the-classroom/): What the EEF guidance on metacognition says, and how to teach pupils to plan, monitor and evaluate their learning, starting with modelling your own thinking aloud.
- [The STAR Method: Clear Answers to Behavioural Interview Questions](https://apurva.info/star-method-interview-answers/): 'Tell me about a time when…' questions ask for evidence. The STAR method gives your examples a clear shape: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- [Raising Bilingual Children: Why Your Home Language Matters](https://apurva.info/raising-bilingual-children/): Keeping your home language does not hold children back in English. What research says about bilingual development, common myths, and everyday family habits.
- [Teacher Wellbeing: Protecting Your Energy in Term Time](https://apurva.info/teacher-wellbeing-term-time/): Teaching gives a lot and can take a lot. Realistic ways for teachers and support staff to protect their energy through a busy term.

## Pages

- [Morning routine chart](https://apurva.info/resources/morning-routine/)
- [Feelings check-in](https://apurva.info/resources/feelings-check-in/)
- [Homework routine](https://apurva.info/resources/homework-routine/)
- [Calm-down corner plan](https://apurva.info/resources/calm-down-corner/)
- [Visual timetable](https://apurva.info/resources/visual-timetable/)
- [Printable resources](https://apurva.info/resources/)
- [Start here](https://apurva.info/start-here/)
- [Cookie Policy](https://apurva.info/cookie-policy/): Cookies are small text files stored by your browser. This site keeps them to a minimum.
- [Contact](https://apurva.info/contact/): Questions or thoughts? I'm here to listen and help. You can also email hello@apurva.info.
- [Writing](https://apurva.info/writing/): Practical, research-informed articles on inclusion and SEND, parenting, child development, classroom practice, careers and mindful living.
- [Beyond the Classroom](https://apurva.info/beyond-the-classroom/): Photography and cooking are how I pause, notice the small things and share a little joy.
- [My Journey](https://apurva.info/my-journey/): I'm driven by the belief that every child deserves an equal chance to succeed, whatever their learning needs.
- [Career Development and Interview Preparation](https://apurva.info/programmes/career-development-interview-preparation/): A personalised mentoring journey for students, graduates and early-career professionals, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to move from education into work.
- [Confidence, Communication and Personal Development](https://apurva.info/programmes/confidence-communication-personal-development/): Unlock your potential, communicate with confidence and grow with purpose.
- [Child Development and Parent Guidance](https://apurva.info/programmes/child-development-and-parent-guidance/): A personalised six-week journey that helps children develop essential life and learning skills, and gives parents practical, evidence-informed strategies to support their child's growth beyond each session.
- [Programmes](https://apurva.info/programmes/): Personalised coaching and mentoring to support children, parents, students and early-career professionals in reaching their goals with confidence and clarity.
- [Home](https://apurva.info/): I am Apurva Somvanshi, an educator in inclusive practice and SEND, and an MSc Psychology student.
- [Privacy Policy](https://apurva.info/privacy-policy/): This policy explains what personal information this website collects, why, and what you can do about it. The site is run by Apurva Somvanshi ("I", "me").

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