Back To School: Motivational Playlist

Holly Gardner

Holly Gardner is TT Editor, as well as a Freelance Publisher. She has been working with @TeacherToolkit for over 6 years - since she published his first book in her role as Senior Commissioning Editor at Bloomsbury Publishing. Since then, she left her day job,...
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What’s your motivational anthem?

The holidays are nearly over and soon, teachers will be back at school wandering ‘where on earth did all the time go?’ So, before you head back to the classroom, make one last-ditch attempt to switch off and get yourself motivated for the term ahead.

Motivational Anthems

This week at Teacher Toolkit we’ve been making a playlist for you! It’s a compilation of motivational anthems suggested by our readers and the TT writing team. They are the songs that our readers listen to in order to get motivated, thinking positively about work and life to help them get ready for anything! You can find our list on Spotify below.

Why not have a listen when marking or lesson planning? Press ‘play’ and read on …

Readers’ Choice

Many of our readers and writers have selected motivational anthems and have offered us some great reasons why ‘songs get them in the mood’ for work. Here are some of our favourites and the reasons why our readers picked them.

Mr. Brightside

By The Killers and chosen by TT writer, Gerard Greally who is also one of our newsletter readers! Gerard said: ‘This song has been motivating me since I sat the equivalent of my A levels (10 years ago). It has the energy to pick you up and give you the push to get over the line!”

Proud

By Heather Small, chosen by one of our 10,000 newsletter readers: “It makes you feel you can do anything and encourages you to be the best person you can be every day”

Something Special

By John Newman and chosen by a TT newsletter reader: “It always puts an extra skip in my step to work!”.

Mr Blue Sky

By Electric Light Orchestra and chosen by another TT newsletter reader:

It has beautiful lyrics that make you feel glad to be alive and a thumping rhythm that just makes you stamp your feet… and I think when we educators are feeling tired it opens up your eyes to a new day dawning, a summer approaching, a blue sky which makes everything look and feel better.

And don’t you know, it’s a beautiful new day …

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Fight Song

By Rachel Platten, and chosen by TT writer Beth Hartwell: “It’s such an empowering song. It makes me reflect on the reasons why I became a teacher; to make a difference to our students and that this is what we do day in, day out.”

Odds

By Barenaked Ladies and chosen by Martin Curtis: ” ‘Odds are we’re gonna be alright’ seems like a good message for the summer term plus it is a great piece of upbeat pop.”

Xanadu

By Olivia Newton-John and chosen by TT writer Anna Wells: “I played it at the end of my class assembly this year and the children all got up and danced! It makes no sense but there’s something about it that makes everyone smile.”

Could Have Been Me

By The Struts and from TT follower @MeshishK:

“Windows down, music up, shades on…makes you feel like a rockstar every time!”

Stay Young

By Oasis and chosen by Jen Willis: “Love the lyrics and it takes me right back to my uni days when I did feel young and invincible, ready to take on the world!”

Follow the full playlist on Spotify!

What’s your motivational anthem? Add your motivational theme tune to the comments section below and we’ll add it to the playlist …