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| Dancing scientist in final of global teaching prize | Dancing scientist in final of global teaching prize |
| (25 days later) | |
| A science teacher from north-east England who sings and dances in lessons is among 10 finalists in a competition to find the world's best teacher. | |
| Biology teacher Richard Spencer gets his Middlesbrough College students up and moving to aid their understanding of complicated scientific terms. | Biology teacher Richard Spencer gets his Middlesbrough College students up and moving to aid their understanding of complicated scientific terms. |
| He says his pupils enjoy his classes and "learn a lot from joining in". | He says his pupils enjoy his classes and "learn a lot from joining in". |
| Dr Spencer is the only UK representative left in the $1m (£650,000) Global Teacher Prize. | Dr Spencer is the only UK representative left in the $1m (£650,000) Global Teacher Prize. |
| He is up against teachers from countries including the US, India, Kenya and Afghanistan in a competition designed to raise the status of teaching. | |
| 'Livens things up' | 'Livens things up' |
| Dr Spencer says he uses unorthodox approaches in his lessons, such as song and dance, role-play and learning games to help his pupils understand very difficult concepts and to use scientific language. | Dr Spencer says he uses unorthodox approaches in his lessons, such as song and dance, role-play and learning games to help his pupils understand very difficult concepts and to use scientific language. |
| He told BBC News: "I adopt this style of teaching to engage the students in some very complicated processes in biology, complicated structures, and to get them to say the words which are quite difficult. | He told BBC News: "I adopt this style of teaching to engage the students in some very complicated processes in biology, complicated structures, and to get them to say the words which are quite difficult. |
| "The students do enjoy it but most of all they learn a lot from joining in. | "The students do enjoy it but most of all they learn a lot from joining in. |
| "We do other things as well, like experiments and traditional teaching, but this just livens things up for them and they respond fantastically well." | "We do other things as well, like experiments and traditional teaching, but this just livens things up for them and they respond fantastically well." |
| He says that when he bumps into former students, sometimes years later, they can often still recite some of the songs he has taught them. | He says that when he bumps into former students, sometimes years later, they can often still recite some of the songs he has taught them. |
| Dr Spencer switched to teaching after completing a PhD in molecular biology. | Dr Spencer switched to teaching after completing a PhD in molecular biology. |
| He says he enjoys the "light-bulb moments" in teaching when "challenging topics start to make sense to students". | He says he enjoys the "light-bulb moments" in teaching when "challenging topics start to make sense to students". |
| 'Respected' | 'Respected' |
| The Global Teacher Prize, which will be awarded for the first time next month, has been created by the Varkey Foundation, part of the Dubai-based GEMS international education group. It has received entries from 127 countries. | The Global Teacher Prize, which will be awarded for the first time next month, has been created by the Varkey Foundation, part of the Dubai-based GEMS international education group. It has received entries from 127 countries. |
| The idea behind the competition and the $1m prize is to raise public recognition for the importance of the teaching profession and to encourage high-quality recruits. | The idea behind the competition and the $1m prize is to raise public recognition for the importance of the teaching profession and to encourage high-quality recruits. |
| Dr Spencer says that "teaching is a profession that everyone has an opinion about", not least because "everyone has had experiences of good and bad teachers". | Dr Spencer says that "teaching is a profession that everyone has an opinion about", not least because "everyone has had experiences of good and bad teachers". |
| He describes it as a "very rewarding" career. | He describes it as a "very rewarding" career. |
| But whoever wins the $1m will not be able to walk away from the classroom, as the money will be paid in instalments over a decade and a condition of winning is staying as a teacher for at least five years. | But whoever wins the $1m will not be able to walk away from the classroom, as the money will be paid in instalments over a decade and a condition of winning is staying as a teacher for at least five years. |
| Sunny Varkey, founder of the foundation, said: "We introduced the prize in order to return teachers to their rightful position, belonging to one of the most respected professions in society. | Sunny Varkey, founder of the foundation, said: "We introduced the prize in order to return teachers to their rightful position, belonging to one of the most respected professions in society. |
| "The many applications prove that the prize is not only about money, it's also about unearthing thousands of stories of inspiration." | "The many applications prove that the prize is not only about money, it's also about unearthing thousands of stories of inspiration." |
| Former US president Bill Clinton, the foundation's honorary chairman, said: "Attracting the best people to teaching, developing and supporting their skills, and holding our teachers in high regard - all are critically important to achieve excellence, both in teaching and learning." | Former US president Bill Clinton, the foundation's honorary chairman, said: "Attracting the best people to teaching, developing and supporting their skills, and holding our teachers in high regard - all are critically important to achieve excellence, both in teaching and learning." |
| The other nine finalists are: | The other nine finalists are: |