Miss Smith
@HeyMissSmith
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AHT, DSL, EYFS & English Lead.
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Joined July 2012
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When I went into teaching 27 years ago, it was a very secure, respected, creative occupation. Professional development was taken seriously, in that I was often sent for whole days out to learn about new ideas. No one told me how to teach; people expected my training provided that
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*Breaking news* Government calls on all actors who have taken part in Waterloo Road, Teachers and Grange Hill to return to the classroom in January.
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There’s nothing that brings home the reality of child poverty/protection than children tearfully refusing to go home on the last day of term.
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Teaching is a job where one minute you feel like the best teacher in the world and the next like you have no idea what you are doing. The secret is riding these waves.
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Does anyone else have to get up an hour before they realistically need to just to stare into space and drink three cups of coffee?
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Things you can't teach a teacher but that experience will:
1. How to read the class emotional barometer.
2. How to pick yourself up after a brutal observation.
3. To 'own' your classroom and just expect to be listened to.
4. How to forgive yourself for not doing everything right.
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I sometimes think would be nice if there were a few more class teachers with 25+ years experience who tweeted their opinions on education. If this is you please make yourself known to me. 😀⬇️
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Story time is the best part of the day in primary school. It should never be pushed aside to make way for ‘learning’ it *is* learning. I’d argue, the best sort.
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Shout out to the
@TfL
driver who told one young man on my tube to,"put your shirt back on this isn't Love Island."😂
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Most teachers have difficulties with staple guns let alone actual ones.
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If I’ve learnt anything in 23 yrs teaching it is this: to learn something well chldrn need extended opportunities to practise and perfect. This requires a supremely calm & unhurried approach. If culture in a sch/class is hectic with focus on pace & coverage, learning will suffer.
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If you are unsure if you are a teacher, check list:
Are you so tired that you can fall asleep on a train/sofa/standing?
Do you have to get 'cover' to take a bathroom break?
Do you have post-its stuck all over you desk/walls/forehead to remind you to do things?
You are a teacher.
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Teaching children to write well is teaching them that writing well is about controlling, entertaining and enlightening your audience. It is *not* using various word classes and seven sorts of punctuation within one paragraph.
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I had to teach Year 6 yesterday (last minute) for the first time in four years. I had a blast. All I needed was a whiteboard. We have simultaneously deskilled and over complicated our profession
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My assembly today:
Me: Who can tell me a British Value?
Year 4 Child: Fish and chips.
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I like 27-30th of December. No one knows what day it is. People have given up on the current year but can't imagine the next ever happening. It's as close to a time warp as you ever get.
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This is the most difficult time of year for many teachers. We are exhausted, classes not quite where we want them, workload feels overwhelming, parents’ evenings making long days longer, it’s cold and dark. Don’t worry if you feel like resigning; we all do.
#youvegotthis
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My best advice for anyone about to commence teaching:
Relax. Breathe. Nothing is the end of the world. Remember those children are little people; they recognise and forgive human weakness. Be kind. Be firm. Keep going.
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I have now taught Reception two years and half a term. Not long really. Most of my career I taught much older children. Here are some observations on the most important things I have learnt. I did one of these threads last year too but I've learnt a lot more since then.
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I couldn’t work in a school that required me to give out punishments for having top buttons undone or being without a pen. It’s nonsense. What is happening in some schools?
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I’ve been contemplating what are the main things I’ve learnt in over two decades of teaching:
1: There is no substitute for a calm environment.
2: Practice makes perfect.
3: Children love routines.
4: Children spot unfairness.
5: Jokes should last no more than 15 seconds.
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It’s almost like there’s no one in government who understands how a school works.
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Here is your regular reminder that there are about 630,000 teachers teaching in the UK. A fraction are on Twitter. On Twitter, a fraction have big platforms. We are kidding ourselves as a community if we think this conversation is representative of the wider world of education.
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I’m bored of the term ‘knowledge rich curriculum’ I propose:
FactyMcFactface Curriculum
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I think there should be much more collaboration between primary and secondary schools. It should be normal for teachers to visit and observe teaching in other settings and for there to be many joint projects.
#thoughtfortheday
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I have exactly the same size feet as Betty Boothroyd. I know this because thanks to my friend, the wonderfully nerdy
@miss_mcinerney
who bought her entire shoe collection at an auction, I now own a pair of her shoes. I shall wear these to my first head’s interview. For luck. 💪
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I suspect Y6 children leave primary knowing a great deal more than they show teachers in the first weeks of Y7. There are logical reasons for this:
1. Summer dip
2. Relationship with tchrs not secure yet. Expectations have not been set.
3. Fear of being wrong in new environment.
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Might have been an idea not to 'manage' so many expensive teachers out of the classroom in the first place? If the government hadn't insulted the old 'blobby' guard in favour of the neotrad wave (who have now gone) maybe those retired teachers would still be around?
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As I near the end of my first year in Reception and my 26th year of teaching I can honestly say this was the year I improved and learnt the most. Seeing the foundations of schooling has been an incredible journey.
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@MattHancock
Mate. I don’t think the country wants to be told what to do any more by people who aren’t following their own rules.
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People have been asking for a thread on the main things I have learnt in Reception after 25 years in mainly KS2. Here goes:
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The most important part of your teaching ‘bag of tricks’ is your personality. This is what will ultimately save you in moments of doubt, floundering lessons and seemingly insurmountable behaviour issues. Don’t underestimate your own skill in the classroom.
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Performative obedience at its peak. This is just about control. It makes adults feel better. Nothing whatsoever to do with safety or learning. The sad thing is that people are now accepting that this is an indicator of success.
It’s seriously impressive when you can hear a pin drop during a school’s silent line ups & transitions. Students moving with pace & purpose in a safe & controlled manner, pausing only to greet their teachers with ‘Good Morning/Afternoon Miss/Sir.’
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I challenge people who are worried about the narrowing of the curriculum to look at the spelling requirements in Year 6 and try a maths paper. Then tell Year 6 teachers they have loads of time for PE and Art.
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So how many people’s body clocks have now transitioned to nocturnal?
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I’m looking forward to going back to school tomorrow. After 23 years of teaching that’s not bad.
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After seeing the TES awards are on again I've decided to have my own little awards ceremony. I've asked my dad to nominate me for Teacher of the Year. I was up against my bedroom slippers. My mum has decided I won. Go me.
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Another teaching advert portraying the job as setting fire to things and breakdancing in class. Do me a favour.
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However wonderful your systems and curriculum are, it is your teachers who are your number one asset in schools. Let’s not forget this.
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Ofsted We want to see X.
School We have to do Y for you to see X.
Ofsted Y is bad, don't do Y.
School How do we do X?
Ofsted We have no idea, but you definitely don't need to do Y.
Ofsted Anyway we're after Z now.
School What about X?
Ofsted X is still there but it's all about Z
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Why are we still talking about phones when our school buildings are crumbling and we can’t afford teachers and support staff?
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Day 13:
Apart from tiredness and slight cough most symptoms have gone 😀 I shall stop the daily updates now. Thanks for all the concern through being sick. It did help 💓
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Teaching 1997: Hi I’m new here. Here are my plans.
Teaching 2023: Hi I’m new here. Can I have my scripts?
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The ‘basics’ of teaching which take a lifetime to master.
1. Form mutually respectful relationships build on trust and shared purpose.
2. Plan your lessons in such a way they help children make cognitive links across multiple disciplines and also make sense of the world.
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Awards for teaching are daft. I say it every year. Just stop already.
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Does anyone making policy decisions understand how long it takes to get a fairly competent teacher? I’d say about 5 years post qualification. Before that teachers need an *awful* lot of support. This means we will flood schools with teachers that need extreme mentoring.
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The reason we have a huge recruitment and retention crisis is not down to 5 hours that can be shaved off a working week. Teachers are on their knees with overwhelming needs from children and communities. Needs we have neither the time or resources to manage.
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I don’t mind admitting that this is the hardest I’ve had to work in 27 years of teaching. The reason? Chronic underfunding by a group of self seeking narcissists in government who have consistently ignored the voice of experience on the chalk face.
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Teaching is a vocation suited to mavericks and free thinkers. These are the people who really enjoy it, and are good at it. They are the ones who will stay despite all the rubbish that gets thrown their way.
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Does anyone else get excited at the thought of going to sleep?
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Can we just call ‘whole class feedback’ what it is please?
Teaching
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I can see some people on EduTwitter are speaking for teachers about the ITT review....
They don't speak for me.
I don't agree with the government narrowing or further prescribing teacher education. The universities are not our enemy, whatever you may have been led to believe.
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I’m starting baseline assessments today… bearing in mind my little class still regularly ask ‘when mummy is coming’, it seems rather early for all this stuff.
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I am excited to announce that tomorrow I will be starting back at the same school I’ve been in for several years.
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RETWEET PLEASE: Come on EduTwitter. Let's be good for something here. Start putting pressure on
@TesResources
to stop scandalous profit making from poor teachers whose work they allow to be stolen and resold.
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Then I see people praising educational changes over the past fifteen years and I am like.....
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You know you’ve been teaching a long time when a 6’2 bearded gent stops you in the street with:
“Hello Miss”
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For the thousandth time wondering how we got to a place where halls full of people listen to a man who has renamed *asking children questions* ‘cold calling’ and gets hailed as an educational hero.
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I can not believe how little money schools now have to support the most vulnerable children. It’s a disgrace. And now they want to blame us for knife crime.
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Our Ofsted report (From last June) has come out. My whole school community has all but forgotten about it. Not a single parent has commented about it to me. All. That. Stress.
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I find it funny that greeting children at the door/gate is now a ‘thing’’. In 27 years of primary teaching, polite morning greetings and reciprocation has been standard.
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Now I'm no nostalgic fantasist. This was my life as a young teacher. I compare to the young teachers I see now, strapped for money, stressed out and told what to do every second of their professional lives and I'm not surprised we are at a low point in terms of job satisfaction.
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9. An EYFS classroom is the best place in a school. I spent so many years avoiding it, and I was missing out. If you were like me a few years back, next PPA time ask your EYFS teachers if you can spend half an hour in their classroom. You won't regret it.
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I’ve taught in challenging schs for 22 years. I’ve seen *lots* of terrible behaviour. I can categorically say the children who’ve been excluded (even fixed term) have been violently &/or persistently extremely disruptive. There are always serious reasons.
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Does the amount of certainty with which people speak about educational matters increase with each year they have not taught?
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Having taught my class now for a year and a term I honestly think a two year cycle is the best way to teach. I’m only now see the true results of my teaching...
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Just to cheer you up: I asked a four year old today when his birthday was, with great conviction he announced ‘tomorrow’. I immediately went to the register to check.
Reader, it’s in February
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I wonder if I can write on my application form '129 people on Education Twitter think I'd do a good job'😂.
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In other news, Reception had beans for lunch and during story time someone let out the most enormous fart. They laughed for fully ten minutes.
#championteaching
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I’m off to teach some children how to read. I’ll pop back tonight to see what those who don’t do my job imagine I’m wrong about.
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Non teaching person: Have you *fill in with anything* yet?
Teacher: I haven't been to the toilet since 7am.
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First school trip of the year. Imperial War Museum. Anticipated questions:
9:02 Can we choose our partners?
9:35 Can I eat these? *family pack of Twix*
9:42 Are we there yet?
10:01 Can we go to the shop?
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I saw an excellent and well-researched thread this morning about what 'expert' teachers were. Not knocking it, but I was thinking there was probably a way to explain it without three years' research and diagrams and I wanted to give it a go..
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My Year 5 class sat the 2017 SATs reading paper this week. They totally smashed it. In September they were struggling with Y3 stuff. We hardly practised technique. Reading *lots* of high quality texts to children works. And it’s awesome fun 🤗
#topteachingtip
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Do you want to know the biggest thing wrong with the education system today?
Teachers doing all the work.
A true education teaches children to be accountable for their behaviour, progress and outcomes.
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Teaching is like walking a tightrope between two mountains in high winds and rain balancing 30 jugs of water. It requires, skill, precision practice and control and the teacher must remain centered at all times and focussed on the end goal as well as the jugs.
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Thanks for the messages 🥰 If this *is* coronavirus I can tell you it comes on suddenly. Just developed the cough and then slumped at lunch with chills and colleague ran to get thermometer. Now got a banging headache. I’m in bed though with a cup of tea so I expect I’ll be fine.
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A thread on time-saving tips that leaders can instigate to help teachers manage workload.
1. Give teachers autonomy over their marking systems.
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They’ve only gone and made a good teaching advert! First one ever *something in my eye*
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Teachers! If you are even slightly bored now, savour the moments of inactivity. All too soon you will be too busy to go to the toilet.
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I don’t have a book to sell or a career that is dependent on people believing what I say. I am a current class teacher, and ECT mentor and I am hugely worried that the narrative around what makes a good teacher is misleading and will ultimately damage education.
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7. Music and dancing are so, so important. EYFS children need to be singing, dancing and making noise constantly. An EYFS classroom is not for lovers of peace and quiet.
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Health update on day three:
I took a paracetamol last night- got rid of my temperature and the shooting muscles pains that were stopping me sleep (these have been by far the worst symptom). This morning I’m not coughing much and have no temperature.
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It's a sad state of affairs when we are bribing teachers to stay with 'staggered bursaries'. The real solution to R&R is making teaching a creative and joyful craft for trusted professionals once again, not this three ringed circus for a transient audience.
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Took a group into the staff room to make playdough.
5 year old: is this your house?
Me: We are right next door to our classroom! Do you think I live here?
5 year old: Yes!
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On the mustard dress shopping trip with mum I tried these on:
Oh no Jane not those...
Today: *in the bag* 😊
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Anyone who fancies an easy life should not teach Year 6 after Sats with an End of Year Mass, a musical production and a leavers assembly to prep simultaneously.
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How much would a full time extra teacher per school cost to do music or computing or something requiring expertise? If this was provided and class teachers got an afternoon per week release time to do the small groups -that would work and benefit all.
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If you are wondering why I am irritated: EduTwitter's dominant and therefore acceptable opinion (on any topic) is defined by the mainly non teaching male secondary teachers. When the topic is primary teaching it gets more than a little tiresome.
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Going to Germany. The extent of my German:
I am 12 years old.
I want a slice of cheesecake.
I have a rabbit.
How do I get to the station?
Reckon I’ll be fine.
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Love that this new equipment has arrived. So easy now to write stuff down and reduce my cognitive load
#evidence
#champ
Love that our new clipboards for
@Doug_Lemov
’s
#TLAC
#Activeobs
have arrived. Much easier now for teachers to check for understanding and reduce their cognitive load in the classroom.
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In order for children to become ‘readers’ they absolutely have to love stories. In order for them to become ‘greater depth’ readers they have to read widely and be introduced and immersed in challenging texts. Phonics doesn’t fix all that. Never has and never will.
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A ‘knowledge rich’ curriculum requires first and foremost a ‘knowledge rich’ staff body.
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8. Children of this age need you to make them feel valuable and special. All children do really, but tiny children are hyper sensitive to your opinion of them. Validate them often and with real authenticity.
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Right I blogged. Got on a roll. Excuse typos. It's late. Why the Research Movement in Education is Failing
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A curriculum grounded in retrieval practice of facts is absolute madness. Just because a child can tell you 'five facts about Vikings' when asked doesn't mean they were taught the Vikings well. Conversely just because they can't tell you 5 facts doesn't mean it was taught badly.
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The idea that someone doing my planning will make my life easier is laughable to me and it illustrates perfectly how much culture and attitudes about what makes a teacher have changed
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