Latest Posts
Do we need to learn how to listen?
We are in an age of communication. We are connected more than ever before: with the ability to talk to friends and family across the world in an instant. You can publish your unfettered views on X, you can talk about and share your best life on Instagram, or create
Disciplinary literacy: 50 years of failure
Every maths teacher recognises the language of their subject is unique. Each teacher of history recognises that they teach pupils reading and writing moves that are different to maths teachers. Primary school teachers must teach the shifting language of subjects and topics from different corners of the curriculum on a
Adaptive teaching and the power of anticipation
Teaching is brilliantly complex, endlessly challenging, and potentially the most rewarding of the professions. No two lessons are the same. No two classes are the same. This diversity and complexity demands an expertise from teachers that is too often underestimated. Teachers need to constantly anticipate, act and adapt. There is
Writing and the 'final mile' problem
Do your pupils have a problem with 'writing stamina'? The teachers and leaders I work with routinely describe the problem of pupils lacking writing stamina as a vital issue they want to address. But what is writing stamina anyway? I find it is typically a catch-all for a
Misreading dyslexia
Dyslexia is one of most common special needs that impacts learners in schools. It is an issue, and a label, that is well known, but probably less well understood. So, why are we misreading dyslexia and what can we do about it? This crucial issue with reading words on the
The rare vocabulary problem in English Literature
What is the connection between the following words: Coiffured, dowerless, sepulchre, docilely, spasmodically, ardour, lament, apoplectic, prostrate, care-worn, apoplectic, urchin, munificence, and extemporise. Sound familiar? Probably not. They certainly aren’t familiar to most pupils who first encounter them in GCSE English Literature texts (drawn from the 32 choice texts
Streaked tenrecs and improving reading
Have you ever seen a ‘streaky tenrec’? Probably not. For pupils sitting the key stage 2 SATs reading assessment, they likely met the tenrec and the wildlife of Madagascar for the first time. The first text for children to read in their SATs reading assessment was an informational text, entitled
The new school year and setting goals
The new academic year can be a time of promise for pupils. The promise of new teachers, peer groups, and the relationships that come along with it. Though there can be anxieties and worries too, it offers opportunities for a fresh start and newfound success. That time to begin afresh,