Embark on a journey through the vast landscape of reading with my range of blogs. From enhancing reading fluency to deepening comprehension skills, and navigating challenges like dyslexia, my blogs offer invaluable insights and practical strategies. Delve into the latest research, discover effective teaching methods, and empower readers of all ages to unlock the full potential of literacy.
I have finally discovered how to successfully read a complete classic novel in 30 minutes. An Oxford University English professor showed me the workflow. Here is exactly what he does. He does not open Moby Dick and start reading from page one. That, he explains, is the most inefficient way
Literacy assessment is dominated by data on reading ages, but are they helping teachers to make a difference for students who need support? Let me be clear, high-quality standardised reading assessments can be both useful and important. But too often, schools are awash with reading data, along with spreadsheets glowing
Reading in class should be one of the richest experiences a teacher can offer. In practice, it can also prove one of the most uncertain and difficult. Whether it is reading a story in year 2 or unpicking historical sources in a year 8 history lesson, teachers can frequently find
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” Stephen King, 'On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft' Everybody knows that there is a special language that you find in books. The special language and vocabulary students encounter when they read books - whether it is fiction or non-fiction - is
I have spent more than a decade writing about vocabulary and working with a range of teachers across primary, secondary and colleges. Over that time, I've come to think differently about one of the most important, but tricky aspects of vocabulary instruction: deciding which words to explicitly teach.
Take the time to sit with Rebecca for a moment. It was in the school library that I sat across from Rebecca. At the end of a long autumn day – for us both – I attempted to spark her into life, nudging her to give her best effort to catch up
Shared reading is vital for every student to succeed in education. Reading in the classroom helps build knowledge, develop ideas, boost vocabulary, fuel creativity, and so much more. But we know that some students with additional special educational needs can struggle to develop their reading comprehension and engage in shared
Teaching a struggling reader, whether they are seven or seventeen, can be a gut-wrenching experience. It can make the typical tasks of a school day difficult and sap the enjoyment out of learning. It is no surprise then that every teacher, and parent, wants to get to the root of
In Brazil in 2012, the government offered prisoners the chance to read for their lives. Their novel approach saw prisoners granted four days of remission for each book they read and reviewed. Prisoners had the opportunity to submit up to 12 reviews per year, which equates to a maximum of
Should we ditch the Kindle and pick up a paperback? Or put away the plain ol’ textbook and dive into digital learning instead? In our brave new world of ever-present technology, we are left with questions about what is best: tried and tested traditional methods or innovative new technologies. New
Tutor time reading has experienced a wave of popularity in English secondary schools over the last few years. As schools responded to plummeting reading habits, along with a focus on reading in inspection and across curriculum, it became a popular fix for promoting and practising more reading during the school
The canon of English literature - and what is taught in English classrooms - is always the stuff of fierce debate and news headlines. A new TES article claims schools 'need support to break away from An Inspector Calls'. So, we should ask the question, should it be