Valentine's Day is here. I am afraid I don't offer roses or gifts, but if you are inclined to love reading about education, this may be the 30 minutes of lovely links you are after! This 57th edition includes a review of an excellent new book on reading in primary, research on 'identifying SEND', study strategies, an article on SEND, a blog on favourite edu-quotes, and more.

What I am writing...

Do you enjoy a quote for a short shot of wisdom? Well then, my latest blog is for you! Entitled, '10 Wise Quotes on Teaching and Learning', it does what it says on the tin. It features quotes from Dylan Wiliam, Lee Shulman, Mary Kennedy, Viviane Robinson, J. S. Bruner, and more. READ THE BLOG HERE.

My latest TES column explores a key issue in the special educational needs system: the impact of labels and diagnosis. Entitled, 'The Stigma of SEND diagnosis: what does the research say?', I explore how gaining a diagnosis for a need like dyslexia or ADHD can be positive but it can come with potential downsides, such as low expectations. It is a complex pictures - but one that should give us pause for thought about we approach special educational needs in education. READ THE ARTICLE HERE.

What I am reading...

Writing an accessible book for teachers about reading is hard. Teachers want practical tips to fit in with their busy lives, but a deep knowledge about reading, and its principles, is need to successfully translate theory into practice. Few authors achieve it because they have too much research or too little practice. Christopher Such is one of those very rare authors who gets the balance right. His book - 'Primary Reading Simplified' - makes understanding the teaching of reading simpler but not simple. It covers phonics, fluency, oral language, reading comprehension, close reading, curriculum, and more. Any book for teachers is a precious allocation of time - this book makes that investment worthwhile. I took away really clear routines and great insights. GET THE BOOK HERE.

What research (and resources) to be interested in...

Education Policy Institute have released a new 'Identifying SEND' report. It reveals chastening inequalities attending SEND support in different parts of the country. Alongside the 'postcode lottery', there are interesting insights, such as In the national cohort, girls were less likely than boys to be identified as having SEMH for the first time during secondary school, compared to boys. READ MORE HERE.

As secondary school summer exams loom in view, a new small study reveals some grim news about students' use of study strategies. 'An Evaluation of Secondary School Students’ Use and Understanding of Learning Strategies to Study and Revise for Science Examinations' surveys a sample of students, showing they still use outmoded strategies like rereading & highlighting over approaches more likely to work, such as self-testing and flashcard use. READ MORE HERE.

In the United States, the new Trump administration has begun significant cuts across government. These cuts have including effectively ending the work of the 'Institute of Eduction Sciences', or the IES, who undertake many trials and produce guidance for schools. A new article in The Conversation, entitled 'Helping teachers learn what works in the classroom − and what doesn’t − will get a lot harder without the Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences' explores the issues and makes a strong case for educational research. READ MORE HERE.

If you've been interested in my blogs, articles and 3Rs newsletter, you may be interested in investing in my latest book, 'Why Learning Fails (And What To To About It)', you can grab a copy with a discount HERE. If you want to bulk buy for your school, college or Trust, I can get up to 40% discounts for large orders.