Administrator

When is revision not revision?

This article was written for The Association of Colleges’ website to promote my workshop in London in April. I have the pleasure of delivering a workshop for AoC Create in London in April on the subject of teaching English re-sits at post-16. According to Ofsted, “Too much teaching in [post-16] English is not goodContinue reading “When is revision not revision?”

Developing classroom practice

This article was written for Creative Education to promote my speech at their national Teaching and Learning conference in March 2017. Think of something you’re good at. How did you become good at it? How do you know you’re good at it – on what evidence is your judgment based? Now think of something you’re notContinue reading “Developing classroom practice”

The importance of reading fluency (Part 2)

This is part two of a 2-part article on reading fluency. To read part one, click here. In part one of this article, I explained the importance of fluency – that is to say, the ability to read text quickly and accurately, adopting the appropriate intonation. Fluency, I said, requires a degree of background knowledge about a text,Continue reading “The importance of reading fluency (Part 2)”

The importance of reading fluency (Part 1)

I’ve recently discovered Instapaper, an app which collates reading material – newspaper articles and webpages, say – and converts them into audio so that I can listen to them on my daily dog walks. There’s never enough time in the day. My backlog of reading material just gets longer and longer, and my sense ofContinue reading “The importance of reading fluency (Part 1)”

What are the six conditions for learning?

This article, by Matt Bromley, was written for SecEd magazine’s NQT special supplement and first published in November 2016. You can read the original version on the SecEd website here. You can download the full 8-page supplement here. You can read more of Matt’s columns for SecEd here. Occasionally, on my teacher-training courses and when the mood takes me,Continue reading “What are the six conditions for learning?”

Libraries gave us power…

The children’s laureate Chris Riddell – aided and abetted by eight other children’s authors including the former laureates Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson and Quentin Blake – has called upon the education secretary, Justine Greening, to help preserve school libraries. Riddell argues – in an open letter to Greening – that many school libraries lack sufficientContinue reading “Libraries gave us power…”

Should parents read bedtime stories? Part Three

This is the final instalment of a 3-part series on the importance of reading to children. Here’s Part One and Part Two. In his book Raising Kids Who Read, Daniel Willingham says that “When you think of activities parents might undertake to develop their child’s knowledge, reading aloud is probably high on your list”. And, he says,Continue reading “Should parents read bedtime stories? Part Three”

Should parents read bedtime stories? Part Two

This is the second instalment of a 3-part article on the importance of reading to children. Here’s Part One. In September 2015 the UK education secretary, Nicky Morgan, and the children’s author and comedian, David Walliams, announced a new government target: they want to make English children the most literate in Europe within the next fiveContinue reading “Should parents read bedtime stories? Part Two”

Should parents read bedtime stories?

This is the first instalment of a 3-part series on the importance of reading to children. “A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.” – Neil Gaiman If you’re ever unfortunate enough to find yourself in a meeting with me towards the end of the day, you’ll no doubt clock me clock-watching.Continue reading “Should parents read bedtime stories?”

The habits of a great teacher

Your initial teacher training year is a bit like learning to drive: throughout your training you have a constant critic at your side offering advice (or possibly a staffroom full of them), and you are encouraged to endlessly reflect, adjust and – by so doing – secure incremental improvements. You might literally be in theContinue reading “The habits of a great teacher”