Archive

This is how I work

May 27, 2013 | Category: Featured

I was very excited to hear the accusation that I am (or might be) leading a 'cult of personality', whatever that means. To that end, and just in case anyone is interested, Dai Barnes has posted this i...

Does dyslexia exist?

May 26, 2013 | Category: Featured

Schools are packed to the gunnels (whatever they are) with students diagnosed with dyslexia. And, of the hundreds of dyslexic students I've taught, many have languished helplessly in the doldrums of i...

#dyslexia #Julian Elliott

Teacher talk: the missing link

May 18, 2013 | Category: English

Back in 2008 I was told by an Ofsted inspector that I talked too much. I had always prided myself on being considered an outstanding teacher, and was devastated to be told my lesson was "satisfactory...

#literacy #oracy #language

Livy living below the line

Apr 28, 2013 | Category: Featured

It's been some time since my last post and, sadly perhaps, this one has little to do with education. Instead it's a plea for support. From today Rosie and I along with our daughters (Olivia, aged 9 an...

#Living below the line

Mind your language - a language based approach to pedagogy

Mar 29, 2013 | Category: Featured

[caption id="attachment_3198" align="alignleft" width="250"] The most astonishing example of hyperbole ever![/caption]As the chap heading up Literacy at my school, I've been doing a lot of reading and...

#Genre Pedagogy #Jim Martin #Lee Donaghy #Michael Halliday #Park View School #Pauline Gibbons

Redesigning a curriculum

Mar 25, 2013 | Category: English

Effective reform must start with the understanding that the curriculum is the central focus and the central business of schools. Effective curricula are the sina que non of the system that is capable...

#grammar #Daisy Christodolou #Robert Bjork #cultrural capital #desirable difficulties

Building evidence into education

Mar 14, 2013 | Category: Featured

[caption id="attachment_3070" align="alignleft" width="300"] Does he look happy?[/caption]Today I got to rub shoulders with the great and the good at Bethnal Green Academy (second most improved school...

#Ben Goldacre #Teach First #evidence based education #randomised trials

The Grand Unified Theory of Mastery

Mar 10, 2013 | Category: Featured

Is this all you need to know about motivation, learning and professional development? No, probably not. But, it is a beguilingly complete way of tying together many of the theories which have baffled...

#deliberate practice #Growth mindset #Flow #Grit #Helsinki Bus Station Theory #talent

Grit vs Flow - what's better for learning?

Mar 04, 2013 | Category: Featured

[caption id="attachment_2963" align="alignleft" width="300"] At least it wasn't Brain Gym![/caption] Bugger! Having just put up a new classroom display exhorting the benefits of 'flow' and using the i...

#Tom Bennett #Malcolm Gladwell #Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi #Alex Quigley #Cal Newport

A reader's view on the teaching profession

Feb 28, 2013 | Category: Featured

This post was sent to me in response to yesterday's post by an NQT considering leaving teaching and wishing to remain anonymous. Why do so many teachers leave the profession? About me: I am 26 next we...

#coaching #Teaching