My new book, co-written with the quite marvellous Nick Rose, has landed. What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Psychology is a whistle-stop tour of what we consider to be the most useful and important psychological principles teachers ought to be aware of.
In case you’re wondering whether it’s for you, maybe you’ll find the following opinions persuasive:
This is a must-read book for every beginning teacher. And even the most experienced teachers will also find many new and useful things here. I certainly did.
Dylan Wiliam, Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment, University College LondonIn an era when policy makers deem that teachers needn’t be qualified, this book explores the complex psychological processes that underpin all teaching and learning.
Alex Quigley, Director of Teaching and Learning at Huntington School and author of The Confident TeacherA book of rapacious research, relentless drive and keen intellect. It works as an entry point into the history of cognitive psychology, presenting findings from an array of inter-related areas with such clarity that the previously forbidding is easily understandable to even the most distracted of ingénues. The key thing with this work though is that the evidence is not just presented and left to grow cold, but is sifted and judged so that easily implemented recommendations are made as to how a teacher might use such research.
Phil Beadle, author, Rules for MavericksThis book fills this yawning gap in our collective understanding of the way our students think and behave. Didau and Rose enable teachers to beat a path between the intellectual rigours of their subject and the patchy prior knowledge of their students. I look forward to seeing a copy of this book in every staffroom I visit.
Stephen Adcock, Deputy Director Academies, United Learning and co-author of Headstrong: 11 Lessons of School LeadershipEvery teacher, at any stage of their career, should read this book. It makes you think and challenges some of the assumptions, so that we approach the latest fad with a healthy scepticism and a determination to self-evaluate our own impact.
Jackie Beere, author, trainer and school improvement consultantIn these days of such monstrosities as ‘brain based learning’ and the pursuit of ‘the answer’ when it comes to ‘how to teach’, this book offers salvation. What Every Teacher Needs To Know About Psychology should be the first stop and, more importantly, the last stop on every teacher’s itinerary into this field. Disarmingly well written, and accessible even when it deals with some difficult concepts this book can serve as the teacher textbook for this area.
Martin Robinson, teacher, consultant and author of Trivium 21st CenturyWhat Every Teacher Needs to Know About Psychology manages to strike the important balance between the world of cognitive psychology and practical application in the classroom. If you are interested in how students think and learn and want to use that knowledge at the chalk face, this is the book for you. A practical step by step guide to using what we know about cognitive psychology in your classroom. It is also a great read.
Liam Collins, Headteacher of Uplands Community College and vice-chair of the Headteachers’ RoundtableI predict that a great many students will benefit from their teachers having read this terrific book. A very helpful and accessible guide to understanding the complexities of learning.
Phil Stock, Assistant Head, Greenshaw High SchoolThe perfect blend of research and thought-provoking questions for schools to grapple with. The beauty of the approach is that it opens up a range of issues and presents the research and then lets schools debate and move forwards.
Oliver Knight, Headteacher at Greenwich Free School and author of Creating Outstanding Classrooms
What about if you’ve got a pretty good grounding in cog psych?