Children reading in lockdown
June 21, 2021
In 2020, the National Literacy’s Trust’s (NLT) research revealed how UK children’s reading practices (age 8-18) changed during the first lockdown (from March 2020). Prior to the lockdown, the Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey had sadly revealed a 15-year low in children’s enjoyment of reading. However, the 2020 survey showed that children read and enjoyed reading …
Using visual models to solve problems and explore relationships in Mathematics: beyond concrete, pictorial, abstract – Part 1
March 18, 2021
This two-part blog series by Marc North explores some thinking and strategies for using representations in Mathematics lessons. Part 1 unpicks some of the key theoretical ideas around the use of representations and models and foregrounds how representations can be used to both solve problems and explore mathematical relationships. Part 2 will illustrate these theoretical …
From caveman to concepts: Making history count in the primary classroom
March 17, 2020
In this blog, Victoria Crooks considers six ideas for developing primary history, along with some practical strategies. “Mum you’ll never guess what happened today!” These words we’re delivered by my 7-year-old with a frisson of excitement. That morning he had arrived at school to find his classroom in near darkness. The walls and windows had …
Building communities of engaged readers: an exciting opportunity for local primary teachers
September 9, 2019
In this post Helen Victoria Smith explores the idea of ‘reading for pleasure’ and how research-informed practice can build communities of engaged readers. She draws on research carried out by the Open University (OU) and United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) to discuss the importance of developing ‘Reading Teachers’, and offers the opportunity for local primary …
The Importance of a Daily Whole-Class Read – Enjoying a Book for a Book’s Sake
February 18, 2019
Past posts in this series have discussed picture books in the primary classroom and high quality children’s literature. In this new post Sally Betteridge considers the benefits of reading to your class. The joy and wonder on their faces as you capture them in the imaginary world of the story – they are hooked on …
Good habits? Habits of mind and mastery in the primary mathematics classroom
October 9, 2018
Primary mathematics teaching in the UK is undergoing something of a revolution as the roll-out of mathematics mastery continues. In this post, Rupert Knight considers how this relates to the idea of mathematical habits of mind and metacognitive strategies at a time when a new 2018 Education Endowment Foundation report has brought metacognition …
Realising the wider purpose of teaching Modern Languages through integrative approaches
February 16, 2018
Language learning is now compulsory in primary schools in England. Although the move may initially have appeared as a bold one in 2014, when compared to earlier practice, much work developing capacity in primary schools preceded the change in policy. And much work continues to ensure the delivery of languages is maximised for the benefit …
Mathematics Shanghai style
January 16, 2018
Three things I learnt from a mathematics lesson study during the Shanghai-England Primary Teacher Exchange The Exchange During November, the latest leg of the Shanghai-England primary exchange took place. This is the fourth year of an exchange of primary teachers organised by the Department for Education through local Maths Hubs. In September, two primary …
How dogs could make children better readers
October 2, 2017
In this post, which has previously appeared on The Conversation’s site, Gill Johnson considers the use of dogs within education as a way of promoting reading. (Bark and Read – H.Hudson / The Kennel Club) Issues around children learning to read are rarely out of the news. Which is hardly surprising – becoming a …
The power of picture books in the primary classroom
June 5, 2017
In a previous blog Gill Johnson considered what we mean by quality children’s literature and why it might be valuable in the classroom in promoting successful reading and writing. In this blog, she explores the importance of picture books and thinks it is time to rediscover their power with all children. If you have watched …
