“A man with conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him your facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and facts and he fails to see your point.” Leon Festinger Dorothy Martin was a charismatic leader with a unique skill. She could […]
When Prophecies Fail and Evidence Backfires Read More »
So, what works? It is a question teachers ask every day of the week. Whether it is ‘does this mastery stuff in maths work then?‘, or ‘what should I get my students to revise this week?‘, or ‘what literacy programme should I pick for Jane, who is struggling big time with her comprehension?‘ We are
Research evidence or Professional Judgement? Read More »
(Image credit: Kyle Flood – Creative Commons License – ‘Waah!’) Nothing prepares you to be a parent. Nothing. No parenting class gives you every answer to the mystery, particularly in the haze of a sleep-deprived dawn. No crying doll can ever captures the searing pain of your babe crying in your arms. Still, if we
Screaming Dolls and Scaring ‘Em Straight Read More »
Just under a quarter of a century ago, I failed the 11+. I’ll admit, the experience was less than cataclysmic for my skinny pre-teen self. I remember being asked by my school teacher if I wanted to sit the exam, with my ‘yes vote’ being cast when my best friend was confirmed as sitting the
Should We Bring Back Grammar Schools? Read More »
As Christiano Ronaldo stares lovingly at his reflection in the European Football Championship trophy, we may do well to reflect on the most interesting story of the tournament. Of course, it was little ol’ Iceland, outperforming all reasonable expectations given a population roughly the size of the city of Coventry. So why were they a success
The New Teachers’ Professional Development Standard Read More »
“The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones, which ramify … into every corner of our minds.” John Maynard Keynes Knowledge is power, without doubt. What is an education if not the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. And yet, we should be mindful of the rather
Breaking Beyond Our Old Ideas Read More »
If you are a school teacher and you haven’t heard of Carol Dweck’s ubiquitous growth and fixed mindset concept then… quite frankly, where the hell have you been for the past few years? No doubt lots of good has emerged from this common-sense psychological framework, with a few dodgy approaches too. The growing evidence base, showing the limitations,
Growth Mindset – More Evidence Read More »
