And the evidence says… Feedback is the answer! It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a teaching wanting to help their students learn effectively must give lots of feedback. Marking, lots of it, should get to the root of many of our problems. We just need more of it, right? This easy assumption neglects a […]
Focusing on Feedback Read More »
This blog series was inspired by the simple and complex truth, offered by Professor Rob Coe, that we need to get students thinking hard to learn best. The first post in my series, entitled ‘Thinking Hard…And Why We Avoid It‘, explores why our students’ lazy brains let them down and how their thinking is
Thinking Hard… Practical Solutions for the Classroom Read More »
‘The year 9 class of the future?’ A discussion around class size is never far away from educational debate. Every so often a new report is emblazoned with headlines in the press: ‘class size matters’…’class size doesn’t matter‘. What are we to believe? Well, of course class size matters, stupid. And yet, as with most
Class Size Matters, Stupid! Read More »
I have stolen this catchy title from the eminently likeable Mike Cladingbowl, OFSTED’s Director of Schools. You heard me right – top inspector praised for his sage words about teaching and learning. Here they are for your delectation: “What about teachers’ subject knowledge, the children’s sense of routine, the ability to turn direction mid-sentence, a
Infectious Explanations Read More »
The drive for research evidence being used in education has achieved something quite radical in our time: it has been met with near universal political consensus. You won’t hear Gove or Hunt bickering over this debate. A diverse spread of organisations are also in support – from teaching unions like ATL and the National Association
Evidence in Education and Building Bridges Read More »
Show me your effect size! Last week I transcribed a short video of a speech by Dylan Wiliam that celebrated the magnificently complex vocation that is teaching and how every teacher can improve – see here. At a similar time to watching the Dylan Wiliam video, and finding it struck a resonant chord, I read
John Hattie on School Leadership Read More »
I watched a short video of Dylan Wiliam giving a talk to teachers yesterday through Zoe Elder’s blog – see here. I thought the short extract was so good and such a positive way to begin the new year, and the new school term, that I transcribed it in full here: “I think the only
Dylan Wiliam: ‘Every Teacher Can Improve’ Read More »
