What a curriculum and assessment review can and cannot do. Some thoughts on what invariably goes wrong, and what we should learn from it. My piece for Schools Week

And they all fell silent! A rare moment in today’s @LiteracyTrust Reading Comprehension training where everyone has been so brilliantly and actively engaged. Time for us to read an unfamiliar text for the first time and reflect on what good readers do, before taking a break. 🧡

It's been a busy but rewarding 'literacy' week. I've supported 2 literacy leaders on writing & reading strategies, hosted a visit, run National Literacy Trust Literacy in PE CPD for a group of schs, & a STEM tchr I worked with told me recent written responses from sts were 'a miracle' 👍🏽

the amazing teachers we worked with on this project were committed to rejecting deficit thinking about language and pushing back against dominant language ideologies, taking inspiration from a long history of linguistic justice struggles in England’s schools 💕

It's entirely possible to be recruited as a marker but to have never taught a KS4 class, let alone these Specs. I've seen this firsthand.

Absolutely Teresa Cremin!! We need to integrate approaches to promote reading proficiency and activity. See evidence review with National Literacy Trust here: literacytrust.org.uk/research-servi…

Our dream is that educators uphold values, rights, and respect for human lives and use their knowledge to support the oppressed, the massacred, the ones with no rights, the ones who had no life, let alone community left. This is for the benefit of humanity. Education matters.

The latest National Literacy Trust research into children's #readingforpleasure makes for gloomy reading, but there is a solution. Find out what steps will be taken, and how you can help. Plus, what do you see that works in your school, library or home? tinyurl.com/mu396akx

Finding the right book, for the right reader can be the key that unlocks a love for reading and literacy skills for life. We believe that *all* reading is valid. Comic books and graphic novels can be especially powerful for reluctant readers. #GrowAGenerationOfReaders

This report into the reading habits of children very clearly show that we are getting it wrong as a system. If we teach children to read but then they don’t then we’ve failed. We all know those children that read regularly go on to achieve better. nlt.cdn.ngo/media/document…

Terrifying. I absolutely support the National Literacy Trust call for a govt taskforce to address young people's reading skills & motivation.

Fab examples of how classroom talk can be used in English lessons to enhance learning & motivation.

Encouraging reading for pleasure (volitional/independent reading) has nothing to do with 'forcing' or 'requiring' children to love 'literature'. All reading, of whatever kind, counts, if it's switching children & young people on to reading by choice & reading more.

How I wish We didn’t have to cry Poems for Gaza Daily. Our words didn’t need To bleed On the screen. Nor did our hearts Choose to erupt With sentences; As hot as lava, In a world As cold as ice. #KeepTellingofGaza

clare Yes. Jessie Ricketts, moving to @rickettslara.bsky & team excellent Teenage Reading Network (2024) ) Pic of summary from 2023 Report , glad to have been a participant. Also, pleased to see inclusion of 16+ age group in reading research & advocacy, having myself campaigned on reading re 16+ in FE over years.

If a school understands the importance of reading for pleasure and enjoyment, it doesn't mean that they don't also understand the importance of phonics, fluency, comprehension and all the other essential aspects of reading. They're not mutually exclusive.

Some highlights from our fantastic Oracy Conference last week! Rob Drummond Prof Julia Snell Barbara Bleiman 🎓 Education is Conversation clare