A Journey to the Dark Side: from Phonics Phobic to Phonics Fanatic I am delighted to have a feature article published in the summer edition of the NATE Primary Matters magazine. It's quite a personal one, but it will hopefully provide some background for those who think I've always been a phonics fanatic… Indeed, it's […]
According to a recent Guardian article, a group of children’s authors is writing to the UK government, to complain that primary teachers are "damaging children's creative writing" by encouraging them to use language that is "too elaborate, flowery and over-complex". Cecilia Busby, who writes fantasy fiction for children, would much rather that we teach writing in […]
In response to last night’s blog post ‘The Attainment Gap? What about The Teaching Gap?’ lots of people have contacted me looking for recommended reading and research. I could just tell you the name of the game-changing book that challenged and changed my thinking – but that would be too easy. Instead, I have decided […]
Salutations! Well, things are starting to get hectic here at Zoo HQ – the usual round of Christmas parties, concerts – not to forget the Christmas cleaning – and I still haven’t written my cards. *has a sinking feeling as tomorrow is last posting day for second class and all the stamps we have are second […]
Dear Mr Rosen, I notice you’re fond of writing open letters, so I thought you wouldn’t mind being on the receiving end of one. Forgive me for thinking aloud, but I wonder if you are running out of things to talk about. It seems like only last month you were having a pop at “wow” […]
Everyone loves Michael Rosen. He is one of my favourite authors to use in class to inspire children, through his books, poems and more recently the fabulous internet clips which bring poetry such as “Chocolate Cake” to life in the classroom. In one class we were so inspired we wrote our own performance poetry and […]
