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The Swindmills of Your Mind: Responding to John Swinney's Edu-Speak

The Swindmills of Your Mind: Responding to John Swinney's Edu-Speak

PE1668 Submission from Anne Glennie to the Petitions Committee 19th June 2019 I am writing to the committee in response to the Deputy First Minister’s latest submission (17th June 2019). I agree entirely that ‘phonics is only one part of

admin June 21, 2019May 3, 2020 Education, Gossip No Comments Read more

Snorghs at Sgoil na Pairc

Snorghs at Sgoil na Pairc

I just had to share these fantastic clips and email sent to me by a lovely teacher that works in Sgoil na Pairc on the Isle of Lewis. I had to email you and tell you about our day! We

admin June 6, 2019May 4, 2020 Education, Reflective Reading No Comments Read more

TESS Article: Do I have to spell it out? Synthetic phonics works

TESS Article: Do I have to spell it out? Synthetic phonics works

The following article appears in this week’s copy of TES Scotland (8th December) Do I have to spell it out? Synthetic phonics works Last month I gave evidence at the Scottish Parliament on my petition to improve literacy standards in

admin December 8, 2017May 4, 2020 Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

I’d like to teach the world to read… but I’d settle for every child in Scotland.

I’d like to teach the world to read… but I’d settle for every child in Scotland.

You can feel it in the air. The end of term. Proms, prize-givings, leavers’ assemblies and celebrations for all that’s been achieved in another full-to-bursting academic year. As schools close their gates for the summer, many involved in Scottish education

admin June 28, 2017May 4, 2020 Education, Gossip, Literacy, Uncategorized 2 Comments Read more

A Journey to the Dark Side: from Phonics Phobic to Phonics Fanatic

A Journey to the Dark Side: from Phonics Phobic to Phonics Fanatic

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

admin June 12, 2017May 5, 2020 Education, Gossip, Literacy No Comments Read more

The Winner Takes It All

The Winner Takes It All

As 2016 drew to a close, Strictly Come Dancing, X Factor and The Apprentice all crowned new champions, as the losers clapped to hide their misery in the side-lines. In PISA, the biggest education tournament of them all, Scotland recorded

admin January 27, 2017May 5, 2020 Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Why Upstart is a Nonstarter

Why Upstart is a Nonstarter

Upstart Scotland is actively campaigning to introduce a Nordic-style kindergarten system between the ages of three and seven, with learning being undertaken through ‘creative play’ rather than ‘formal’ learning. As a campaign that sits outwith Scottish education, I was shocked

admin September 18, 2016May 5, 2020 Education, Gossip No Comments Read more

Tackling Inequality Through Teaching: A Letter to the Prime Minister by Dr Marlynne Grant

Tackling Inequality Through Teaching: A Letter to the Prime Minister by Dr Marlynne Grant

I am delighted to be able to post this letter from Dr Marlynne Grant, to the Prime Minister, on the subject of tackling inequality through education. The Rt Hon Theresa May MP Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA

admin September 12, 2016May 5, 2020 Education, Gossip No Comments Read more

TESS article: When it comes to literacy, let’s start at page 1

TESS article: When it comes to literacy, let’s start at page 1

Today Nicola Sturgeon officially launched the ‘First Minister’s Reading Challenge’. Here is an article that I wrote for TESS about the challenge. It was published in TESS on 1st April 2016. TESS article: When it comes to literacy, let’s start at page

admin August 19, 2016May 5, 2020 Education, Gossip, Literacy No Comments Read more

My Verdict: Education Scotland's 'Early Reading Briefing'

My Verdict: Education Scotland's 'Early Reading Briefing'

Well, it has been just over a year since I started writing angry letters to the Scottish Government and campaigning about the need for proper phonics teaching in the classroom and in teacher training in Scotland. So today gave me

admin February 2, 2016May 6, 2020 Education, Gossip, Literacy, Phonics Forever No Comments Read more

Planning and Assessing Listening and Talking

Planning and Assessing Listening and Talking

Would you like some *new* and *free* documents to help with planning and the assessment of Listening and Talking? Of course you would! Well, I have created the following that might be useful in your school to provide consistency in

admin October 5, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy, Resources No Comments Read more

Read Between the Lines (TESS article)

Read Between the Lines (TESS article)

Recent comments from Nicola Sturgeon suggest that national testing might be about to return to Scotland. I do support our forward-thinking curriculum, but I also feel there are bits of it where we could do better. We cannot ignore the

admin June 13, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Dear Ms Constance: An Open Letter

Dear Ms Constance: An Open Letter

Dear Ms Constance I wrote to you in March 2015, although I realise that you probably don’t actually get to read every email you receive, given the demands of your job. I also wrote to my MSP Alasdair Allan back

admin May 20, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Gossip, Literacy, Uncategorized No Comments Read more

Identifying Reading Problems: How will I know?

Identifying Reading Problems: How will I know?

I’ve just finished an interesting article in TESS: ‘When will literacy get its fairy tale ending?’ by Emma Seith. It has a great graphic showing the depressing SSLN results compared with two years ago, and there’s some super stats about

admin May 16, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Gossip, Literacy, Phonics Forever, Uncategorized No Comments Read more

Closing the Gap: Get a New Plan, Stan

Closing the Gap: Get a New Plan, Stan

It has been a busy few weeks in the education world in Scotland, with what has felt like hunners of literacy reports and results being published. Having read them all, I am disappointed to find a lack of specific advice as

admin May 12, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy, Phonics Forever, Reflective Reading, Resources No Comments Read more

It’s time to wake up and smell the /k/ /o/ /f/ /ee/

It’s time to wake up and smell the /k/ /o/ /f/ /ee/

On 29th April the latest SSLN results were published, revealing the performance of our children in reading, writing, talking and listening. You would hope, that given the fact that almost all of our teachers now feel confident in delivering the

admin May 10, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy, Phonics Forever 8 Comments Read more

Raising Attainment for All or just for 85%?

Raising Attainment for All or just for 85%?

Over the last couple of days I’ve been following tweets from the Raising Attainment for All National Learning Session 2 in Glasgow with great interest. Even from the tweets it’s clear that there is a real buzz and feeling of

admin March 17, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Why Everyone Needs an Assessment Giraffe

Why Everyone Needs an Assessment Giraffe

What does a giraffe have to do with assessment? Well, Jeffrey the giraffe, as well as being extremely intelligent, handsome, and good at telling jokes, actually performs a very important function in the classroom: he encourages formative assessment – reminding

admin March 11, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy, Reflective Reading No Comments Read more

We're Too Hot (Hot Damn)*

We're Too Hot (Hot Damn)*

Nicola Sturgeon recently announced that a new Attainment Scotland Fund, worth over £100 million over four years, is to be introduced as part of a support package to improve educational outcomes for children in the most disadvantaged communities. This is

admin February 23, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Making Your Mind Up

Making Your Mind Up

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

admin February 11, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

The Attainment Gap? What about The Teaching Gap?

The Attainment Gap? What about The Teaching Gap?

I’ve been biting my tongue. I’ve been trying to be patient. (I’ve written to the Scottish Government on this very subject, but am still awaiting a response.) I don’t want to be the messenger that gets shot. But with all

admin February 10, 2015May 6, 2020 Education No Comments Read more

Happy New Year and Happy New Term!

Happy New Year and Happy New Term!

Dear Readers, Happy New Year! Well, as the first week back draws to a close, I’m sure that for most of you the term is already in full swing, the holidays are a hazy memory and you’re ready for the

admin January 8, 2015May 6, 2020 Education, Gossip, Literacy, Zoo News No Comments Read more

So, tell me what you want, what you really, really want…

So, tell me what you want, what you really, really want…

Well, there’s only a few days left now until the end of term and the start of the holidays – hooray! So today we have another prize – another poetry book – again ideal to have on your desk and

admin December 16, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Jeffrey the Assessment Giraffe

Jeffrey the Assessment Giraffe

Well, here we are – finally, it’s the last week of school before Christmas! Woo hoo! Today’s prize is a very special one indeed! How would you like to win your very own Mini Jeffrey Puppet for your classroom? As

admin December 14, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Christmas, Cannibals and Cats

Christmas, Cannibals and Cats

Ho! Ho! Ho! Here is Santa Jeffrey with another quick Christmas gift to save time planning for next week! Don’t resort to a DVD – keep the cherubs busy in the last week by giving them this tricky Blankety Blank

admin December 13, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

The Derk Isle

The Derk Isle

Well, can you believe it? Today marks the half-way point in our Advent Extravaganza! It also means that there are only 13 (unlucky for some) shopping days until Christmas… but that’s the bad news – the good news is, that,

admin December 11, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

The Giraffe Who Came to Tea

The Giraffe Who Came to Tea

As Anne is off gallivanting around the countryside, today’s advent treat is another giveaway. I know that many of you have remarked on Anne’s bracelets and bangles in the past, as she often tries to wear a ‘book bangle’ particularly

admin December 10, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

It will be Christmas in Snow Time…

It will be Christmas in Snow Time…

Well, today’s giveaway might be appropriate soon, if the weather forecast is to be believed. Anne has chosen a lovely book of poems called ‘Sun Time, Snow Time’ (RRP £6.99) which is a cross-cultural collection of poems, contrasting life in the Caribbean with

admin December 9, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Can you Picture It?

Can you Picture It?

Bonjour mes amis! (see my 1+2 languages there!) Today on the blog we’re giving away another lesson download, one that you can file away to be used on a rainy day, or whenever you just need a quick literacy activity

admin December 8, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Ah dinna like Mondays

Ah dinna like Mondays

Well, perhaps you’ve guessed from the title and picture that today’s giveaway has a Scots theme! ‘I dinna like the Midge’ (RRP £6.99) is a lovely anthology of Scots poems for children and is ideal to keep on the teacher’s desk, to

admin December 7, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

As Good As it Gets

As Good As it Gets

Woo hoo! All happy at Zoo HQ because it’s nearly Christmas, but more importantly – it’s nearly the weekend! Thank you to those of you have been dropping by the blog everyday so far, and an especially big thank you if you’ve

admin December 4, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Literacy No Comments Read more

Woo hoo! Say Hello to The Learning Zoo!

Woo hoo! Say Hello to The Learning Zoo!

Well… I am thrilled to be able to introduce you to my new venture, The Learning Zoo, and to my new colleague – Jeffrey the Giraffe! The Zoo will offer in-service training and conferences in Reflective Reading (formerly Muckle Reading) as

admin November 30, 2014May 6, 2020 Advent Calendar, Education, Gossip, Zoo News No Comments Read more

Goodbye to Big Writing

Goodbye to Big Writing

Well… what to say… yesterday was my final day of being a Big Writing consultant. The last four and a half years have been wonderful, and it’s truly been an honour and a privilege to work with Ros Wilson and

admin November 30, 2014 Education, Gossip, Literacy No Comments Read more

Ring a Ring o’ Rosen

Ring a Ring o’ Rosen

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

admin October 7, 2014 Education, Gossip, Literacy No Comments Read more

Brain Gym is Alive!

Brain Gym is Alive!

I have a confession to make. I still do Brain Gym in my classroom. I normally don’t mention it to people. It lost its credibility in the classroom after Dr. Ben Goldacres’s damning report on the Bad Science website. Its

admin October 7, 2014 Education, Gossip No Comments Read more

Is there a Trunchbull in your school?

Is there a Trunchbull in your school?

Dear Miss Trunchbull, I’m writing to you to because I’m worried about Miss Honey. I don’t think you’ve noticed, but she’s not herself at the moment. Something is missing from our classroom, and I’m not sure, but I think it

admin October 7, 2014 Education, Gossip No Comments Read more

A Word About Wow Words

A Word About Wow Words

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

admin October 7, 2014 Education, Gossip, Literacy No Comments Read more

Beyond the Hole in the Wall… but not much further

Beyond the Hole in the Wall… but not much further

This morning I finished reading ‘Beyond the Hole in the Wall: Discover the Power of Self-Organized Learning’ by Sugata Mitra. It’s a short book but it promises much: “This important update on Mitra’s groundbreaking work offers new research and ideas

admin October 7, 2014 Education, Gossip No Comments Read more

Handwriting is Dead (Oh no it isn’t!)

Handwriting is Dead (Oh no it isn’t!)

Reading my copy of TESS this week I was enjoying Fraser Speirs’ feature on using mobile phones in the classroom “Don’t run what ya brung”…until I got to the small print. Underneath the article some quotes from Fraser’s Tweets and

admin October 7, 2014 Education, Gossip, Literacy No Comments Read more

Recent Posts

  • The Swindmills of Your Mind: Responding to John Swinney's Edu-Speak
  • Snorghs at Sgoil na Pairc
  • P1 testing: from catastrophe to conspiracy?
  • World Book Day Reflective Reading Lesson Download!
  • TESS Article: Do I have to spell it out? Synthetic phonics works

Recent Comments

  • Dr Sandra Percy on Planning and Assessing Listening and Talking
  • Anne Glennie on P1 testing: from catastrophe to conspiracy?
  • Anne Dalziel on P1 testing: from catastrophe to conspiracy?
  • J hutchison on Why Upstart is a Nonstarter
  • Anne Glennie on Identifying Reading Problems: How will I know?

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Recent Posts

  • The Swindmills of Your Mind: Responding to John Swinney's Edu-Speak
  • Snorghs at Sgoil na Pairc
  • P1 testing: from catastrophe to conspiracy?
  • World Book Day Reflective Reading Lesson Download!
  • TESS Article: Do I have to spell it out? Synthetic phonics works

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