Welcome to WITA WITA EDUCATION
This blog started when I began to engage with a range of educational books and became fascinated in developing my understanding of what effective teaching involves. This was probably in 2018 and my passion has continued. Partly because it feels like a golden age of educational writing. Nevertheless, I also realised I had missed out and went back to read some classics. There were three reasons for writing book reviews. Firstly, I realised I very rarely remember what I have read after about a week (lack of retrieval practice?). Secondly, I had been through a professional review exercise and set myself the target of writing in one way or another. Finally, the school I worked at had appointed an enthusiastic research lead (Stuart Welsh – @maths180 on Twitter) and I was keen to support his efforts and the TLC that he was leading and share my thoughts. These reviews are my bite-sized personal reflections- just a quick paragraph or so on how they might influence me, and who I think might benefit from taking a look.
Most of the books were reviewed from 2018 onwards but some of the reviews are shorter and not dated. These were written retrospectively because, either, I hadn’t started reviewing at that point or, frustratingly, I seem to have lost a bundle of reviews. Although the blog is very much my personal reactions on what I read I hope they may inform others when deciding what to read next.
I am a classroom teacher, and senior leader who has spent most of my career focused on pastoral support. The blog entries are my own reflections and where they relate to my thoughts on the context in which I was teaching, I am well aware that it was merely my perception of the context.
Alongside the book reviews here are my Top 5 education books, and some recommendations in key areas.
My Top 5
Making Kids Cleverer by David Didau
Creating the Schools our Children Need by Dylan Wiliam
Memorable Teaching by Peps Mccrea
How Children Succeed by Paul Tough
When Adults Change Everything Changes by Paul Dix
My Recommendations
On How Children Learn: Why Don’t Students Like School? By Daniel Willingham
On Educational Myths: What if Everything You Knew About Education was Wrong by David Didau
On Assessment: Making Good Progress by Daisy Christodoulou
On Feedback: Responsive Teaching by Harry Fletcher-Wood
On Key Educational Research: The Science of Learning by Bradley Busch and Edward Watson or How Learning Happens by Paul Kirschner and Carl Hendrick
On Pedagogy: What Does This Look Like in the Classroom by Carl Hendrick and Robin Macpherson or The Learning Rainforest by Tom Sherrington
On EdTech: Teachers vs Tech by Daisy Christodoulou
On Educational Leadership: Leaders with Substance by Matthew Evans or Liminal Leadership by Stephen Tierney
On International Perspectives: How the Other Half Learn by Robert Pondiscio or Cleverlands by Lucy Crehan
On Teacher Collaboration: Collaborative Professionalism by Hargreaves and O’Connor
On Professional Development: Unleashing Great Teaching by David Weston and Bridget Clay
On Behaviour: When Adults Change Everything Changes by Paul Dix and Running the Room by Tom Bennett
On Mental Health: This Much I Know about Mind Over Matter by John Tomsett
On Knowledge Rich Curriculums: Why Knowledge Matters by E. D. Hirsch
On Psychology and Education: What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Psychology and Education by David Didau and Nick Rose
On Motivation: Motivated Teaching by Peps Mccrae
On Staff Wellbeing: Putting Staff First by John Tomsett and Jonny Uttley
On Sports Education and Coaching: The Coach’s Guide to Teaching by Doug Lemov
Latest from the Blog
Bringing The English Curriculum to Life by David Didau
I never miss a book by David Didau. He has a clarity of expression that enlightens every every concept discussed- even if I feel I know it well already. I have read his works, heard him speak and engaged in professional discussion with him and have always learnt something. This new book is a field…
Responsive Coaching by Josh Goodrich
This book focuses on successful coaching of teachers. It largely outlines a systematic approach for one-to-one coaching but also describes key ways in which to embed this into a school’s culture. It reminded me of Unleashing Great Teaching in its systematic approach. It was one of those books that is a genuine step by step…
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
I enjoyed Jonathan Haidt’s earlier books which tend to address a key issue currently facing society. His last book- The Coddling of the American Mind focused on the cancel culture and the removal of debate from American universities. The book before that, The Righteous Mind, was a fascinating look at the polarisation of politics. His new…
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Education 