Rich and Connected Science Texts

Reading texts in science lessons is the best way to develop rich and connected knowledge. How many science lessons do … More

Why you should make your science lead responsible for whole school literacy

The problem with most English leads is that they don’t love science enough. They love novels, poetry, speeches. Some even … More

Rich and Connected Science Texts

I’m more excited about this post than I’ve been about any post I’ve written in recent years. I’ve been building … More

What Is the Point of “Reading Comprehension”?

Is the goal of reading something to comprehend it? In class, we give our students a text and then ask … More

Some Thoughts on Reading Fluency

We often think of reading fluency as speed: the faster you read, the better reader you are. Or, we may … More

Tier 2 Experiences

This post is the result of a conversation with the great Alistair Gittner on Bluesky. We go back a way … More

How Does Comprehension Happen?

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-shows-milky-way-is-destined-for-head-on-collision/ It’s Sunday afternoon. I’m cutting down some ivy in my garden which is growing up a neighbour’s wall. I’m … More

How Reading Comprehension Happens

Clue: it all depends on your background knowledge. I think we all agree don’t we? Reading is the most important … More

Should We Explain a New Concept to a Class, or Ask Pupils to Read an Explanation Instead?

Could teachers make their lives easier by giving their pupils a well-crafted science explanation to read instead of explaining it … More

Reading for Learning or Learning for Reading?

Back in 2014, when I started this blog, I was a primary school teacher with a special interest in science … More