Category Archives: Uncategorized

Does this image shock you? Why do we still have this distinction between “books for boys” and “books for girls” on recommended reading lists in 2021?  Surely, the only questions that matter when choosing a book for a child are: is it well written, is the story engaging, will my child be interested?  This lastContinue reading “Gendered Reading Still Persists”

Don’t try to run before you can walk.  I am sure we have all heard this expression but have you ever thought about it in relation to 7+ entrance exams?  So often, I hear of both parents and tutors who use exam practice papers as their primary tool for preparing for exams.  Perhaps this makes sense to you.  SurelyContinue reading “Using Practice Papers for 7+ Preparation”

Over my long career, I have often come across students who are described as perfectionists.  These students have ranged in age from five to fifteen but all share the same characteristic: they will only present work when it is perfect.  Is “perfectionist” an accurate description of these students, or is there something else at the root ofContinue reading “How Do We Encourage Risk Taking as Part of Learning?”

In guiding parents through the 11+ entrance exam process, I am often asked what is the right time to begin purchasing and using practise papers.   To help parents understand why I ask them to delay doing this, I use the analogy of learning to cook.   Look at this simple recipe for stir-fry: Step 1: Finely chop orContinue reading “How is Learning 11+ Comprehension Like Learning to Cook?”

Today is the day that school children and parents are rejoicing.  It marks the end of home schooling.  Today is also the day that another group of children and parents are celebrating as it marks the return of home educating.  The terms “home schooling” and “home educating” are often used interchangeably, a fact that has long irked theContinue reading “Celebrating the Return to Home Educating”

What exactly is imagination?  Imagination is defined as the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.  Is it possible to have no imagination?  There is indeed a very rare condition in which sufferers have no ability to visualise mental images – known as Aphantasia.  It is believed that onlyContinue reading “Imagination is a Muscle”

This morning I embarked on one of my favourite termly tasks: choosing the books for next term’s book groups.  I have been facilitating book groups for eleven years for children ages 8-16, and my lists lean almost exclusively to classic texts.  As well as praise from parents on the books I include, I regularly get questioned onContinue reading “Classic Literature for Children – A Divisive Issue”

An article in the Guardian this week has caused quite a stir.  (Here in case you haven’t seen it https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/feb/20/im-a-maths-lecturer-and-i-had-to-get-my-children-to-teach-me)  In this article, a best-selling novelist who teaches creative writing observes how “joyless” children’s learning of writing has become as it focuses on grammar.  She states that as a writer, she has found “nothing of value” in it.   AsContinue reading “In Defence of Grammar”

I really enjoy public speaking.  I never realised I was actually in the minority in feeling this way until I was well into middle age.  I just assumed that everyone enjoyed sharing their opinions as much as I did!  As I became aware of how many adults fear standing up and speaking in front of others, I lookedContinue reading “Public Speaking – Why Are We So Scared?”