CGS Research/Read/Reflect #28
A regular round-up of the most interesting research, blogs and podcasts, shared by Mark Roberts, Director of Research at Carrickfergus Grammar School.
Research:
This week, England’s Education Select Committee has launched an inquiry into why fewer students than ever are choosing to read for pleasure. A recent study by Webber et al. (2025) tried to gain insight into the issue, asking children aged 13-15 from Scottish schools what might motivate them to undertake reading of the own volition. The adolescents identified six things that could make a difference:
Greater access to inexpensive, interesting books
Explicit teaching on how to make good book choices
Autonomy - the choice of whether to read or not should ultimately be theirs, following their own goals and standards for success
Relatable messaging - role models recommending books might work, tired old “reading is good for you” posters won’t
Social factors - friends recommending books
Environments conducive to reading - comfortable settings, that are free of distractions (especially smart phones and social media!)
Read:
The latest blog from InnerDrive considers the importance of choosing the right worked examples when teaching. As they highlight, when teachers use vague or misleading examples, misconceptions can be sticky and very difficult to unpick.
Reflect:
Thankfully, Tom Sherrington has revived his popular Kitchen Pedagogy video series. These short, practical but incredibly useful snippets, breaking down common pedagogical issues are recommended to all teachers. A recent offering looked at the ‘we do’ stage, during guided practice.
Thanks for reading,
Mark