So you think you know what is happening in your classroom....

The Hidden Lives of Learners

Graham Nuthall

This is an incredible insight into the workings of the classroom. Recommended to me by @MrDMJWalsh, Nuthall set up microphones and cameras to track each and every interaction and utterance of random students in classes. His team then painstakingly transcribed and analysed each one. Following this Nuthall and his team were able to predict with incredible accuracy exactly what each student would have learnt, and did learn during the observed periods. He explains the huge influence peers have on learning, and the necessary repetition required before real learning happens. Again this pushes back against the current scourge of curricula which are over-crammed with content.

Pros: Incredibly insightful for those who believe they have a handle on what happens in their classroom.

Cons: Unfortunately, Nuthall is no longer with us to explore his findings further.

A book to change your teaching life.....

Learn Like A Pirate

I’d picked up a bit of fuss around this book from folk I follow on Twitter. Initially put off by the title I eventually decided I had to find out what the commotion was about. Paul Solarz (still a class teacher, Grade 5 in the U.S.A.) takes us through his philosophy of handing over the reins of the class to the students. Strewn with practical methods for managing student led classrooms Paul details how you can give the students in your class voice, and leadership, while ensuring that it doesn’t turn into anarchy. The ideas in this book transformed my classroom. Previously my classroom was a teacher led environment where I controlled the organisation of the classroom and had responsibility for all the day to day running. This was transformed as I handed over the organisation of timings, atmosphere, support and target setting to my class. After initial guidance all these things were done with skill and aplomb by my class, allowing me to focus on the timely feedback and support needed to move individuals’ learning forward.

It was exhilarating, rewarding and effective. Students were highly engaged in lessons where they decided how to organise themselves and how to support each other.

Pros: Well organised and written by somebody who walks his talk in the classroom daily. Full of practical real life strategies that reward your bravery with empowered, independent and motivated students.

Cons: I wish I had this book ten years ago. I’m not a big fan of the letters of recommendation from parents, although I realise the job they do, a bit brash for my British sensibilities! Not sure it translates to high school classes and would need to be adapted to younger children, but much would still work.

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Open by David Price

I had a brilliant break thanks for asking. A number of days of it was sat on a train trundling across Siberia. In that time I read nine books. I was reflecting on how I could use what I had learnt, and how this applied to my life and work. I realised that I’m likely to forget lots and have decided that by writing about them, I will remember the key points, and be able to tip off other folk to some great reads.

So check out my brief reflections, and feel free to get in touch if anything piques your interest.

Open - How we’ll work, live and learn in the future. David Price

This book is a thoroughly believable look at how things could go in the future. Price argues a case that many of the things that hold value in our current world, education, property, energy are going to lose their value due to the spread of ‘openness’ and self organisation. Although I found all interesting, the key one here is knowledge. He discusses how knowledge is becoming free. The premium of having a high academic qualification is diminishing and how learners are cutting out the middlemen of established learning institutes as a physical entity. The explosion of online courses and homeschooling being prime examples.

Pros: Lots of real examples on how these trends are beginning, easy to believe, wake up call for educators and many established investors in traditional markets.

Cons: Makes you feel that it is urgent that established education institutes get on the front foot with this, but I struggle to see how they will. Also, if he is right, then as students have less need to physically attend university, my recent investment in a student apartment doesn’t look too clever.