Barbara Bleiman

I think where EduCognitivism went wrong was mainly reading research into *studying* techniques for enhancing memory, then trying to remake lessons in their image.

That didn't work out. Lessons consist of conversations in which teachers and students coordinate meanings.
#EduEnactivism #EduSky #UKEd

Mapping Poetry: A Question for Primary Colleagues Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Are you a KS2 teacher? We're adding an extra dimension to our survey of poetry at KS3 by asking some KS2 teachers to respond to one question. Please could you take 2 mins to click this link & answer the question? Huge thanks! www.surveymonkey.com/r/MapKS2Coll...

💯 this! For secondary English as well as primary. The example of developing creative writing through talk and role-play is such a good one!

So odd! Is the PE curriculum highly controversial, in need of major reform, subject to massive political pressures, having to recover from a decade plus of damaging proscription, like English? Does English not need experts in language, grammar, reading, writing, literature, media, drama?

Both, I’d say. English is just two people, one for the whole of primary English, one for the whole of secondary English. Huge, core areas of the curriculum! Surely more of a range - in all kinds of ways- would be important & helpful in creating a robust curriculum for all?

Giving Braverman the education brief is quite a choice for Reform. I was on an education commission with her once before she went completely mad and she knew absolutely nothing at all.

The letter explains the concerns - there’s no critique of those individuals who were selected but rather concern about the absence of those from *any* minoritised groups & the selection process.

Bennie Kara has posted it on LinkedIn.

A very important issue. I was among those who signed this letter.

This is true for language learning too. Knowledge, learning, conceptualisation is all created by the pupil. Not inserted by the teacher.

The rise of ‘elaborate dictation’ and ‘writing-related simulations’ in English schools: Unethical writing teaching In recent years, a growing concern has emerged among teachers, parents, and researchers in England: The increasing use of what could be called ‘elaborate dictation’ in classrooms.  At first gl…

The rise of ‘elaborate dictation’ and ‘writing-related simulations’ in English schools: Unethical writing teaching

writing4pleasure.com/2025/07/16/t...

A poem for all of you with children in your lives, for Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, on 17th Feb.

A great thread on learning and curriculum and SO, SO relevant to English too. Curriculum is about thinking and doing in the subject, growing through connections, and 'knowledge made, not given' (Harold Rosen).

I love this final phrase about what curriculum is!

Excellent thread on teaching reading comprehension - a complex rather than a simple, component-led list of quick fixes. I love the point about sometimes learning from misunderstanding.

The only research quoted is a very flawed report based on teacher opinions, rather than any evidence of shrinking vocabulary.

The Future of English Language at KS3 + KS4 What the Curriculum and Assessment review could mean for English Language

“to have a distinct GCSE in Eng Lang & a KS 3 & 4 curriculum…rich in knowledge about language,English teachers…need to be given the guidance & knowledge about language that has been missing…also…freedom to explore language use in creative & analytical ways“

englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/the-fut...

Neal Zetter: Talking Up Poetry I have three issues with children’s poetry in bookshops: there’s not enough of it, the variety of the books on sale is limited, and if it is stocked, its profile is too low. Many smalle…

This excellent new post by @nealzetterpoet.bsky.social on
@cpsummit.bsky.social blog is all about why bookshops do so little to display the rich array of contemporary children's poetry. If they did, it would be snapped up by parents & children! childrenspoetrysummit.com/2026/02/12/n...

Read halfway last night - so, so good - and then decided to stop, pause and give myself time to absorb what I'd read, before picking it up again. A very powerful & moving collection for adults but it also needs to go into every school library and classroom.

Seen this (& @engmediacentre.bsky.social's other blogs on new curric) This one's so important! @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social @bobeaglestone.bsky.social @beckyfrancis.bsky.social @thecockerill.bsky.social @marymyatt.bsky.social @stevewillshaw.bsky.social @counsellc.bsky.social @jonsevers.bsky.social

This is an incredibly important blog by my colleague Lucy Hinchliffe on behalf of @engmediacentre.bsky.social All English teachers should take a look & DfE should definitely be talking to us about this. If they get this wrong, nothing else will go right in the Nat Curric for English.

It would be nice to think that while the curriculum is being written, ideas from people who have taught the subject for decades, have examined tens of thousands of students, trained hundreds of teachers, written articles and resources and organised some of the best conferences might get a look-in!

EMC Thinking About Curriculum - Introduction What's needed in the 2026 National Curriculum to reinvigorate secondary English

We have published some @engmediacentre.bsky.social linked think pieces on the new curriculum here: www.englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/emc-thi...

So excited! This just arrived in the post - an unexpected gift from my friend Rhiannon who happens to be Luke Wright’s editor. Can’t wait to dive in. Thank you Rhiannon & @lukewrightpoet.bsky.social

Fabulous piece by Caroline Lucas on English Literature and why it matters so much, both to individuals and to society!

Thanks Clare!

A brilliant series of think pieces about English curriculum reform.

Now is the time to reinvigorate English in the ways outlined here which reflect the spirit of the CAR.

LATEST MEDIAMAGAZINE now available online to web subscribers, with print copies in schools later this month. More fabulous articles + an iconic image for the front cover @englangblog.bsky.social @mediamagemc.bsky.social www.englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazines/

Ah yes! Very true!

I wish I could share my videos - most recently of my 12 week old grand-daughter who has just started clear call and return sounds. If there’s a gap in talking to her, she comes in with a sound of her own. The start of conversation! ❤️