@mrsball.bsky.social
PD specialist; Steplab. Former Teaching and Learning Lead and History teacher. Co-editor What is History Teaching, Now? co- author The Scaffolding Effect. NPQLTD facilitator. FCCT. Reader. Blogger; https://theeducationalimposters.wordpress.com/
Brilliant day at #Soane26. A wealth of excellent sessions (I was fortunate to see @joshvallance.bsky.social &Otis Blaize deliver brilliant talks) and a buzzing community discussing ideas.
Great to present alongside @mrsball.bsky.social on scaffolding history using models and explanations
127ish books in 2025 read and here are my top 10 fiction reads of the year. Wild Dark Shore takes the number one spot but the others aren't really in any particular order. Check them out 👇
30.12.2025 17:52 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
128. Easy read but I didn't really get into it 2.5/5
29.12.2025 17:44 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
125, 126, 127. I'd already read fire but devoured air, water and earth. Complicated characters and addictive storylines - really enjoyed 4.5/5
28.12.2025 20:54 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
124. Wanted to love it but it all got too weird for me 2/5
24.12.2025 07:55 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
123. Really well written, completely gripping but so heartbreaking I had to keep putting it down. Feels wrong to rate it.
22.12.2025 20:14 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
122. Just couldn't get into this 2/5
21.12.2025 08:53 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
121. Easy read, very funny 4/5
21.12.2025 08:53 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
130. Easy read but no depth for me 2/5
20.12.2025 09:13 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
119. A quick read and I wanted to know what happened, but I just didn't get it 🤷♀️ I felt it was detached and shallow and I learnt nothing of the real characters. 2/5
15.12.2025 20:28 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
118. An interesting read 3/5
14.12.2025 08:48 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
117. Decent read, some nice twists 3.5/5
07.12.2025 20:56 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
116. Easy read but predictable 3/5
02.12.2025 07:46 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
115. Read with my mouth open. Absolutely shocking but a really important read 5/5
25.11.2025 20:17 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
114. Found this really moving and gripping 4/5
25.11.2025 20:15 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Three book covers are displayed: "Pastoral Care in Schools" by Connor Acton, "All About Dyslexia" by Louise Selby, and "The Scaffolding Effect" by Rachel Ball and Alex Fairlamb. "Black Friday" and "25% Off" are repeated as a pattern.
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@lambhearttea.bsky.social @mrsball.bsky.social
113. Moving and poignant 4/5
21.11.2025 19:08 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
112. Loved 'My name is Leon' and this is another really moving story. Recommend! 4/5
16.11.2025 20:30 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
111. Found the time jumping and large number of characters a challenge and just couldn't really get into it 2.5/5
13.11.2025 19:25 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
110. Started well but left some unanswered questions for me 3/5
31.10.2025 18:04 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
109. Incredible read, loved this 5/5
30.10.2025 16:05 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
108. This book has broken me! Beautiful storytelling, so moving 5/5
30.10.2025 09:17 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
107. Not quite on a par with Wild Dark shore but still a really moving and haunting read 4/5
29.10.2025 15:11 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
106. Easy read romance but didn't really warm to the characters 2.5/5
28.10.2025 16:42 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
105. Quirky quick read 3/5
28.10.2025 16:41 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
104. Romantic tear jerker, cheesy but full of heart 3.5/5
27.10.2025 18:21 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
103. Really enjoyed this, a book where it feels every word is important. Funny and raw 4.5/5
27.10.2025 18:20 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
102. Decent twisty thriller 3/5
25.10.2025 07:14 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
101. Interesting historical mystery with echoes of du Maurier or Wilkie Collins 3.5/5
17.10.2025 20:34 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
100. Really moving, absorbing story but I was a little disappointed at the ending! 4/5
13.10.2025 18:54 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0