In our forthcoming book on the Science of Reading, Colleen Driggs, Erica Woolway and I discuss the importance of attention to reading. Short version: if nothing else, the smartphone, having fractured the attention of millions, has taught us that attention is malleable. This is especially important in reading, which places such intense demands on…
This week I’ve been posting excerpts from the forthcoming book on reading I’ve been writing with Colleen Driggs and Erica Woolway–it’s tentatively going to be called The Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading. Today I’m sharing the first few pages of our chapter on Attention, which is of the most important…
We know that attention is central to every learning task and the quality of attention paid by learners shapes the outcome of learning endeavors. Part of attentiveness is individual. Some people are more attentive than others and have better skills/habits in terms of their attention. But is attention also partly social? Does the environment in which…
The Gift of Focus We are continuing do our best to support teachers and leaders during what is an immensely challenging time for educators. Previously we offered free curriculum units for English teachers and free access to online training modules. You can find all of the resources on our Lifeboat Series page. Today we’re offering free…
In a year of massive educational challenges schools now confront the latest new challenge. How to bring students back to the classroom after a year of reduced learning and social isolation, with dramatically increased inequity. This raises the question: What to do first—over the summer perhaps, even before the new year starts–especially in the area of…