Julian Girdham

Thinking, Writing, Reading, Teaching

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The English Meet idea

May 08, 2024 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

Some thoughts on the first three years of English Meets at St Columba’s College.

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May 08, 2024 /Julian Girdham
English Meet
English Teaching, Teaching
Comment

Carol Atherton's 'Reading Lessons'

April 11, 2024 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Books, Teaching

A review of Carol Atherton’s Reading Lessons: the books we read at school, the conversations they spark and why they matter, with extended comments on English teaching.

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April 11, 2024 /Julian Girdham
Featured
English Teaching, Books, Teaching
5 Comments

English Meet 2024

January 30, 2024 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

The third English Meet is being planned for Wednesday 1st May.

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January 30, 2024 /Julian Girdham
Leaving Certificate, Junior Cycle
English Teaching, Teaching
Comment

Tralee Webinar: Cognitive Science in English

January 15, 2024 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

Notes and links from a Tralee Education Support Centre webinar to introduce the principles of cognitive science to English teachers in Ireland who are unfamiliar with them. January 2024.

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January 15, 2024 /Julian Girdham
English Teaching, Teaching
Comment

On 'Notability' for teaching

January 14, 2024 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

A recommendation for my most-used classroom tool, the iOS app Notability.

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January 14, 2024 /Julian Girdham
English Teaching, Teaching
2 Comments

Tom Needham's 'Explicit English Teaching'

January 10, 2024 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching, Books

Tom Needham’s Explicit English Teaching is a rare example of a book for our subject that is based on the principles of cognitive science.

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January 10, 2024 /Julian Girdham
English Teaching, Teaching, Books
Comment

Shakespeare: 'In Our Time'

January 02, 2024 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Shakespeare, Teaching

A list of the BBC Radio 4 ‘In Our Time’ episodes about Shakespeare.

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January 02, 2024 /Julian Girdham
English Teaching, Shakespeare, Teaching
1 Comment

'The researchED Guide to Cognitive Science' edited by Kate Jones

September 25, 2023 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Books, Teaching

The authors in Kate Jones’s selection of essays looking at the basics of cognitive science explain key concepts in a valuably accessible way.

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September 25, 2023 /Julian Girdham
ResearchED
English Teaching, Books, Teaching
Comment

'The Art of Explanation' by Ros Atkins

September 21, 2023 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Books, Non-Fiction, Teaching

Ros Atkins’s The Art of Explanation: how to communicate with clarity and confidence is a fascinating fine-grained account of how he has reached the status of one of broadcasting’s most impressive ‘explainers’.

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September 21, 2023 /Julian Girdham
ResearchED
English Teaching, Books, Non-Fiction, Teaching
Comment

Ros Atkins explainer: Manchester City

September 21, 2023 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

Ideas for the use of a Ros Atkins ‘explainer’ in English class.

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September 21, 2023 /Julian Girdham
English Teaching, Teaching
Comment

Greg Ashman's 'Cognitive Load Theory'

August 30, 2023 by Julian Girdham in Teaching

Greg Ashman’s Cognitive Load Theory in the Little Guide for Teachers series is a lucid short book on this important idea.

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August 30, 2023 /Julian Girdham
Cognitive science
Teaching
2 Comments

Report on the 2023 English Meet

May 04, 2023 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

A report on the second English Meet, with 6 English teachers presenting ideas from their teaching practice.

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May 04, 2023 /Julian Girdham
English Meet
English Teaching, Teaching
Comment

Looking at Our School 2022: a quality framework

March 15, 2023 by Julian Girdham in Teaching

A recent paper by Craig Skerritt of the Manchester Institute of Education examines the document Looking at Our School (2022) with a sharp eye.

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March 15, 2023 /Julian Girdham
Irish education, Leadership
Teaching
Comment

ASTI Education Conference 2023

March 09, 2023 by Julian Girdham in Teaching

Notes on the 2023 ASTI Education Conference on Reform

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March 09, 2023 /Julian Girdham
Senior Cycle, Junior Cycle, Irish education
Teaching
Comment

On the withdrawal of the Paper 1 Plan

February 28, 2023 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

The plan to move English (and Irish) Paper 1 in the Leaving Certificate has been ‘deferred’. A response.

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February 28, 2023 /Julian Girdham
Senior Cycle, Irish education, Paper 1
English Teaching, Teaching
Comment

On Senior Cycle reform in English: follow-up

January 24, 2023 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

A post reflecting on where we are we right now with the proposed changes to Leaving Certificate English.

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January 24, 2023 /Julian Girdham
Senior Cycle, Irish education, Paper 1, Featured
English Teaching, Teaching
Comment

researchED Dublin in 'Astir'

January 20, 2023 by Julian Girdham in Teaching

Article on researchED Dublin 2022 from ASTIR magazine, January 2023.

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January 20, 2023 /Julian Girdham
Irish education, ResearchED
Teaching
Comment

Oliver Lovell's 'Tools for Teachers'

November 15, 2022 by Julian Girdham in Teaching, Books

Tools for Teachers by Oliver Lovell, based on his podcast the Education Research Reading Room, is packed with interesting and well-balanced advice about classroom practice.

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November 15, 2022 /Julian Girdham
Leadership
Teaching, Books
Comment

Exploring the introduction of the Framework for Junior Cycle

November 11, 2022 by Julian Girdham in English Teaching, Teaching

Comments on the first report of the UL longitudinal study: Exploring the introduction of the Framework for Junior Cycle

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November 11, 2022 /Julian Girdham
Junior Cycle, Irish education
English Teaching, Teaching
2 Comments

Dylan Wiliam on Leaders and Assessment

October 25, 2022 by Julian Girdham in Teaching

Notes from a webinar given by Professor Dylan Wiliam on the Role of Leaders in Promoting More Effective Assessment.

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October 25, 2022 /Julian Girdham
Leadership
Teaching
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