Books That Focus on What Works, and Why

Welcome to My Books Page 📖

I’ve written over 40 books in total, many of which have become bestsellers.

My aim has always been to share expert guidance and practical, easy-to-implement strategies with teachers old and new.

My two bestselling series are the ‘How To …’ series and the ’50 Quick Ways …’ series.

I’ve now taken the ten books from my ‘How To …’ series and revised, edited and adapted them so you can use everything inside for FREE through my Knowledge Base.

That’s 400+ blogs, articles and guides, helping you to achieve your goals in the classroom.

All fully updated and matched to the demands of teaching in schools today.

The process of creating the Knowledge Base was hugely enjoyable.

It gave me a great opportunity to reflect on the nature of teaching. What changes. What stays the same. And what demands there are in the modern classroom.

One thing I would say is that the fundamentals – the principles – of effective practice don’t change all that much.

Why?

Because they’re rooted in the relationship between the teacher and their learners.

And that is something as old and venerable as life itself.

So enjoy exploring the Knowledge Base, and If you want hard copies of any of the books, just head over to Amazon or use the links below.

How it All Began 📖

When I was training to teach in London, many years ago, I searched through the shelves of the university library, looking for books that could give me practical strategies to use in my teaching.

Back then, there were a fair few books outlining what worked, but very few explaining how to put it into practice in your lessons.

I knew this was something I needed to change.

If I was looking for these kinds of books, surely other teachers were as well?

After qualifying, I started thinking about what these books could look like, and how teachers would use them.

I took my ideas to a series of publishers in London.

And was rebuffed.

Back then, the teaching and learning genre didn’t really exist. Not like today.

So I decided to invent it.

I wrote and published the first five books in the ‘How To …’ series – Assessment for Learning, Differentiation, EAL, Questioning and Discussion.

They quickly started selling on Amazon, hitting the top of the bestseller lists in their categories.

It wasn’t long after that when the TES got in touch and asked me to start writing for them.

And then schools and teachers began getting in contact and asking me to deliver training, keynotes and school improvement services.

All focussed on the practicalities of effective teaching and learning.

Everything developed from there.

I went on to write another five books in the ‘How To …’ series – Bloom’s Taxonomy, Growth Mindsets, Feedback and Marking, Behaviour Management, and Trainee Teachers.

Now, I’ve edited, revised and adapted everything in those ten books, turning them into a free Knowledge Base for teachers who are looking to develop their classroom practice and want to focus on practical strategies that work.

So whether you buy a book, have bought a book, or use the Knowledge Base, I hope you enjoy the material and see the impact in your classroom.

How it All Began – Part 2 📖

The 50 Quick Ways series came about after teachers were asking me for pocket-sized books they could use as an easy reference when planning, or even to consult discretely during a lesson.

When they first launched, they proved hugely popular, and I went on to write 21 in total.

The books are small, simply written, and each contain fifty strategies, techniques or ideas.

Looking back on them now, some are definitely better than others.

The most popular and, in my opinion best, are the ten you see above.

You can find them on Amazon using the links.

The cheapest way to read them and get access to all the ideas is through Kindle Unlimited. If you are a subscriber, you can read all the books – from both series – for free, as part of your subscription package.

Over time, I’ll be revisiting, rewriting and updating the best books in the 50QW series, turning the contents into blogs, articles and guides in my FREE Knowledge Base.

Check back for updates or, better still, sign up to my newsletter.

The Full List 📖

I’m lucky enough to have had teachers discover my books in countries around the world, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, Poland, Vietnam, China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, India, The Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Mexico, and Brazil.

I’ve had books translated into Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, and Vietnamese.

Here’s a complete list of publications, not all of which remain available.

The How To Series 📖

• How to Use Assessment for Learning in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Use Differentiation in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Use Questioning in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Use Discussion in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Teach EAL Students in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Use Blooms Taxonomy in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Develop Growth Mindsets in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Manage Behaviour in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Use Feedback and Marking in the Classroom: The Complete Guide
• How to Be an Outstanding Trainee Teacher in the Classroom: The Complete Guide

The 50 Quick Ways Series 📖

• 50 Quick Ways to Stretch and Challenge More-Able Students
• 50 Quick Ways to Support Less-Able Learners
• 50 Quick Ways to Use Scaffolding and Modelling
• 50 Quick Ways to Improve Feedback and Marking
• 50 Quick Ways to Start Your Lessons with a Bang!
• 50 Quick Ways to Improve Literacy Across the Curriculum
• 50 Quick Ways to Motivate and Engage Your Students
• 50 Quick and Brilliant Teaching Techniques
• 50 Quick and Brilliant Teaching Games
• 50 Quick Ways to Help Your Students Think, Learn and Use Their Brains Brilliantly
• 50 Quick Ways to Outstanding Group Work
• 50 Quick Ways to Get Past ‘I Don’t Know’
• 50 Quick Ways to Create Independent Learners
• 50 Quick and Easy Lesson Activities
• 50 Quick and Brilliant Teaching Ideas
• 50 Quick Ways to Perfect Behaviour Management
• 50 Quick Ways to Go From Good to Outstanding
• 50 Quick Ways to Outstanding Teaching
• 50 Quick Ways to Help Your Students Secure A and B Grades at GCSE
• 50 Quick and Easy Ways to Prepare for Ofsted
• 50 Quick and Easy Ways Leaders can Prepare for Ofsted

The Teaching Assistant’s Pocket Guide Series 📖

• The Teaching Assistant’s Pocket Guide to Growth Mindsets
• The Teaching Assistant’s Pocket Guide to Questioning
• The Teaching Assistant’s Pocket Guide to Feedback
• The Teaching Assistant’s Pocket Guide to Differentiation
• The Teaching Assistant’s Pocket Guide to Assessment for Learning

Other Books 📖

• More Classroom Starters and Plenaries
• The Growth Mindset Teacher’s Pocketbook (with Professor Barry Hymer)
• Exams, Tests, Revision Teacher’s Pocketbook
• Teach Now! History
• 50 Quick and Brilliant Ideas for Teaching English (with Lizi Summers)
• 50 Quick and Easy Ways to Build Resilience Through English Teaching (with Lizi Summers)
• 50 Quick and Easy Ways to Outstanding English Teaching (with Lizi Summers)