@katharinebarden
Dr Katharine Barden, founder of www.theliteracyhub.co.uk and LIfTT, the Literacy Intervention for Teens and Tweens. Literacy specialist and librarian. Developing practical, evidence-based resources for students who struggle with reading and spelling.
Today saw publication of the Government's Education #WhitePaper. We've shared a full response on our website, including our thoughts on the new statutory Year 8 reading assessment: bit.ly/4tQk4aj Bookmark our live blog to stay up to date with important announcements 🗞️ #SchoolLibraries #EduSkyUK
Excellent summary of where the expertise of academic researchers vs classroom-based practitioners lies, and why it can be hard to bring together.
PHENOMENAL response to this from English teachers so far! We'd love to have even more, so keep those responses coming. We'll be able to offer a really good picture of what's happening & what English teachers feel about the teaching of poetry in secondary schools.
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 20: This was one of my favourite reads of 2025! It takes pleasure in the complexities of English spelling rather than despairing of them. A great read for teachers of spelling!
tinyurl.com/9vkw3d3h
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 19: Teaching high frequency words can be difficult because so many of them have unusual spellings. Today’s book uses the etymology of these words to help pupils to read and spell them.
tinyurl.com/3hsh72hn
Thoughtful article on the use of sarcasm in the classroom 👇
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 18: Thought-provoking and thorough discussion of the implications of diagnosing dyslexia, not just for the individuals who receive a diagnosis, but for the education system as a whole.
tinyurl.com/yvhhyk9n
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 17: Written specifically for educators, Unlocking Literacy is particularly strong on the way the etymology and morphology can feed into teaching.
tinyurl.com/55v3xbej
Here are almost 40 of my favourite #MiddleGrade reads for 2025.
A fantastic range from wild fantasy, to gritty realism, historical adventures and more than a few scares. What a brilliant year its been for children’s books
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 16: This is great for understanding the processes underlying reading. Not necessarily an easy read, but well worth the effort. Wait for the upcoming second edition before buying though!
tinyurl.com/2nje2bkd
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 15: I’ve chosen this book by Valerie Muter because of its particular focus on literacy difficulties in the context of co-occurring diagnoses such as ADHD, DLD and dyscalculia.
tinyurl.com/y85hbrs5
In case you missed it, the Today programme on Radio 4 had a lovely interview about the transformative power of learning to read as an adult yesterday (see 1 hr 33 mins at this link www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... ). Uplifting to listen to on a dark winter morning!
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 14: Lyn Stone’s book is great for helping literacy teachers to understand the main concepts in English spelling, and includes plenty of examples of engaging ways to teach them.
tinyurl.com/2r5uuxck
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 13: Etymology can explain a lot about English spelling, so understanding the basic history of the English language is really helpful for interventionists. This is a great introduction!
tinyurl.com/mmnpxejh
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 12: Thinking Reading by @jamespmurphy.bsky.social and @diannemurphy.bsky.social is a powerful reminder that teenagers *can* learn to read if given the right support.
tinyurl.com/mujyr8d6
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 11: I learned a lot from @drsarahmo.bsky.social‘s book!
It’s important not to neglect teaching reading to children with complex learning needs, despite a relative lack of research.
tinyurl.com/3xwky82c
A list of annual children's & YA book festivals and events for schools, teachers and parents to look out for. schoolreadinglist.co.uk/competitions... #kidlit #ukedchat
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 10: A really solid textbook that covers the main aspects of reading development, includes evidence-based suggestions for teaching practice, and maintains a friendly tone throughout!
tinyurl.com/dktddp3r
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 9: Well-known for a good reason – this is the best book about vocabulary teaching that I’ve come across, and it’s packed with practical examples.
tinyurl.com/mryur4yw
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 8: There are a lot of books out there about cognitive science and its application to teaching. This, by Finola Wilson of @impactwales.bsky.social, is one of the best!
tinyurl.com/zmruw72h
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 7: This is a fantastic book by Misty Adoniou. It’s a short, informative, practical, no-nonsense introduction to how to teach spelling, suitable for parents and educators.
tinyurl.com/2x4hefsj
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 6: The Reading Mind by Daniel Willingham explores decoding and comprehension, and then examines the wider context of what makes a successful reader.
tinyurl.com/yr3cnpnx
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading:
Day 5: Focusing on comprehension today. This is a great textbook for explaining how much is involved in the process of understanding a text!
tinyurl.com/6n2a7exs
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 4: This short book packs in a huge amount of information about the nature and causes of dyslexia!
tinyurl.com/393vxt3r
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 3: My top recommendation for an overview of the science of reading! @suchmo83.bsky.social explains the research clearly, with a view to how teachers can apply it in the classroom.
tinyurl.com/z7nf7t9h
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 2:
My favourite book about how words work! If you’ve ever struggled to explain why a word is spelled in a certain way, read this! Great for those curious about Structured Word Inquiry.
tinyurl.com/3cpxzpj8
My top 20 book recommendations for literacy interventionists #NationalYearOfReading
Day 1: A practical introduction to the needs of dyslexic students by @louiseselby.bsky.social A great book to recommend to colleagues who don’t have a background in literacy teaching!
tinyurl.com/3asx4ehc
We have (or had) DEAR. It's happening less now. The consensus seems to be that it's great for proficient readers but doesn't really help those who struggle because they need extra support.
@didau.bsky.social posted a thought-provoking substack on reading for pleasure last week.
So, I've mostly given up on the voluntary aspect with these readers. Instead, I'm using assigned reading time, but also aiming to help pupils choose books they'll enjoy. It sounds like follow-up research on your pupils would be interesting!