' "I really like it when we can talk in class," says Kelly in Year 8, grinning from ear to ear when I suggest a group activity on a grey Monday morning. Although I suspect that she might like it for the wrong reasons, I know that there is a lot for her - and the other 29 students in the class - to learn in a structured co-operative learning context.' Gael Luzet's Pocketbook about small group work focuses on how 'the power of more than one' can transform learning. Like all good teaching and learning strategies, successful collaborative learning relies on meticulous planning and careful delivery, both of which are discussed here. Ideas for basic collaborative activities are included as well as practical examples of how to use various high impact strategies in lessons. You begin to see what lies behind Vygotsky's words: 'The one who does the talking does the learning'. And assessing and evaluating? Process and product; individual and team contributions; formative and summative approaches - they're all covered.

There are more similarities than differences between girls and boys, but there are innate differences in how they think, feel, behave, communicate and learn. That said, not all boys and not all girls are the same. The challenge for education is to avoid gender stereotyping, while understanding and exploiting gender differences for better teaching and learning. Ian smith argues that by letting boys be boys and girls be girls we can help them become successful learners who will mature into confident adults, comfortable with themselves and with others. He covers how to motivate both boys and girls through a combination of challenge and support; how to connect with both genders; how to create a structured environment that will work for girls and for boys; how to actively involve both in their own learning; how to give effective feedback; and whether boys and girls should be taught separately or together. This is not another book that harps on about 'the problem with boys'; it takes a refreshing look at the broader picture and gives practical classroom advice.

'The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled' (Plutarch). The trouble is that, as much as we believe those words, we're sometimes under such pressure to 'deliver' that we're tricked into the spoon-feeding shortcut. We then become trapped, with our pupils, in an unhealthy cycle where we do more and more of the work and they rely on us more and more heavily. The Independent Learning Pocketbook is about breaking that cycle and creating ambitious learners who are self-regulated, self-motivated, resourceful and resilient - learners with clear goals and direction and who use their initiative to achieve success. Peter Anstee draws on a variety of research, as well as first-hand classroom experience and observation, in this clear-sighted look at how to inspire and nurture the people you teach to become lifelong learners.

Good assessment focuses mainly on improvement and is used to support progress. It helps learners to know how well they have learned and provides feedback on how they can do better; it encourages learners to support and help each other; it builds self-motivation, self-confidence and self-reliance. Sound familiar? These are the principles of formative assessment. They're at the heart of the national Assessment for Learning initiative and they form the core of the "Assessment & Learning Pocketbook". You know the theory but how do you turn it into practice? That's where Ian Smith comes in. Let Ian explain the difference between formative and summative assessment. Let him walk you through writing and sharing learning intentions and success criteria; promoting high quality interaction in lessons, verbal and written feedback, self- and peer- assessment. You'll find classroom strategies and inspiring ideas galore. "Great book: I am hugely impressed by it. It is very accessible, easily read and full of practical tips and strategies which can be easily implemented. I am sure that teachers will be inspired by it." Linda Kirkwood, Rector, Oban High School

Drama-based activities encourage high levels of cognitive activity; they're fun, they get everyone involved, and they foster creativity across the curriculum. Maybe you recognise drama as a powerful tool for learning but don't see how it applies to your subject/classroom? Possibly you've experimented with drama and would like to build on this, or perhaps you're waiting in the wings unsure how to make your debut? Enter the Drama for Learning Pocketbook with its wardrobe of techniques: drama games; exploring narrative, character and dilemmas; 'stylisation'; analogies; props and 'teacher in role'. Each chapter describes several different drama activities with a worked example of each followed by ideas banks suggesting applications right across the curriculum. Whether you're a primary or secondary specialist why not give Drama for Learning an audition? It could become the star of your show! Brian Radcliffe is also author of 40 Creative Ideas for using Drama in RE, a series of downloadable pdfs designed to engage pupils in the RE curriculum

Teachers are responsible for shaping the connections inside learners' brains on a day-to-day basis, connections that will remain in place for the rest of those learners' lives. Understanding the science of learning in the brain is, therefore, a powerful way to inform teaching and have an impact on learning. Furthermore, research evidence shows that teaching children about how the brain learns can improve their motivation to learn. So, when education writer and former teacher Richard Churches got together with two neuroscientists and a group of teachers they saw an exciting opportunity to pool their expertise and explore how insight from neuroscience could translate into classroom practice. Learning & the Brain Pocketbook is full of accessible information about how the brain works, how it learns, how it memorises and how it develops. At every turn, the material is discussed in relation to the classroom. Numerous tips and strategies draw on the neuroscience to enhance and support what you do with your learners. Learning about the brain is fun - and it makes for great professional development.

Never before have we had access to such a flood of information - internet, tv, radio, mobile phones, etc. But what strategies are children developing to screen it all? They can access information and absorb it as entertainment, but they often lack the skills to approach it critically. For our students to flourish in the information age, it's crucial that we teach them to think. Using the PRICE taxonomy - Processing information, Reasoning, Inquiry, Creative thinking and Evaluation, Anne de A'Echevarria and Ian Patience identify a range of 'thinking problems'. Their five related sections of practical 'thinking tools' will inspire teachers and students alike: there's a wealth of dynamic material for individual lessons and for infusing thinking across the curriculum. The final chapter moves from the 'what' to the 'how' - the craft of teaching thinking. Travel with your students out of the comfort zone into the exciting landscape of the learning zone.

This essential and aspirational text is aimed at all beginning teachers whatever your training route, age phase and setting. It explicitly adopts and builds on a new metaphor for teachers' professional learning as interplay between the body of public knowledge and the practical wisdom of teachers within a particular school setting. It also accepts that 'telling' you how to teach is ineffective; you need to 'become a teacher' because it involves identity and practice. Inquiry-based critically reflective learning with a clear focus on the learning of pupils is proposed as the core strategy by which you can build your knowledge and skills to become an outstanding teacher. Core topics, including planning, inclusion, teaching, assessment and professional development, are tackled in an accessible and refreshing way, using key research informed evidence. The focus is relentlessly on 'learning' rather than performance, in order to support you becoming an excellent professional teacher, rather than a competent technician, who makes a difference to learners, colleagues, schools and policy. Think of this book as a temporary or additional mentor, challenging you with different ways of thinking about learning and providing strategies to guide your professional learning. “It takes 10 years or more to begin to be a brain surgeon, but sometimes we get 1-3 years at most before we are allowed to work with children’s brains as teachers. So we need inspirational teachers and this is the focus of this compact, powerful and insightful book. It is wonderfully designed around five of the most critical dilemmas in our classrooms: belief vs. ability; autonomy vs. compliance; abstract vs. concrete; feedback vs. praise; and collaboration vs. competition. The power of the book is that it illustrates the new move to focus on learning power – and such a focus permits every student to become smarter through effort and deep practice as they struggle with the high-challenge learning activities – in the presence of inspirational, impactful and passionate teachers. The perfect book for those who want to make most of their opportunity to enhance students’ brain power.” John Hattie, Director, Melbourne Education Research Institute

Britain today is culturally and linguistically diverse. One in eight pupils in primary schools speaks a language other than English; in secondary schools, one in six. Over 200 languages are spoken in London schools. The EAL Pocketbook is for teachers of pupils learning English as an additional language, whether in rural or urban contexts. It provides tips, tools and techniques to ensure that all pupils can thrive in their learning. Author Alice Washbourne is a consultant EAL advisor. Her inclusive approach is modelled on 'the ladder to success' beginning with the learner's skills and strengths, building on these to make learning cognitively challenging, then providing scaffolding to support their move towards independent learning. Useful guidance for both novice and experienced practitioners. 'A bucket-load of good advice and practical ideas in a pocket-size book. These thoughtful insights translate easily into effective classroom practice' Sally Williams, Head of School, Myatt Garden Primary 'This book is full of crystal clear and practical strategies for teachers to use in class. It's easier to follow than not to... The strategies in this book will support teachers, raising not only EAL but all the students' attainment and achievement levels. Thank you Alice' Tuba Bauhofer, EAL Co-ordinator, Prendergast-Ladywell Fields College