Recommendations and reviews
Books, websites, research papers, podcasts – if you’re looking for useful information about literacy for older children and teenagers, The Literacy Hub is a great place to start!
There is a bewildering array of education resources out there, and some are better quality and more relevant than others. That’s why I’ve created a searchable collection of reviews, with a focus on resources that are relevant to teaching literacy to older children and teenagers.
Whether you want tips for supporting pupils with dyslexia, an introduction to the psychology of reading, or a guide to English spelling, The Literacy Hub can help you identify resources that contain the information you need.
For quick round-up of the The Literacy Hub’s best picks for each topic, search for Top Recommendations using the Topic filter.
I regularly update these recommendations as I come across new resources, and I’m continuing to revisit the best picks from my literacy teaching collection. If you think there’s a great resource that I’ve missed, please let me know!
And, since I know that many literacy educators just really love words, I’ve included some recommendations for pure word-loving enjoyment! You can find these under the Topic Word nerd fun.
The Story of English
A short and enjoyable history of English focusing on key texts and individuals
Spelling It Out
A superb book for introducing teachers and parents to how to teach spelling
Why Learning Fails (And What To Do About It)
A decent book outlining some key problems that pupils face and some general strategies to overcome these difficulties
Thinking Reading
A short but important examination of what it takes to teach adolescents to read
Dyslexia – A Very Short Introduction
An excellent introduction to the causes of dyslexia, written by a leading UK expert
The History of English podcast
A remarkably detailed and informative podcast that transformed my teaching of etymology
Bringing Words to Life
Packed with practical advice, Bringing Words to Life is rightly one of the best-known books about teaching vocabulary
Melissa and Lori Love Literacy
Melissa and Lori are former teachers, and this podcast follows their journey to improve their knowledge of literacy teaching
Understanding and Teaching Reading Comprehension
A great textbook for understanding the processes involved in reading comprehension