Making Every English Lesson Count: Six principles to support great reading and writing (Making Every Lesson Count): Six principles for supporting reading and writing (Making Every Lesson Count series)

For so many reasons, this is the best book on teaching English that I've ever read, and that's in a career of 26 years so far. It's a guide to what to teach, and how to pitch and organise your lessons, as well as why it's so important to keep students aiming high. Andy Tharby takes a systematic approach to teaching English...covering aspects of reading and writing that offer challenge and counter-balance with appropriate support. He talks us through his rationale for approaching English as a highly valued body of knowledge and experience and leaves us in no doubt that given the right stimuli and structures all children can succeed. At the same time as being clear and methodical, Tharby's clear love of his subject shines through. This is a book that will confirm your choice to become an English teacher, if you're a 'beginner', or will remind you of all the reasons you made that decision in the first place.

This book has really helped me as a student teacher. I have other books that are similar but this one is by far the best.

With lots of practical advice, this book is perfect for NQTs and trainees. Nevertheless, as someone with around 9 years of experience as an "outstanding" teacher, I also found this book useful. Not only has it refreshed my memory of some pedagogical routines that I had forgotten over the years, it has also given me ideas that I can use to tweak my current classroom practice. As a result, I bought a copy for a colleague as a leaving gift.

This is a gen of a book. It has a systematic approach and takes you through the key elements of teaching English, offering you advise, which is supported by sound research. Having recently done an MA in English in Education, I have read many books on this topic, and this would certainly feature in my top three. Tharby's writing style is engaging and like a previous reviewer said, he makes every word count. Top stuff!

This is the best book I have come across on English teaching. It's research based and filled with practical ideas based on accumulated experience. I've read chapters, and also dipped into it and even the 'dips' are time very well spent- e.g finding an excellent starter idea.

Gimmick free teaching for secondary English. An easy to implement, common sense approach. It will save planning time and marking time, as well as improving your teaching.

Written by a teacher and written for teachers. Packed full of practical suggestions and spot-on advice. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Great research to support teaching

This book contains so many ideas that it is a very worthwhile read. Often, the ideas affirm what you're already doing well in the classroom. Other times, the book draws on academic research and practice from teachers to prompt new ideas to try in your classroom. I'll be putting many things into practice.

Worth reading if you’re an English teacher. Yes, you may not have time but this is one worth making time for.