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In Episode 84, Carolina talks to Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking; the authors of the brand-new book “The Balancing Act: An Evidence-Based Approach to Teaching Phonics, Reading and Writing”. Together they explore the chapters of the book that takes a research-informed approach to teaching pupils how to read and write. The book also features scaffolding for teaching practice including complete lesson plans that can be used in the classroom right away! They also discuss what parents can do to support reading and writing skills in their children. The episode concludes with a range of practical tips.

Further resources for this episode:

• Get the book: “The Balancing Act: An Evidence-Based Approach to Teaching Phonics, Reading and Writing” by Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking.

• Book press release: “Rigid Approach to Teaching Phonics is ‘Joyless’ and is Failing Children, Experts Warn”

• Open access paper: “Decoding, reading and writing: the double helix theory of teaching” by Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking

• The Conversation: “Isolated phonics lessons aren’t working: Here’s a better way to teach young children to read and write” by Dominic Wyse

• The Guardian view on English lessons: Make classrooms more creative again (Editorial)   

• Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE): The books section on this website comes with concrete book suggestions to use in primary classrooms.