Ben Rogers
@benrogersedu.bsky.social
UK teacher writing about subject knowledge, cognitive science and literacy. Also physics and primary science. Blogging at readingforlearning.org. author of the Big Ideas in Physics and Primary Science in a Nutshell.
Thanks Mark
No. 2 - one thing every new teacher should know is that good sentence construction is the foundation of good writing and needs to be taught explicitly. Loved the way @benrogersedu.bsky.social applied this idea to chemistry in this @rsc-eic.bsky.social piece.
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
Build better conceptual understanding
How you can model constructing complex sentences to improve learners' mental models
edu.rsc.org
November 1, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Thanks Mark
Reposted by Ben Rogers
ποΈ Sentences are the tools learners use to build mental models. Teacher @benrogersedu.bsky.social shares three techniques for helping learners to construct complex sentences about chemistry π
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
October 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM
ποΈ Sentences are the tools learners use to build mental models. Teacher @benrogersedu.bsky.social shares three techniques for helping learners to construct complex sentences about chemistry π
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
Reposted by Ben Rogers
Discover three ways to improve your chemistry students' sentence writing, tried and tested by @benrogersedu.bsky.social, plus downloadable teacher notes to help plan your lessons β¬οΈ
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
#iteachchem #edusky
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
#iteachchem #edusky
Build better conceptual understanding
How you can model constructing complex sentences to improve learners' mental models
edu.rsc.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Discover three ways to improve your chemistry students' sentence writing, tried and tested by @benrogersedu.bsky.social, plus downloadable teacher notes to help plan your lessons β¬οΈ
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
#iteachchem #edusky
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
#iteachchem #edusky
Chemistry has several tools for developing and communicating complex ideas including models and formulas. Sentences are often neglected, but can you imagine a chemistry lesson without complex sentences?
ποΈ Sentences are the tools learners use to build mental models. Teacher @benrogersedu.bsky.social shares three techniques for helping learners to construct complex sentences about chemistry π
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
edu.rsc.org/ideas/build-...
October 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Chemistry has several tools for developing and communicating complex ideas including models and formulas. Sentences are often neglected, but can you imagine a chemistry lesson without complex sentences?
1. That's definitely procrastinating and 2. Nice font.
August 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM
1. That's definitely procrastinating and 2. Nice font.
Reposted by Ben Rogers
I am so beyond excited for this π
I am very excited to report that my book is now available for pre-order!!
If you like things that fly β be it aircraft, bugs or birds, then this book is for you!
I am also so delighted with the beautiful cover art by @Rachelhillustrates.bsky.social :)
www.penguin.co.uk/books/461507...
If you like things that fly β be it aircraft, bugs or birds, then this book is for you!
I am also so delighted with the beautiful cover art by @Rachelhillustrates.bsky.social :)
www.penguin.co.uk/books/461507...
August 13, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I am so beyond excited for this π
New post on the cognitive benefits of writing in full, rich and connected sentences across subjects: readingforlearning.org/2025/07/20/w...
Writing Full (and I Mean Really Full) Sentences in Subjects
When we quiz students for knowledge retrieval, we are helping them remember key knowledge but we arenβt helping them build that knowledge into rich connected schema. This is where sentences cβ¦
readingforlearning.org
July 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
New post on the cognitive benefits of writing in full, rich and connected sentences across subjects: readingforlearning.org/2025/07/20/w...
New post: the jobs sentences do in science: readingforlearning.org/2025/07/13/j...
Some Jobs Sentences Do in Science
Iβve been thinking a lot about how important sentences are in science. The new DfE Writing Framework puts sentences at the heart of writing in subjects, so here are some sentence types I woulβ¦
readingforlearning.org
July 13, 2025 at 1:37 PM
New post: the jobs sentences do in science: readingforlearning.org/2025/07/13/j...
Interesting... 'after' in your examples implies causality. A physics example might be 'after the parachute opens, the speed decreases.' But you could also use it in a purely sequence sense: "After adding the chemical, heat gently."
June 28, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Interesting... 'after' in your examples implies causality. A physics example might be 'after the parachute opens, the speed decreases.' But you could also use it in a purely sequence sense: "After adding the chemical, heat gently."
Reposted by Ben Rogers
Your weekend read β
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
New blog post β
Why questioning in biology lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#iTeachBio #SciTeachUK
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
Why questioning in biology lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#iTeachBio #SciTeachUK
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
Why classroom questioning often fails (and what to do about it)
Questioning often leads to confused students who don't participate. To counter this confusion we need to establish, what Tsui calls, common ground (2004). And there is an elegant method that solves th...
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Your weekend read β
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
Inspired by The Writing Revolution, here's a physics version of but, because, so: readingforlearning.org/2025/06/26/a...
June 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Inspired by The Writing Revolution, here's a physics version of but, because, so: readingforlearning.org/2025/06/26/a...
I read the paragraph: background knowledge helps a lot. Although I'm a physics graduate, I've watched numerous TV Dickens adaptations (inc Bleak House) - Victorian London is always presented like this. I have vague ideas about Lincoln's Inn. It's enough to catch hold of the meaning.
June 8, 2025 at 7:03 AM
I read the paragraph: background knowledge helps a lot. Although I'm a physics graduate, I've watched numerous TV Dickens adaptations (inc Bleak House) - Victorian London is always presented like this. I have vague ideas about Lincoln's Inn. It's enough to catch hold of the meaning.
Really interesting article - thanks Natalie. It would be interesting to see how UK English undergrads performed. We teach a 19th c text at GCSE (16yo) for all students (typically not Dickins - unless Christmas Carol) and I believe another at A-level (18yo) for students who study lit.
June 8, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Really interesting article - thanks Natalie. It would be interesting to see how UK English undergrads performed. We teach a 19th c text at GCSE (16yo) for all students (typically not Dickins - unless Christmas Carol) and I believe another at A-level (18yo) for students who study lit.
Reposted by Ben Rogers
Redesigning our Year 9 curriculum to include Semmelweis and Snow, and vaccinations. Explaining through causality is part of our curricular metacontent. So these models build on a culture of explaining.
I explain metacontent here:
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
#iTeachBio #chatbiology
I explain metacontent here:
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
#iTeachBio #chatbiology
May 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Redesigning our Year 9 curriculum to include Semmelweis and Snow, and vaccinations. Explaining through causality is part of our curricular metacontent. So these models build on a culture of explaining.
I explain metacontent here:
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
#iTeachBio #chatbiology
I explain metacontent here:
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
#iTeachBio #chatbiology
Reposted by Ben Rogers
Teaching students how to write better sentences in science (a 3min video): drive.google.com/file/d/1D87U...
sentence expander
drive.google.com
April 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Teaching students how to write better sentences in science (a 3min video): drive.google.com/file/d/1D87U...
Reposted by Ben Rogers
How to teach sentence writing in science to develop deeper understanding. A new post readingforlearning.org/2025/04/15/b...
Build better sentences in science writing
How can we ensure students understand complex scientific ideas, beyond just recalling facts? Developing their ability to write clear, precise sentences about science is a powerful, often overlookedβ¦
readingforlearning.org
April 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM
How to teach sentence writing in science to develop deeper understanding. A new post readingforlearning.org/2025/04/15/b...
Reposted by Ben Rogers
A key aim of chemistry education is to help young people understand the world they live in. Here is my new EiC article on how to teach chemistry for understanding the world: edu.rsc.org/endpoint/why...
edu.rsc.org
April 28, 2025 at 9:27 AM
A key aim of chemistry education is to help young people understand the world they live in. Here is my new EiC article on how to teach chemistry for understanding the world: edu.rsc.org/endpoint/why...
This is very good - linking cognitive science, knowledge and the science of reading. Lots of sticky notes! @natwexler.bsky.social
May 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This is very good - linking cognitive science, knowledge and the science of reading. Lots of sticky notes! @natwexler.bsky.social
I enjoyed this book, which is related: Scientific Babel by Michael Gordin
May 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I enjoyed this book, which is related: Scientific Babel by Michael Gordin
I found this really thought provoking this morning - thanks Carl.
NEW POST: A new study shows that silent thinking boosts learning, but only under specific circumstances.
carlhendrick.substack.com/p/does-think...
carlhendrick.substack.com/p/does-think...
Does thinking silently about answers help you learn?
Teachers often assume students think along silently when others answer. A new study shows that unless they're actively engaged, they might not be learning much.
carlhendrick.substack.com
May 25, 2025 at 9:54 AM
I found this really thought provoking this morning - thanks Carl.
I got a lot out of this Alex - thank you.
π¨ NEW π¨
Teachers have heard of Barak Rosenshineβs principles of instruction, but what about his essential insights into βknowledge structuresβ?
βRosenshine on knowledge structuresβ
alexquigley.co.uk/rosenshine-o...
Teachers have heard of Barak Rosenshineβs principles of instruction, but what about his essential insights into βknowledge structuresβ?
βRosenshine on knowledge structuresβ
alexquigley.co.uk/rosenshine-o...
Rosenshine on Knowledge Structures
Barak Rosenshine is most famous for his principles of instruction, but what did he have to say about building knowledge?Β
In his writing on βAdvances in research on instructionβ, he put forward the i...
alexquigley.co.uk
May 25, 2025 at 9:50 AM
I got a lot out of this Alex - thank you.
Concentration is difficult, and I suspect many children need help to remain focused. Don't we all sometimes?
May 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Concentration is difficult, and I suspect many children need help to remain focused. Don't we all sometimes?
So, teachers can't just use casual checking (it's definitely not an extra PPA) - you need to check relentlessly and support. It's not an easy solution. But it's great when it's used well.
May 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
So, teachers can't just use casual checking (it's definitely not an extra PPA) - you need to check relentlessly and support. It's not an easy solution. But it's great when it's used well.
When pupils use it well, they make big fluency and comprehension gains (we've tested by comparing the programme's data to external reading assignments). It's the pupils who don't that we need to worry about.
May 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
When pupils use it well, they make big fluency and comprehension gains (we've tested by comparing the programme's data to external reading assignments). It's the pupils who don't that we need to worry about.