The Learning Rainforest: Great Teaching in Real Classrooms

Review ------ 'I found Tom's book wise, balanced, practical, and grounded in research. I'm confident it will help teachers not only to choose the best guidance but to implement it and what's more to coordinate it with other sounds ideas. It's a compelling road to building a successful school.' Doug Lemov, author Teach Like A Champion and Reading Reconsidered 'Tom Sherrington is a rare thing- a head teacher who can write, not just elegantly, but intelligently. One would be valuable enough. Being capable of both make him and his work essential reading for school leaders everywhere. He also has the gift of not only a career full of experience, but the capacity to unpack his experience in such a way as to make it not just intelligible, but relevant. One of the reasons for this is that he embraces the complexity of the school leader's role without losing of the overarching moral purposes to leadership. Rather than writing a book - as so many books on leadership are - of 'here's what I did and you should do it too, ' he assists the reader in developing their own journey through what may or may not work - and in what contexts. Accessible without being reductivist, intelligent without being opaque, this should be on the bookshelves of any school leader interested in reflecting on what they do.' Tom Bennett, Director of ResearchEd 'What is truly astonishing about this book is the a of distilled wisdom packed into it. It combines a huge a of significant research with decades of Tom's own invaluable experience of working at the chalk-face to form a coherent, practical and thought provoking book that will be an indispensable guide for years to come. Simply put, this is the book I wish I had read when I started teaching.' --Carl Hendrick, head of research, Wellington College Review ------ ‘What is truly astonishing about this book is the a of distilled wisdom packed into it. It combines a huge a of significant research with decades of Tom’s own invaluable experience of working at the chalk-face to form a coherent, practical and thought provoking book that will be an indispensable guide for years to come. Simply put, this is the book I wish I had read when I started teaching.” Carl Hendrick, head of research, Wellington College This book is packed full of practical wisdom about classroom teaching. Tom Sherrington draws upon his own wide ranging experience from his career as a teacher, adding reflective in as a prolific blogger and educational thinker. The content includes presentation of research-informed pedagogy gained from the world of cognitive science successfully combined with down-to-earth examples of how research theory can achieve powerful impact within the busy classroom. Written in an entertaining style using the extended metaphor of a 'managed rainforest' this book provides a useful and compelling read for anyone interested in education. Dame Alison Peacock Chief Executive, Chartered College of Teaching Tom Sherrington takes the metaphor of the forest to shape his arguments about practice and in doing so, helps the reader to get purchase on some really important ideas. 'The Learning Forest’ is a piece of work underpinned by humility - nothing ever goes quite to plan. Well, that’s a , because I thought it was just me. Tom uses the personal to explain the bigger picture and makes the case for humour, compassion and heart being at the centre of our work. Tom has managed to balance the big picture with detail, the theoretical with the practical, and has produced a work which everyone, at whatever stage in their career, will find invaluable. Mary Myatt, education adviser, author of ‘High Challenge, Low Threat’ ‘Hopeful Schools’ In the time I have known Tom Sherrington – in person and online – I have learnt so much about pedagogy and classroom practice from his blogs and tweets. Now it’s a treat to have a compendium of his experience, wisdom and ins, all rooted in such an optimistic view about why great teaching matters. This is likely to be an indispensable book for classroom practitioners at all stages of their career.” Geoff Barton | General Secretary Association of School and College Leaders
 I love the humility that comes through in the reflections of Tom’s personal experiences and find his find his thoughts and ideas inful and highly optimistic about the profession and the art and craft of teaching. Reading it in my headteacher role, it feels as though Tom has articulated my truth – he talks to the challenges we face: balancing autonomy with routines, progress with tradition, maverick and creative personalities with compliance. He gives a beautiful articulation and drawing together of the concepts, ideas, philosophies and issues that head teachers like myself grapple with in order to achieve the best possible education for their students. I like that he is not preaching a quick fix for great teaching but drawing together ‘the best of what has been thought and said’ in education to open up teachers’ minds to the creative flux of the learning rainforest! It’s like a Bill Bryson ‘short’ of everything teaching related! Part 2 is a ‘godsend’; the explanations and ideas within each strand (C, K, P) and the emphasis on mode A teaching is brilliant. It’s a great book; a ‘must read’ for all teachers. Sam Gorse, Headteacher Turton High School, Bolton This book is a big leap forward in transcending the sterile debates between traditionalists and progressives. Hacking through the undergrowth of academic research and passing fads, Tom takes his readers on a journey (through the rainforest) to the sunny uplands of classrooms in which powerful learning and rich experiences can flourish. This is a great book to read for those who want to be better informed about the education debate today. Tom’s passion for great teaching shines through on every page. He is a great writer and a great thinker and one of the most perceptive and inful analysers of the education system. Tom’s gift is for getting beneath the arguments and bluster and making sense of complex issues, whether it is the curriculum, assessment or developments in brain science. Fans of his blog will not be disappointed – fresh ins and clarity jump out of every page. Practical strategies give teachers a much-needed toolkit of workable practice. Whether you agree with every word here is not the point – this is a book that will get you thinking, reflecting, changing the way you teach, and questioning the very essence of effective teaching.” Peter Hyman, Executive Headteacher, School 21

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