Authors

Research suggests that children who are obese are more likely to suffer mental health problems than other children – and, among several damaging knock-on effects, it’s harming their attainment at school, finds Irena Barker

What’s the point of pointing? Irena Barker finds there is a surprising lack of research on the efficacy of scanning your digit along the page while teaching children to read

New teachers are often warned that the job isn’t a popularity contest – but, in fact, research suggests that being liked by students leads to better learning and improved wellbeing. So, does it really matter whether you’re popular with your class? Irena Barker finds out

When Irena Barker’s teacher husband and children return to school next week, she fears they will be vulnerable to germs

How much of an impact does pupil confidence have on learning? Teachers generally believe that if they can boost learners’ confidence it will lead to better engagement and results – but, as Irena Barker finds, getting this right is a delicate balancing act

Irena Barker is happy to send her children back not because the government has said it’s safe, but because she knows how hard teachers are working to make it safe