health – Groan Up

Step Count

I don’t obsess about how many steps I take each day. I do like to see how many I have taken, just because I’m interested.

I’ve looked at my stats for the last three years!

Books that I've read

Making Every Primary Lesson Count: Six Principles to Support Great Teaching and Learning

Making Every Primary Lesson Count: Six Principles to Support Great Teaching and Learning

by Jo Payne

One of the best education books that I've read. Clear, simple, practical and not too heavy. I have arranged for all teachers at school to have a copy!

How to be an Outstanding Primary School Teacher

How to be an Outstanding Primary School Teacher

by David Dunn

Superb book. It explains things so clearly and is inspirational.

Holes

by Louis Sachar

My favourite book!

Star Wars Be More Leia: Find Your Rebel Voice And Fight The System

Star Wars Be More Leia: Find Your Rebel Voice And Fight The System

by Christian Blauvelt

More great quotes, messages and hilarity from the Star Wars: Be More series

Star Wars Be More Lando: How to Get What You Want

Star Wars Be More Lando: How to Get What You Want

by Christian Blauvelt

The Slight Edge

by Jeff Olson

I really enjoyed the message from The Slight Edge at first - the idea of self-improvement, routines and being the person who is bothered to do things. But it actually became really draining by the end. I was lying in bed reading it and f...

Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine

Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine

by Derren Brown

I just couldn't get into this. I enjoyed the first chapter and then struggled on for a few chapters but couldn't finish the book. It didn't make me happy in the slightest.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

by J.K. Rowling

It's been a long time since I read this and I have loved reading this with my daughter. Helping her discover the books for the first time is magical to watch. She loved making predictions and then working out the connections and she was ...

Star Wars Be More Yoda: Mindful Thinking from a Galaxy Far Far Away

Star Wars Be More Yoda: Mindful Thinking from a Galaxy Far Far Away

by Christian Blauvelt

A bit of fun with a great message. I love the quotes!

My Awesome Guide to Getting Good at Stuff: World Book Day 2020

My Awesome Guide to Getting Good at Stuff: World Book Day 2020

by Matthew Syed

Really enjoyed this. Aimed at children and inspiring them to never give up and dispelling the myth that you are born with talent, it highlights the importance of effective practice in a child friendly way. I intend to buy a few more copi...

LEGO Build Yourself Happy: The Joy of LEGO play

LEGO Build Yourself Happy: The Joy of LEGO play

by Abbie Headon

I really enjoyed the book and it had lots of ways to bring Lego and happiness in through play.

A Pocketful of Holes and Dreams

by Jeff Pearce

This book was a joy to read. It is so uplifting to read a book about someone with such optimism and drive. Sure, he has had some good luck along the way, but it was inspiring to read such an honest life story.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

by J.K. Rowling

Stuffocation

by James Wallman

I wrote a blog about this here: http://groanup.co.uk/2019/12/27/stuffocation/

Star Wars Be More Vader: Assertive Thinking from the Dark Side

Star Wars Be More Vader: Assertive Thinking from the Dark Side

by Christian Blauvelt

I need to be more Vader.

The Leadership Factor

by Drew Povey

I really enjoyed this - practical leadership advice, written in a realistic style. The analogies from business are actually purposeful and you can see how they apply to school leadership. Although, to be fair, this book would be useful f...

The Rules of Management

by Richard Templar

I really enjoyed this. I guess I only didn't give it five stars as lots of things were more suited to industry than education. But that's not the author's fault. A great book.

The Rules of Life: A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Kind of Life

The Rules of Life: A Personal Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Kind of Life

by Richard Templar

Leadership: The Multiplier Effect

by Andy Cope

I didn't find this quite as inspiring as I should have. Andy's book The Art of Brilliance is so inspiring that I hold high hopes for every other book of his. I found that the messages in Leadership were sometimes lost in the thousands of...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon

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