The Essential Guide to Student Engagement What Works and What Doesn't

In this refreshingly honest and timely book, James Nottingham—creator of the Learning Pit and one of the world's most sought-after voices on teaching and learning—reveals actionable, practical strategies to help busy teachers engage students in deep learning. Grounded in research spanning hundreds of thousands of students, this book provides clear guidance on ways to book classroom engagement across three key dimensions: Behavioural: Practical routines to foster active participation and reduce low-level disruption. Emotional: Proven strategies to build confidence, curiosity, and resilience. Cognitive: Science of learning techniques—including retrieval practice, spacing, and the testing effect—that turn engagement in lessons into longer-lasting learning. This practical guide is ideal for primary and secondary teachers of all subjects, school leaders and instructional coaches, and student teachers seeking to build good habits of engagement from the outset.