I created this blog with the goal of taking theory and research and simplifying it for people to understand.

This was born from my enjoyment of sitting and connecting with people over coffee to discuss how research and educational theory is applied to improve the learning experiences of children.

This might be discussing the theory itself, how it should be adapted for different cultures or contexts, or what it looks like in practice.

Through the blog I hope to provoke ideas in you as an educator or a parent and help broaden your knowledge and critical thinking.

I attempt to make the research concise and digestible so you can take the most important information and apply it to your own situation. Whatever type of educator you are or if you are simply interested in the topics, I hope that you find it useful.

welcome blog post

A barista pouring milk into a cup of coffee with latte art

Welcome to the coffee & theory blog

Latest blog post

Children playing basketball outdoors during a physical education activity

What Self-Determination Theory Teaches Us About Motivation in Physical Education and Sport

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growth mindset blog series
Intertwined tree roots supporting a small green plant growing between rocks

Understanding Growth mindset: A Guide for teachers, educators and parents

Human brain illustration with maths formulas on one side and colourful neural patterns on the other

How to Grow Your Brain: What Neuroscience Tells Us About Learning, Mistakes, and Motivation

Teacher and young girl standing in front of a chalkboard covered with maths formulas and drawings

Developing a Growth Mindset: Strategies Around the World

Teacher smiling and helping a young girl with her schoolwork at a classroom table

The power of Praise in creating resilient learners

Smiling young girl wearing headphones and glasses while using a laptop at her desk

The Foundation of Learning: Strategies to Cultivate Self-Esteem in Education

Young child wearing glasses studying a molecular model in a classroom

Beyond the Posters: How Schools, Education and Sports Organisations Can Build Environments for Growth Mindset

A man stands in front of a large, tree-like brain with colourful abstract shapes surrounding it, symbolising learning, growth, and new ideas.

The Courage to Be a Beginner: How Adults Model a Growth Mindset

Photo of a little girls thinking with graphic lightbulbs and questions marks around her

Educating Minds to Question: Understanding and Teaching Critical Thinking

Illustration of a human brain with mechanical parts against a chalkboard filled with science and maths drawings

Rewriting the Curriculum: How to Teach Thinking in Every Lesson

Group of four teenagers looking at their phones against a background of media icons

From Clickbait to Clarity: Teaching Kids to Think Critically About Media

Young child sitting in a cardboard box using a toy telescope in a colourful imaginary landscape with balloons and mountains

Reclaiming Play: Why Joy and Imagination Belong at the Heart of Learning

Children engaged in play-based learning in a classroom, creating and painting a cardboard project with guidance from a teacher.

Play Based Pedagogy: Unlocking Children's Potential

Child imagining space adventure with planets

play and the brain: Why fun is fundamental for cognitive development

Three students working together on a robotics project with red electronic parts at a classroom table.

Why Play Has No Age Limit: Rethinking Learning Beyond Early Childhood

Group of kids giving high-fives on an outdoor basketball court, celebrating teamwork and joy in children’s sport.

Bibs, Whistles, and Burnout: How to Restore Play in Children’s Sport

Toy animals in a row — elephant, lion, zebra, cheetah, and rhino — showing variation and differences

Variation Theory: Seeing What Matters in Learning

Young child playing ice hockey, skating with the puck during practice.

Seeing Movement Differently: Applying Variation Theory to Sport, Physical Education, and Dance

A young child looks through a telescope as colourful planets and stars burst out in front of them.

From Repetition to Discernment: How Variation Theory Unlocks Deeper Understanding

Children holding two puzzle pieces labeled “Play” and “Variation” against a colourful background of toys.

The Art of Noticing: How Play and Variation Theory Shape Meaningful Learning

Illustration of a glowing brain inside a light bulb, symbolising intelligence, learning, and cognitive development.

Understanding Intelligence: Moving beyond Myths

Child wearing goggles and a metal helmet with a glowing lightbulb, raising a finger to represent intelligence, ideas, and how learning is often reduced to a single number

Why IQ Doesn’t Define Us: How a Number Came to Shape Education

Child sitting on a stack of books pointing toward glowing math symbols and E=mc², symbolising curiosity, intelligence, and untapped learning potential.

The Gifted Myth: Rethinking Potential in Classrooms and Playing Fields

Two children sitting on the floor drawing mathematical formulas and diagrams on a large chalkboard, illustrating curiosity, learning, and cognitive development.

The changing shape of intelligence: From Infancy to Adulthood

Child exploring a glowing interactive learning display with curiosity and focus

Self-Determination Theory: Why Motivation Can't be Manufactured

Children playing basketball outdoors during a physical education activity

When Rewards Create Engagement, But Not Learning

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