James Murphy
@jamespmurphy.bsky.social
Teaching, learning and behaviour. Director at Thinking Reading. Working with secondary schools to eradicate illiteracy.
Web: thinkingreading.com
Web: thinkingreading.com
A very peaceful and joyful Christmas Eve to all who celebrate. Tonight’s newish moon in West Cork
December 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A very peaceful and joyful Christmas Eve to all who celebrate. Tonight’s newish moon in West Cork
Shame the good news isn’t more prominent
Thousands of young people leaving care will receive free prescriptions, dental and eyecare services until their 25th birthday, Wes Streeting has announced.
Care leavers to get free prescriptions, dental and eyecare services up until 25
www.mirror.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Shame the good news isn’t more prominent
Yes. Yes they are
on the tramway in Nantes and a pretty old woman gave her seat to a very old woman so I gave my seat to the pretty old woman then a man gave me his seat then a teenager gave a man his seat and then we all laughed, aren't people fantastic
December 23, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Yes. Yes they are
Please please please can we have a Trump//free Christmas? No vapid headlines about the latest offensive/aggressive/crazy thing he’s said? No world media in service to an ageing narcissist? That’s my letter to Santa 🙏🏻
December 23, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Please please please can we have a Trump//free Christmas? No vapid headlines about the latest offensive/aggressive/crazy thing he’s said? No world media in service to an ageing narcissist? That’s my letter to Santa 🙏🏻
Don’t ever bet against Ukraine
Two warriors of Ukraine’s 93rd Brigade held a position near Rusyn Yar in Donetsk region against terrorist forces for 130 days.
Caption says they managed to capture a Russian who stayed with them for 2,5 months, helping to build defences.
Caption says they managed to capture a Russian who stayed with them for 2,5 months, helping to build defences.
December 23, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Don’t ever bet against Ukraine
Sunset, winter solstice 2025
December 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Sunset, winter solstice 2025
Reposted by James Murphy
I’m talking to Canadian radio audiences this morning about the latest in the Russo-Ukrainian war and from the hosts’ shocked reaction, I’m realizing that few have heard about the Ru army’s « human safari » campaign in Kherson. More attn is needed. www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
A ‘human safari’: The Russian drones targeting Ukraine’s civilians
Ukrainians on the frontline in Kherson tell Olga Tokariuk how they withstand daily enemy attacks – by sheltering under trees, staying indoors on clear days and with netting over the roads.
www.chathamhouse.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:54 AM
I’m talking to Canadian radio audiences this morning about the latest in the Russo-Ukrainian war and from the hosts’ shocked reaction, I’m realizing that few have heard about the Ru army’s « human safari » campaign in Kherson. More attn is needed. www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
Incredible to think his aides won’t or can’t stop him posting the evidence of his insanity.
December 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Incredible to think his aides won’t or can’t stop him posting the evidence of his insanity.
Reposted by James Murphy
This is a really appalling editorial error on BBC Question Time
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
December 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is a really appalling editorial error on BBC Question Time
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
This is how we need to be thinking about IQ scores - not as a ceiling but a base to build on!
December 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This is how we need to be thinking about IQ scores - not as a ceiling but a base to build on!
At the Fair Education Alliance Summit in London’s Science Museum. Cool venue.
December 8, 2025 at 11:53 AM
At the Fair Education Alliance Summit in London’s Science Museum. Cool venue.
I think 🤔 m curious ming to the conclusion that in the next election I’ll have to vote for the party that’s serious about capping political donations.
If we can’t do that elections become a charade, not a decision making process.
If we can’t do that elections become a charade, not a decision making process.
December 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I think 🤔 m curious ming to the conclusion that in the next election I’ll have to vote for the party that’s serious about capping political donations.
If we can’t do that elections become a charade, not a decision making process.
If we can’t do that elections become a charade, not a decision making process.
Reposted by James Murphy
New paper, continuing the conversation on identifying and diagnosing dyslexia. doi.org/10.1002/dys....
Consensus Without Clarity for Dyslexia Identification: A Commentary on Holden et al.
Holden et al. (2025) conducted a Delphi study to establish consensus on how to define, identify, and assess dyslexia, with the definitional component primarily reported by Carroll et al. (2025). Alth...
doi.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 PM
New paper, continuing the conversation on identifying and diagnosing dyslexia. doi.org/10.1002/dys....
Reposted by James Murphy
I am just watching the Owen Jones interview with Ischenko about "the devastating truth of Ukraine and the west."
I came back from Ukraine a few weeks ago, where I interviewed many Ukrainian leftists about the war. These are people who are on the frontlines, who are living up close to the threat of
I came back from Ukraine a few weeks ago, where I interviewed many Ukrainian leftists about the war. These are people who are on the frontlines, who are living up close to the threat of
December 4, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I am just watching the Owen Jones interview with Ischenko about "the devastating truth of Ukraine and the west."
I came back from Ukraine a few weeks ago, where I interviewed many Ukrainian leftists about the war. These are people who are on the frontlines, who are living up close to the threat of
I came back from Ukraine a few weeks ago, where I interviewed many Ukrainian leftists about the war. These are people who are on the frontlines, who are living up close to the threat of
Exactly this. To access frankly paltry funds, you must give up your dignity. Many choose not to.
I am almost certainly eligible for PIP (see the wheelchair in my header pic, amongst other disabilities). But I have never applied for it, even when I have been very poor, because I am terrified of being subjected to this level of surveillance. I preferred to eat cornflakes and keep the heating off.
The guy's literally got one leg, but that's apparently one too many for the DWP to consider him disabled www.mirror.co.uk/money/dwp-fi...
December 1, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Exactly this. To access frankly paltry funds, you must give up your dignity. Many choose not to.
Reposted by James Murphy
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by James Murphy
The power of ordering from an indie bookstore!
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The power of ordering from an indie bookstore!
Reposted by James Murphy
The man last time rocking the small white coffin of his baby — murdered by a precise russian missile strike in Ternopil.
The men having power to bring real peace and punish the aggressor — choosing instead to punish the victim, pushing Ukraine toward capitulation.
Two worlds.
The men having power to bring real peace and punish the aggressor — choosing instead to punish the victim, pushing Ukraine toward capitulation.
Two worlds.
November 23, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The man last time rocking the small white coffin of his baby — murdered by a precise russian missile strike in Ternopil.
The men having power to bring real peace and punish the aggressor — choosing instead to punish the victim, pushing Ukraine toward capitulation.
Two worlds.
The men having power to bring real peace and punish the aggressor — choosing instead to punish the victim, pushing Ukraine toward capitulation.
Two worlds.
Reposted by James Murphy
Brave, beautiful Georgia! 🇬🇪
Today marks 22 years since the Rose Revolution - the day that reshaped Georgia for the better and saved the country, at least for my generation. I will be forever grateful and will continue to fight for its values.
November 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Brave, beautiful Georgia! 🇬🇪
Reposted by James Murphy
My little girls (now big girls!), adopted from foster care, arrived with few possessions - but each had been given a box of books by @booktrust.org.uk. These books, read together, became our first shared memories.
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
November 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
My little girls (now big girls!), adopted from foster care, arrived with few possessions - but each had been given a box of books by @booktrust.org.uk. These books, read together, became our first shared memories.
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
Spread the joy of reading with a donation:
donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
🙄 Oh well, at least we got the lies out there first, that’s the main thing.
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
🙄 Oh well, at least we got the lies out there first, that’s the main thing.
Reposted by James Murphy
It's unsurprising Trump is trying again to blackmail Ukraine into surrender. Keep in mind that Ukrainians have always been clear-eyed about the fickleness of the US as an ally. Ukraine has never been a US proxy. It fights for its independence and sovereignty and a US betrayal won't change that.
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
It's unsurprising Trump is trying again to blackmail Ukraine into surrender. Keep in mind that Ukrainians have always been clear-eyed about the fickleness of the US as an ally. Ukraine has never been a US proxy. It fights for its independence and sovereignty and a US betrayal won't change that.
Finally, a thread on Bluesky that warns the soul.
Reading Prince Caspian and wondering about what it must have been like there after Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy just vanished.
November 15, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Finally, a thread on Bluesky that warns the soul.
Apropos for today
Dear Auntie
You will be surprised to hear that I am going to prison tomorrow.
You will be surprised to hear that I am going to prison tomorrow.
November 13, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Apropos for today
Wow. Mesmerising!
November 13, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Wow. Mesmerising!