Video Collection
Presented in his inimitable style—marked by a rare blend of humour, humility and academic rigour—these videos weave together authentic footage from diverse classrooms with James’s insightful commentary.
Library at a Glance
Total Videos: 70+ (as at March 2026)
Recent Growth: 55 new titles added in the last year.
Global Reach: Includes footage from Australia, the USA, and Europe.
New Content: 5–10 fresh videos released monthly.
Interactive Growth: James actively seeks new school partnerships for future recordings.
Pro-Tip: These videos are perfect stimuli to spark discussion within professional learning communities (PLCs) as well as for personal reflection by educators worldwide.
Book Collection
Whether you are looking for the ‘small shifts’ of Teach Brilliantly or the deep cognitive strategies of The Learning Challenge, these books are designed to empower all staff working in education.
Audience: All books are suitable for K–12 teachers unless otherwise stated (such as Challenging Early Learning that is suitable for kindergarten staff).
Purchasing: The Learning Pit (PDF only) is the only title available for direct purchase on this site.
Other Titles: All other books, including his Challenging Learning series, can be purchased directly from the publishers (e.g., Corwin, Routledge, Solution Tree – listed at the foot of this page) or through your preferred bookstore.
TEACH Brilliantly
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO PEDAGOGY. Bestselling book, distilling complex meta-analyses into core themes of engagement, challenge, feedback, expectations, and equity. For K–12 teachers to achieve big gains through small, intentional shifts.
Nottingham, J. A. (2024). Teach brilliantly: Small Shifts That Lead To Big Gains In Student Learning. Solution Tree Press.
DEEP DIVE INTO THE LEARNING PIT. Bestselling book with practical strategies to guide students through the Learning Pit, effectively transforming surface-level knowledge into deep, long-lasting understanding.
Nottingham, J.A. (2017). The Learning Challenge: How to Guide Your Students Through the Learning Pit. Corwin.
The Learning Pit
QUICK-START GUIDE. A practical book providing a step-by-step roadmap to introducing students to the Learning Pit. Available to download here or for free by subscribers of our video library, PD-OD.com
Nottingham, J.A. (2020). The Learning Pit. Challenging Learning.
Challenging Early Learning
THE LEARNING PIT FOR KINDERGARTENS. Adapts the Learning Pit for ages 3–7, offering practical activities and dialogue strategies to foster resilience, curiosity and deep thinking in the earliest years.
Nottingham, J.A. & Nottingham, J. (2018). Challenging Early Learning. Routledge.
NUANCED ADVICE ABOUT GROWTH MINDSET. Deeply practical advice from two authors who have worked closely with Carol Dweck. Examines why mindset interventions often fail in schools and how to fix them.
Nottingham. J. A. & Larsson B. (2018). Challenging Mindset: Why a Growth Mindset Makes a Difference in Learning – and What to Do When It Doesn’t. Corwin.
PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK ENSURING FEEDBACK ‘STICKS’. Tackling one of the most powerful—yet often misunderstood—tools in education. When & how to offer feedback so that students grow significantly as a result.
Nottingham, J.A. & Nottingham, J. (2017). Challenging Learning Through Feedback. Corwin.
STRENGTHENING STUDENTS’ ORACY. Use strategies like ‘exploratory talk’ and the Jigsaw Method to transform classroom discussion into a powerful tool for reasoning, deep understanding and collaborative thinking.
Nottingham, J.A., Nottingham, J., & Renton, T. M. (2016). Challenging Learning Through Dialogue. Corwin.
A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR ELA TEACHERS. Twenty lesson plans to strengthen students’ critical analysis of texts in English Language Arts. Includes photocopiable masters and full-colour strategy cards for immediate
Nottingham, J.A., Nottingham, J., & Bollom, T. M. (2019). Learning Challenge Lessons: Secondary ELA. Corwin.
RESOURCES TO GUIDE 5-12-YEAR-OLDS THROUGH THE PIT. Twenty detailed lesson plans, ready-to-use resources and subject integration to bridge the gap between theory and daily classroom practice.
Nottingham, J.A. & Nottingham, J. (2018). Learning Challenge Lessons: Primary. Corwin.
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES FOR HOME AND SCHOOL. A wealth of activity cards and ‘big questions’ to turn dinner-table conversations (and school lessons) into deep learning opportunities. No training required.
Nottingham, J., Bergmann C., Nottingham, J. A. (2021). School’s Out, Learning’s In: Home-Learning Activities to Keep Children Engaged, Curious, and Thoughtful. Routledge.
FOR PARENTS, SUPPORT STAFF AND TEACHERS. Practical tools for improved questioning, better ways to praise, and proven strategies for ways to build a growth mindset in all young people
Nottingham, J. A. (2013). Encouraging Learning: How You Can Help Children Learn. Abingdon, UK: Routledge
FOUNDATIONAL GUIDE TO THE LEARNING PIT. First published in 2010 and refreshed in 2016, this comprehensive guide to pedagogy is James Nottingham’s first book. Includes the ASK Model as well as the Learning Pit.
Nottingham. J. A. (2016). Challenging Learning (2nd ed.). Abingdon, UK: Routledge
Chapters in Other Books
Friis, K. & Østergren-Olsen, D. (2017) Literacy og Læringsmål i Indskolingen.Frederikshavn, Denmark: Dafolo (Chapter 8)
Wallace, I. & Kirkman, L. (2017) Best of the Best: Progress. Carmarthen, Wales: Crown House Publishing (Chapter 12)
Kristensen, R. & Szulevicz, T. (2016) Understøttende undervisning og læringsmiljøer.Frederikshavn, Denmark: Dafolo (Chapter 10)
Caeli, E.N. & Andersen, P. (2015) Læringsmål og taksonomiske redskaber. Frederikshavn, Denmark: Dafolo (Chapter 2)
APA References (English titles)
Nottingham, J. A. (2024). Teach Brilliantly: Small Shifts That Lead To Big Gains In Student Learning. Solution Tree Press.
Nottingham, J., Bergmann C., Nottingham, J. A. (2021). School’s Out, Learning’s In: Home-Learning Activities to Keep Children Engaged, Curious, and Thoughtful. Routledge.
Nottingham, J.A. (2020). The Learning Pit. Challenging Learning.
Nottingham, J.A., Nottingham, J., & Bollom, T. M. (2019). Learning Challenge Lessons: Secondary ELA. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Nottingham. J. A. & Larsson B. (2018). Challenging Mindset: Why a Growth Mindset Makes a Difference in Learning – and What to Do When It Doesn’t. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Nottingham, J.A. & Nottingham, J. (2018). Challenging Early Learning. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Nottingham, J.A. & Nottingham, J. (2018). Learning Challenge Lessons: Primary. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Nottingham, J.A. (2017). The Learning Challenge: How to Guide Your Students Through the Learning Pit. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Nottingham, J.A. & Nottingham, J. (2017). Challenging Learning Through Feedback. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Nottingham, J.A., Nottingham, J., & Renton, T. M. (2016). Challenging Learning Through Dialogue. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Nottingham. J. A. (2016). Challenging Learning (2nd ed.). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Nottingham, J. A. (2013). Encouraging Learning: How You Can Help Children Learn. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Nottingham, J.A. (2010). Challenging Learning (1st ed.): Theory, Effective Practice and Lesson Ideas to Create Optimal Learning in the Classroom. Alnwick, Northumberland, UK: JN Publishing.
Nottingham, J.A. (2007). Exploring the Learning Pit. Teaching Thinking and Creativity, 8:2(23), 64–68. Birmingham, UK: Imaginative Minds.
Publishers
Bazalt (boeken in het Nederlands): shop.bazalt.nl
Cappelen Damm (bøker på norsk): www.cappelendamm.no
Corwin: www.corwin.com
Dafolo (bøger på dansk): www.dafoloforlag.dk
Natur och kultur (böcker på svenska): www.nok.se/utmanande
Routledge: www.routledge.com
Solution Tree: www.solutiontree.com
Library Listings
Click below to find out where you can check out James’s books at a library near you.
