About this book

Throughout lessons and beyond, teachers make decisions based on what they think students understand. However, without reliable ways to check understanding, teachers risk teaching to an illusion, and those most likely to be left behind are often the most vulnerable. What Are They Thinking? tackles one of the most consequential questions in teaching: how can we reliably find out what students actually understand and use that insight to decide what to do next?

The book explores the research behind checking for understanding and shows why it is central to so much of what we know about how learning happens. Drawing on evidence from cognitive science and formative assessment, it provides practical guidance to help teachers design checks that include every student, reveal misconceptions early, and allow teachers to respond thoughtfully to the evidence they provide. Examining checking for understanding across key areas of teaching and learning, the chapters cover:

  • Prior knowledge, including schema theory, meaning-making, and consolidation;
  • The science of learning, including desirable difficulties, learning versus performance, and assessment;
  • Practical classroom techniques, such as cold calling, mini whiteboards, hinge questions, and exit tickets, applicable from early years education to post-16 and beyond
  • Applying checks for understanding in SEND, adaptive teaching and oracy.
Pre-order "What Are They Thinking?"

Coming 23rd September, 2026

What people are saying

“This excellent book by David Goodwin covers a lot of ground: cognitive science, desirable difficulties, formative assessment, motivational theory, questioning, scaffolding, adaptive teaching… and a lot more besides. Its scope and detail are impressive. Importantly, it also offers a great deal of exemplification across a wide range of subject areas, supporting teachers to understand how principles might be applied in practice. For all of these reasons, it should be a very valuable resource to anyone interested in developing their teaching practice.” – Bruce Robertson, Next Level Educational CEO, and author of The Teaching Delusion trilogy and ‘Power Up’ series

“This is a generous, thoughtful guide to the most important question in teaching: what are they thinking? David Goodwin shows, with clarity and warmth, how to make students’ thinking visible and their learning real. Given David’s deep understanding of the science of learning, What are they thinking? is research-rich, practical, and deeply humane. An essential book for every teacher and the basis for ongoing CPD. I’ll be recommending it widely” – Mary Myatt, education writer and speaker

“It’s tempting to follow the Hermione Grangers of the classroom―the students who always have a hand up, who make lessons look smooth, who already know the answers. But our job isn’t limited to designing instruction for the kids who find school easy. We’re here to make sure every child gets a turn to engage in the great conversation―the most interesting ideas our species has made. This book refuses to confuse nodding along with understanding, or busy activity with learning. It treats checking for understanding not only as what it is―the engine of responsive teaching―but as an expression of an ethical commitment: that every child can succeed when we support them to shine and show what they know.” – Zach Groshell, PhD, USA. Former teacher, author, instructional coach, podcaster, chief learning scientist.

About the Author

David Goodwin

David Goodwin is a trust-wide Teaching and Learning Lead in the East of England, working with colleagues across Early Years to Key Stage 4. He writes, speaks, and occasionally illustrates ideas about teaching and learning. He remains, first and foremost, a learner.

What is the Teacher CPD Academy book series?

In short, it’s a series of books written by leading education experts, co-edited by InnerDrive’s Edward Watson and Bradley Busch, and published by Routledge. In this ever-expanding series, educators can discover the many applications of Cognitive Science to Teaching & Learning.

Where does the Academy bit come in? Well, each book will also be accompanied by its own interactive training module on InnerDrive’s Teacher CPD Academy online platform!

Each book offers a deep dive into its own focal area, through a lens of Cognitive Science alongside supporting classroom examples and graphics.

Lead Psychologist at InnerDrive, Bradley Busch says “we are very proud to be able to platform brilliant researchers, teachers and senior leaders as part of this series. They are going to cover areas of topics that matter to classroom teachers and how they can apply Cognitive Science research in new and innovative ways.”

Upcoming in the Teacher CPD Academy book series…

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More from InnerDrive & Routledge

It’s a real pleasure to collaborate with Routledge on this series, after a brilliant time working with them on our last two books, The Science of Learning and Teaching & Learning Illuminated.

“Their commitment to helping develop evidence-informed teaching and producing high-quality books makes Routledge an ideal publisher for InnerDrive to partner with.” – Edward Watson, founder of InnerDrive