Pedagogy Perspectives with Professor Sarah McGeown

Professor Sarah McGeown is a professor of literacy at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in children and young people’s reading experiences, motivation, and engagement. Her research spans cognitive, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives, with a particular focus on research-practice partnerships and how to make research both accessible and meaningful for educators.

We discuss:

• How reading supports well-being - both emotionally (hedonic) and in developing meaning, identity and belonging (eudaimonic) - especially for adolescents seeing themselves reflected in books.
• The complex factors that shape motivation to read, from personal traits like 'openness to experience' to structural issues such as book access, relatable texts, and library closures.
• How enjoyment can be reignited through autonomy, explicit book choice instruction, and fostering reading as a social and successful identity-building practice.
• The six principles underpinning the Love to Read programme - Access, Choice, Time, Connection, Social, and Success - and how they empower intrinsic motivation while respecting learner diversity.

Listen in to hear how McGeown advocates for classroom practices that are grounded in children’s voices, built on professional inquiry, and driven by meaningful partnerships between researchers and educators. Her work highlights both the small tweaks teachers can make and the bigger systemic shifts needed to ensure every child connects with reading - on their own terms.