Knowledge for Teachers

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Pamela Snow. She has been at the coalface fighting for evidence-based reading instruction to be common practice for a number of years and throughout this conversation, she provides nuggets of gold in describing how when we talk about phonics we need to be using it as an adjective with a noun following it. Pamela unpacks why this debate about reading has been going on for so long and why changing teacher practice can be so challenging. She also delves into what parents need to know and what questions they could be asking. Resources mentioned: Grattan Institute - The Reading Guarantee Nancy Young’s Reading and Writing Ladder Science of Reading Podcast S2-05: The Right to Read Project on nurturing automatic readers: Margaret Goldberg and Alanna Mednick Troy Verey Dr Danielle Colenbrander Dr. Pam Kastner Emily Hanford - Sold a Story Professor Lorraine Hammond   You can connect with Pam: Twitter: @PamelaSnow2 Linkedin Website: https://pamelasnow.blogspot.com/   You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net   Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

Join English teacher and digital learning expert Jamie Clark as he shares insights from his book, One Pagers. He explains how simple, engaging one-pagers can radically enhance professional development and classroom learning. Jamie discusses his journey from teacher to learning designer, highlighting the significance of context and visual aids. He also unpacks effective instructional strategies like think-pair-share, urging educators to prioritize clarity and simplicity in their resources. Get ready for practical tips that make teaching more impactful!

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Emina McLean. Emina works with systems, schools, leaders, and teachers to develop ambitious and rigorous assessment, curriculum and instruction practices in English and literacy. In this chat, Emina discusses her focus on implementing effective systems and practices for teaching reading and writing. She highlights the importance of aligning curriculum, assessment, and instruction, and the need for a well-sequenced and comprehensive curriculum. Emina also unpacks the challenges of implementing evidence-based practice in schools, including the overwhelming number of competing priorities.  Resources mentioned: A Single Shard - Linda Sue Park Ochre Education EEF - Implementation Guide   You can connect with Emina: Twitter: @EminaMcLean Linkedin Email: emina.mclean@gmail.com      Website: www.eminamclean.com/   You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net   Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

Bronwyn Ryrie Jones, an instructional coach dedicated to empowering educators, shares her insights on responsive teaching. She explains the importance of mastering core principles before applying specific techniques. Bron discusses instructional playbooks, highlighting both their benefits and potential pitfalls. She emphasizes engaging students through methods like 'pair share' and 'Turn and Talk,' advocating for practices that promote active participation. This conversation balances theory with practical strategies, ensuring educators can adapt their approaches effectively.

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Trisha Jha who currently works with the Centre for Independent Studies and recently released a couple of reports titled: What is the Science of Learning? And Implementing the Science of Learning: Teacher experiences. Trisha unpacks these papers and discusses her journey into education research and the importance of focusing on what happens in the classroom. Throughout the conversation Trisha defines what the science of learning is and the difficulty in making cognitive science common knowledge.    The conversation also explores the challenges and misconceptions surrounding explicit instruction and how teachers engage with the science of learning. We also delve into what schools and systems can do to support effective implementation.    Resources mentioned: What is the Science of Learning? https://www.cis.org.au/publication/what-is-the-science-of-learning/ Implementing the Science of Learning: Teacher experiences https://www.cis.org.au/publication/implementing-the-science-of-learning-teacher-experiences/ Greg Ashman Jennifer Buckingham Five from Five Why Jaydon Can’t Read: A Forum on Fixing Literacy Kevin Knight Education Endowment Foundation 24 – Jessica Del Rio on solving illiteracy in Australia Daniel Willingham: Why don’t students like school Hollingsworth and Ybarra: Explicit Direct Instruction Daisy Christodoulou: 7 Myths about Education E.D. Hirsch: Why knowledge matters David Diddau and Nick Rose: What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Psychology Zac Groshell: Progressively Incorrect Anna Stokke: Chalk and Talk Ollie Lovell: ERRR Podcast You can connect with: Twitter: @themetresgained Linkedin: Trisha Jha   You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net   Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast About Trisha Jha Trisha Jha is a Research Fellow in the Education program, working on projects relating to the science of learning, improvement of initial teacher education and overall school quality. Prior to rejoining CIS, Trisha had roles as a secondary teacher, including through the Teach for Australia program, in state and independent schools in regional Victoria. She has also worked as a senior policy adviser to opposition leaders in Victoria. She holds a Masters of Teaching with a specialisation in Research from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Australian National University.  

Dr. Mark Dowley, an Associate Head at the Crowther Centre for Applied Educational Research, teams up with Ollie Lovell, co-author of 'The Classroom Management Handbook.' They explore ten essential principles for classroom management, emphasizing that behavior itself is a form of curriculum. Their discussion highlights the significance of mastering one’s own behavior to influence students positively, the implementation of effective strategies like WIN conversations, and the crucial role of structured routines in fostering an engaging learning environment.

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Rebecca Birch, a teacher of English and the Director of Research and Practice at a top 50 independent school in Sydney, Australia. She shares her journey from a career in fashion and advertising to becoming an English teacher. Rebecca emphasises the importance of evidence-based practice and the need for teachers to be sceptical and critical of educational trends. She also highlights the challenges of implementing explicit instruction and the need for standardised teacher preparation programs. Rebecca calls for a clear hierarchy of importance within teacher standards and the role of teacher preparation in reinforcing those standards. The conversation also touches on strategies for schools to drive improvement without waiting for systemic changes. Resources mentioned: Reimagining Teacher Professionalism. Why standards must be part of ITE reform Knowledge Society - Elena Douglas Trisha Jha What is the Science of Learning? https://www.cis.org.au/publication/what-is-the-science-of-learning/ Implementing the Science of Learning: Teacher experiences https://www.cis.org.au/publication/implementing-the-science-of-learning-teacher-experiences/ Strong Beginnings: Report of the Teacher Education Expert Panel Andrew Martin Kate Jones ResearchEd Alex Quigley: https://www.theconfidentteacher.com/ Anita Archer Hollingsworth and Ybarra - Explicit Direct Instruction You can connect with Rebecca: Twitter: @msrebeccabirch Linkedin: @rebeccabirch Website: https://rebeccabirch.au/ Substack: https://rebeccabirch.substack.com/ You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net   Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast About Rebecca Birch Rebecca Birch is a teacher of English and the Director of Research and Practice at a top 50 independent school in Sydney, Australia. She worked as a learning support officer in diverse settings while she undertook her teacher training after a successful career in advertising and fashion. Rebecca has provided consultation and content services for Ochre Education and Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn, and has appeared on panels for ResearchED and the Gonski Institute for Education. Her current research interest is the link between explicit instruction and student wellbeing. She writes for publication and through her newsletter (rebeccabirch.substack.com/).

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Tom Bennett, the Director and founder of researchED and school behaviour advisor to the UK government. He shares his journey from running nightclubs to becoming an influential figure in the education sector and we find out how teaching saved him. Bennett delves into the challenges he faced as a teacher, how he got into writing about behaviour, and his eventual role as the UK's Department for Education School Behavior Advisor. He highlights the integral role of setting clear behavioural expectations and embedding routines in creating a conducive learning environment. Tom also discusses the creation and implementation of a behaviour curriculum and the origins of researchED.    Resources mentioned: Tom Bennett - Running the Room: The Teacher's Guide to Behaviour Greg Ashman Daisy Christodolou: Seven Myths about Education Daniel T. Willingham: Why Don't Students Like School? Bill Rogers   You can connect with Tom: Twitter: @tombennett71 Website: https://tombennetttraining.co.uk/ Substack: https://bennettt.substack.com/   You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

Sarah Powell, Associate Professor, discusses effective word problem instruction in maths, focusing on attack strategies, dangers of keywords, and schema instruction. Emphasizes using research-validated practices over shortcuts for improving student problem-solving skills.

Dr. Nathaniel Swain shares practical strategies for teaching writing and integrating grammar into the curriculum. He discusses the challenges of teaching writing skills in schools, emphasizes the importance of genre in writing education, and explores ways to improve writing skills through reflection and application. The episode also highlights the significance of understanding linguistics for teachers and the impact of 'The Writing Revolution' techniques on enhancing writing aptitude.