Knowledge for Teachers

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.

Dr. Jenny Donovan, CEO of the Australian Education Research Organisation, is a pioneer in educational research, advocating for evidence-based teaching. She shares her journey from high school teacher to leading research in Australia. Key topics include the impact of cognitive load theory, the need for explicit instruction, and the importance of school leadership in educational reform. Jenny also addresses the challenges of navigating education data and emphasizes avoiding fads in teaching methods for better student outcomes.

In this conversation, Brendan Lee speaks with James Dobson, an experienced teacher who has been expertly applying the art and science of learning when teaching students in their first year of school (Kindergarten/Prep/Reception/Foundation). He discusses the importance of evidence-based practice, the use of Direct Instruction programs, and the challenges and rewards of teaching young children. James shares insights on maintaining sanity in the classroom while balancing work and personal life. We also delve into James' weekly timetable, looking at phonemic awareness, phonics, handwriting, writing and mathematics. He really gets into the nitty-gritty of what his lessons look like day-to-day and how they progress throughout the year. Resources mentioned: Siegfried Engelmann Story Champs Heggerty’s phonemic awareness program Little Learner’s Love Literacy Core Knowledge Ochre Grammar Project Number blocks Direct Instruction Mathematics by Marcy Stein Doug Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion Shaping Minds Christopher SUch’s The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading Sharing Best Practice ResearchEd   You can connect with James: Twitter: @jdtdobson Instagram: @mr_j_dobson Website: layingthefoundations.weebly.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 James Dobson James Dobson is a Foundation teacher and Learning Specialist at Campbells Creek Primary School including Guildford Campus in central Victoria. James has worked with students from a diverse range of backgrounds in Victoria and the Northern Territory. During his time in the NT, he implemented a range of Direct Instruction programs and became an accredited DI trainer. He was a finalist for the Outstanding Primary Teacher award as a part of the 2022 Victorian Education Excellence Awards. James is passionate about ensuring that all students receive a quality education. This begins by laying a solid foundation.    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Ray Boyd, the Foundation Principal of Dayton Primary School. Throughout the interview he shares his journey into education leadership and the pedagogic shift he led at his previous school West Beechboro P.S. He reflects on the mistakes made and lessons learned during his time there and discusses the surprises and challenges of starting a new school.  Dr. Boyd also explains the vision and mission of Dayton Primary School and how he communicates it to the community. Dr. Boyd underscores the vital role of fostering success and creating robust support systems within schools. He stresses intentional communication with parents and the cultivation of a positive school culture. Ray delves into strategies for nurturing staff well-being, employing tools like playbooks and coaching. He highlights the importance of revisiting priorities and setting precise goals for professional development. As the discussion concludes, Ray provides valuable tips for a strong start to the school year and recommends resources such as cognitive load theory and educational research books.  Listen to this episode for profound insights and guidance tailored for school leaders. Resources mentioned: James Nottingham Luke George Rachael Lehr Steph Le Lievre (features on S01E02 Of the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast) James Clear - Atomic Habits Greg Sullivan John Fleming ED Hirsch David Wanstall Lorraine Hammond Ken Rowe John Hollingsworth Joe Ybarra Louisa Moats Simon Sinek Spelling Mastery Peter DeWitt John Hattie Joel Birch Seth Godin - Song of Significance Jim Knight You can connect with Ray: Twitter: @RayBoyd007 Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rayboyd007/ You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net   Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast   About Dr. Ray Boyd Dr Ray Boyd, DipT., MSL., Ed.D.. FACELWA., FACEL is the foundation principal of Dayton Primary School. Prior to this he led a school that achieved remarkable improvement, resulting in his team mentoring WA school personnel as a part of the Centre for Excellence in Literacy initiative. Ray’s world is dominated by the need to improve teaching and learning in schools, having done considerable work with state and interstate schools in developing highly effective teaching models alongside their leadership teams. Prior to his career as a school leader, Ray competed at an international level, representing Australia at the World Cross Country Championship, in the marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Athens, and was a member of the Australian Team that won the International Ekiden Relay Championships in 1995.

Brendan Lee provides his key takeaways from the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast for 2023. This year he spoke to people such as Tom Sherrington, Daisy Christodoulou, Christopher Such and many more. Find out what he took away from these conversations. He has split this episode into three sections: Science of reading Science of maths Implementing the science of learning   Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast  

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Corey Peltier who is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. He also contributes to The Science of Math movement that is focused on disseminating research-informed recommendations to enhance math instruction and outcomes for students and this is the area that is unpacked in this episode.  In this conversation, they look at some of the points from the paper, Myths That Undermine Maths Teaching that he co-authored with Sarah Powell and Elizabeth M. Hughes. He also explains how teachers can use the Instructional Hierarchy to improve student performance, why curriculum-based measurements are useful, how we can build math fact fluency and much more.   Resources mentioned: Sarah Powell Amanda VanderHeyden Robin Codding Journal of Behavioral Education The ABCs of CBM by Michelle K. Hosp, John L. Hosp, and Kenneth W. Howell. Brian Poncy - https://brianponcy.wixsite.com/mind Doug and Lynn Fuchs Pirate Math - https://www.piratemathequationquest.com/ Self-Regulate Strategy Development National Center on Intensive Intervention - https://intensiveintervention.org/ Journal of Behavioral Education Special Edition on Instructional Hierarchy - https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40086112 Benjamin Solomon and Brian Poncy, A review of common rates of improvement when implementing whole-number operation math interventions: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-70602-005 You can connect with Corey: Twitter: @CoreyJPeltier Website: coreypeltier.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