Knowledge for Teachers

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.

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