Mr Barton Maths Podcast

Ollie Lovell, a key contributor to discussions on math lesson structures and teaching strategies, dives into the intricacies of the 'Do Now' phase in teaching. He and his co-host explore content selection and student engagement during this crucial segment. The conversation also touches on fun parenting mishaps and their reflections on haircut journeys during the pandemic. Additionally, they share insights from educational experiences in Sweden and practical strategies for enhancing classroom interactions and supporting struggling students.

Ollie Lovell, an expert in mathematics education and instructional coaching, dives deep into lesson structure development. He shares insights from his collaboration with schools, emphasizing clarity and purpose in lesson planning. The conversation touches on innovative 'do now' strategies that boost student engagement and the critical role of retrieval practices. They explore the balance between structured lessons and flexibility, while also highlighting the importance of proactive feedback from educators to enhance overall teaching effectiveness.

Ollie Lovell, a mathematics educator and collaborator, shares his innovative insights on developing effective lesson structures for math teaching. He discusses the importance of lesson sequencing and the instructional phases of 'I do, We do, You do' to enhance student engagement. Their conversation highlights crafting purposeful 'do now' activities and integrating retrieval practices to boost learning retention. Ollie also explores tailoring lesson structures for different age groups, ensuring that teaching methods meet varied student needs.

Ollie Lovell sent me a recording of a maths lesson he had recently taught in a school he has been supporting. I suggested we discuss the lesson, centring around Ollie’s planning, the decisions he made, and his responses in the lesson. Fortunately, Ollie agreed, hence what you are listening to now. I have shared the video clips from the sections of the lesson that we discussed on the show-note page here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/ollie-lesson

In this conversation, Ollie Lovell, a talented educator and podcaster, joins Craig Barton to discuss innovative strategies for teaching and professional development. They dive into the creation of instructional playbooks, balancing student discovery with managing misconceptions. The duo emphasizes the transformative power of writing in classrooms for deeper engagement and reflection. They also highlight the complexities of educational communication, stressing the need for sustained professional development and actionable takeaways for teachers.

Experienced educator Ollie Lovell shares insights on breaking down concepts for effective teaching. Topics include productive struggle, atomization in teaching, benefits of shared curriculum resources, and the importance of balancing curriculum and pedagogy. The conversation also touches on the curse of knowledge, pairing teachers, and the power of storytelling in education.

Education consultant Ollie Lovell joins the host to discuss teaching tools and tips. They cover strategies for handling student responses, the concept of atomisation in teaching, factors contributing to high-achieving schools, differences in pedagogy for senior students, effective feedback techniques, and teaching methods for math teachers.

Expert Kris Boulton discusses atomization in education, breaking down complex processes, teaching methods using taxonomy concepts, identifying mathematical 'atoms' for better instruction, simplifying math expressions, teaching concepts using examples and definitions, importance of examples in teaching, teaching quadratics with examples, using correlated features in teaching, teaching strategies with minimally different examples, and the power of atomization in enhancing student learning.

Ollie Lovell, a passionate teacher and education consultant, shares invaluable insights into effective teaching strategies. He stresses the significance of choosing impactful examples for enhancing student engagement and understanding. The conversation delves into innovative methods like hands-up cold calling to foster inclusivity in discussions. They also touch on the importance of healthy eating habits with green smoothies, linking lifestyle choices to educational performance. Overall, the discussion underscores the need for thoughtful planning in teaching practices.

Craig Barton and Jo Morgan discuss Jo's career journey and the context of her school. They then dive into the topic of achieving amazing GCSE results, starting with the importance of a solid Key Stage 3 and 4 curriculum and pedagogy. Jo emphasizes the need for high-quality teaching, a robust curriculum, and going into depth on topics. She also discusses the benefits of setting and the challenges of staffing Key Stage 3. Joe mentions the use of shared resources and the importance of consistency in teaching across the department. In this part of the conversation, Craig and Jo discuss the importance of being prescriptive in teaching methods and the use of calculators in the classroom. Jo emphasizes the need for live modeling and independent practice, while also acknowledging the challenges of using mini whiteboards effectively. They also discuss the benefits of regular calculator use from the start of Year 7 and the impact of embedded retrieval in lessons. In this part of the conversation, Jo discusses the use of warm-up booklets, assessment practices, and the benefits of using the online homework platform Sparks. She also talks about strategies for supporting the lowest and highest attainers at Key Stage 4. In this final part of the conversation, Jo and Craig discuss the impact of different qualifications on student outcomes, the importance of high standards and expectations in the math department, and the effective use of data to identify and address problems. Links to all the resources mentioned can be found in the show notes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/jo-morgan-gcse/ Time-stamps: Career journey and GCSE results in a South London comprehensive school. (5:16) GCSE results and progress measures. (10:33) School performance metrics and progress measures. (12:49) The impact of progress 8 measure on students' future opportunities. (18:15) Key stage three math curriculum and pedagogy. (23:47) Math teaching strategies and resources in a school with non-specialist teachers. (28:18) Sharing lesson plans and quality control in a school. (33:15) Lesson planning and resource use in math education. (38:07) Math teaching methods and expectations for lessons. (41:41) Teaching mechanics for the first time. (45:34) Using mini whiteboards in the classroom. (48:41) Math teaching strategies and calculator use. (52:47) Using calculators in math class to improve understanding and skills. (59:15) Math education with a focus on calculator use and retrieval practice. (1:02:40) Retrieval practice in language lessons. (1:07:29) Using retrieval practice to fill knowledge gaps in math classes. (1:09:17) Math warm-ups and booklets for engagement and assessment. (1:13:49) Using retrieval practice, prerequisites, and assessment in math lessons. (1:18:29) Using low-stakes assessments in math class. (1:22:52) Effective whole-class feedback in math lessons. (1:27:40) Teaching and assessment strategies in English grammar school. (1:29:16) The impact of Sparks, an online maths platform, on student performance. (1:33:50) Homework strategies in a UK school. (1:38:23) Homework strategies and student motivation. (1:42:57) Offering additional maths qualification to boost GCSE and A-level results. (1:48:13) Math education, including further maths and entry-level maths. (1:51:58) Teaching maths and setting high standards in a school. (1:55:33) Effective leadership and data analysis in a high school math department. (2:00:38) Data analysis and reporting in education. (2:06:03) Department leadership and communication in schools. (2:13:20) Department meetings and their frequency. (2:19:18) Effective teaching strategies and data analysis in maths. (2:22:24) Math interventions and support for Year 11 students. (2:27:16) GCSE maths teaching strategies and student assessment. (2:32:19) Math teaching strategies and school challenges. (2:36:36) Improving GCSE exam review sessions. (2:41:12)