Better Teaching: Only Stuff That Works

In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Zach and I dive into what he’s learned during his first full year of consulting.Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, instructional coach, or independent consultant, Zach’s reflections — and the successes he’s experienced — offer a thought-provoking framework for building stronger collaboration and driving better student outcomes at your schools.Links:Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit TeachingMaximizing the Impact of Coaching Cycles This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here. 

Over the course of his 38-year career as a high school social studies teacher, Ed Cabrera has led passionate student discussions through 10 presidential elections, impeachments, 9/11, controversial wars, presidential assassination attempts, all while maintaining political neutrality.In this episode Ed discusses his guidelines for leading passionate classroom discussions on controversial topics. This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here. 

Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva, a Canadian researcher in learning science, shares her insights on translating cognitive science into effective classroom strategies. She discusses the challenges educators face in accessing research and the historical barriers that thwart the implementation of evidence-based practices. Nidhi delves into microlearning, highlighting its cognitive benefits and practical applications. The conversation emphasizes the importance of coaching and constructive observation in bridging the gap between learning science and effective teaching.

Dr. David Griffith is the Associate Director of Research at the Thomas B Fordham Institute. In this episode we discuss the results of a recent study he conducted and reported on about “Equitable” Grading Through the Eyes of the Teacher.”21:46.9 This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here. 

In this episode, Gene Tavernetti talks with Dr. Jana Lee, an expert in data-driven educational practices and inclusive teaching. The discussion delves into effective data utilization, the importance of microdata, and best practices for both general and special education. Learn how to enhance professional learning communities (PLCs) and the significance of responsive teaching. This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here. 

In this episode Dr. Olivia Mullins describes the work she and her non-profit, Science Delivered, is doing to deliver science lessons to early elementary students. She discusses the challenges of delivering high quality science instruction when time for science instruction is scarce. This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here. 

In this discussion, Laura Patranella, a reading specialist and teacher with extensive experience in dyslexia instruction, shares her insights on the Science of Reading. She discusses her journey from classroom teacher to interventionist, outlining effective dyslexia programs and structured curriculum methods. Laura emphasizes the importance of blending decoding with comprehension to elevate student literacy while building teacher confidence. She also offers practical advice for supporting teacher retention and highlights key indicators that administrators should observe in classrooms.

Marcie Samayoa is a high school science teacher from Los Angeles, CA with nearly a decade of classroom experience. She is very passionate about bringing evidence-based practices into the classroom.Through her blog, Scientists in the Making, she shares practical strategies that integrate the science of learning with science instruction. She recently presented at ResearchEd New York, and will be presenting at RearchED Denver in September.X: Ms. Sam (@sciinthemaking) / XBlog:  http://www.scientistsinthemaking.com This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here. 

In this episode, I sit down with education reformer Robert Pondiscio and make an unsuccessful attempt to convince him that we should be the Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid of education reform. Evidently, he has plenty ideas of his own.X: Robert Pondiscio (@rpondiscio) / XEmail: Robert.Pondiscio@aei.org This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here. 

Kyair Butts, Baltimore City Public Schools Teacher of the Year, discusses improving literacy in the middle grades and a successful low-cost professional development program that teachers enjoyed and employed.Follow Kyair and his students in action at on:X: @kyairb Instagram: @MrK_bcpss This podcast sponsored by:The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here. Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here.