
Better Teaching: Only Stuff That Works
Descriptions of effective teaching often depict an idealized form of "perfect" instruction. Yet, pursuing perfection in teaching, which depends on children's behavior, is ultimately futile. To be effective, lessons and educators need to operate with about 75% efficiency. The remaining 25% can be impactful, but expecting it in every lesson, every day, is unrealistic. Perfection in teaching may be unattainable, but progress is not. Whether you are aiming for the 75% effectiveness mark or striving for continuous improvement, this podcast will guide you in that endeavor.
Latest episodes

Apr 23, 2025 • 34min
The Science of Learning and Effective Math Instruction with Holly Korbey
Holly Korbey, an education journalist who focuses on the science of leaning and effective math instruction makes a return visit to the podcast. In this episode the updates her work in this area, her experiences in NYC at ResearchED, and her new Podcast “Interviews with An Expert”. Enjoy all her interviews on her YouTube channel.And because she is a journalist, of course she will be asking me about my thoughts on these issues as well. She can’t help herself. Follow her work by subscribing to The Bell Ringer.
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.

Apr 16, 2025 • 39min
The Importance of Respect in Maintaining Motivation with Raquel McGee
Raquel McGee is a high school reading teacher, instructional coach, and doctoral student. I was very excited to talk to Raquel about all of those things.We discuss student motivation in high school remedial reading classes and how respect for students is critical in maintaining that motivation.Raquel describes the training provided when she became an instructional coach and additional work she has done on her own to ensure she provides quality support to teachers.Links:X: @RaquelMTeaches
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.

Apr 9, 2025 • 51min
The Importance of Alignment with Sandra Brunet
Sandra Brunet has worked throughout the United States coaching educators at all levels of the educational system. She had supported leaders in state departments of education, district leaders, site leaders and teachers.In this episode Sandra discusses the importance of alignment and knowledge of all aspects of educational systems to positively impact student outcomes.Links:LinkedIn: @sandrabrunetEngage 2 LearnDIG Workshop in Riverside, CA
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.

Apr 2, 2025 • 57min
The Importance of Knowing How Students Learn with Carl Hendricks
Dr. Carl Hendrick is known throughout the world for his expertise in the science of learning. In addition to publishing numerous articles, he has co-authored two books How Learning Happens and How Teaching Happens in which he shares the most impactful research on this topic.In this episode he shares what he believes is the most important information that all teachers should know about how students learn but is still not being taught in many schools of education. He also has some advice for teachers about some things they can safely stop doing.Links:X: @C_HendrickBlueSky: @carlhendrick.substack.comLinkedIn: Carl HendrickWeekly Science of Learning newsletter at The Learning Dispatch How Teaching and Learning Happens e-learning course can be found here.
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.

Mar 26, 2025 • 46min
Applying Lessons Learned in HR to Being a Superintendent with Gabe Simon
Dr. Gabriel Simon took an unconventional path to becoming a district superintendent. He spent over a decade as a successful principal before serving briefly as a Superintendent/Principal in a small rural district. He then transitioned back the district office as an Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, where he worked as the Assistant Superintendent in three different districts.In this episode I chat with Dr. Simon about what he learned dealing with parents, teachers, and unitions during his years in HR that has helped him in his new role leading a K-12 district.Dr. Simon is the author of Building Student Resilience, K-8: Strategies to Overcome Risk and Adversity, available from Corwin Books.
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.

Mar 19, 2025 • 32min
Coaching Moves While Observing Lessons with Zach Groshell - Thinking Out Loud #3
This the third episode in our series Thinking Out Loud in which Zach and I discuss instructional coaching. So far, we have discussed the importance of rehearsal with teachers (Episode 23) and various coaching models (Episode 33). In this episode we discuss coaching moves an instructional coach may employ while observing a lesson.Links:Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit InstructionMaximizing 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.

Mar 12, 2025 • 36min
Teach FAST with Gene Tavernetti
Everyone says one of the most effective ways to teach new content is by using explicit instruction. But fewer teachers than you might think can deliver an effective explicit instruction lesson. Dr. Tavernetti wrote Teach FAST to help remedy that situation and help guide teachers to more effective explicit instruction lesson.In this episode Gene lists and explains the differences between this book and other books on explicit instruction.Andrew Bixler, a friend and colleague of Gene Tavernetti, turns the tables and interviews Gene about his book Teach FAST: Focused Adaptable Structured Teaching.Get Teach FAST here.
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.

Mar 5, 2025 • 56min
Improving Literacy in the Middle Grades with Kyair Butts
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.

Feb 26, 2025 • 42min
Three Important Areas for Schools to Focus On with Mike Schmoker
Mike Schmoker, educator and best-selling author, speaks from decades of experience as he details the three most important areas school musts Focus on to get Results. (Caps and pun intended.)Get in touch with Mike through his website here.
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.

Feb 19, 2025 • 44min
Implementing the Science of Learning Everywhere with Helen Reynolds
Helen Reynolds, MBE is a distinguished and award-winning science educator from the UK. For the past eight she has taught at a high school in the US.In this episode she compares her experiences in the US and UK and how she has advocated for the science of learning wherever she has taught.Key Moments:01:21 Differences between UK and US Educational Systems06:31 National Curriculum in the UK08:02 Transition to the US Educational System21:05 Implementation of Cognitive Science in the ClassroomGet in touch with Helen:X: @helenreyBlueSky: @helenrey
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.