Knowledge for Teachers
In the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, host Brendan Lee will be chatting to researchers, teachers and experts about what evidence-informed education is and the nuances involved with actually implementing effective and sustainable school based education.
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Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast we explore how to transform classroom outcomes using the science of behaviour. Brendan Lee chats with Dr. Kimberley Nix Berens, a scientist-practitioner and the founder of Fit Learning. Together, they unpack the role of behaviour science in education and why observable, measurable learning matters. You’ll hear why fluency—not just accuracy—is the true indicator of mastery, how precision teaching can transform the way we assess and respond to students, and why many common approaches to instruction fall short of producing lasting outcomes.
Kim also challenges some widely held assumptions, including the limits of discovery learning and the over-reliance on grades as meaningful measures of progress.
If you’re looking for practical, research-informed ways to sharpen your teaching and better support every learner, this episode offers a powerful new lens.
Resources mentioned:
https://fitlearning.com/
Blindspots by Kimberly Berens
The Technology of Teaching by B.F. Skinner
Theory of Instruction by Sigfried Engelman and Doug Carnine
The Standard Celeration Chart
The Morningside Model of Generative Instruction (Johnson, Street, Kieta and Robbins)
Program of International Student Assessment (PISA)
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
FitLite (and the FitLite Literacy model)
Scientist Educator Training Series
You can connect with Kimberly:
Twitter: @KimberlyBerens5
Instagram: @drkberens
Linkedin
Website: https://www.drkimberlyberens.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About Kimberly
Kimberly Nix Berens, Ph.D., is the Founder of Fit Learning and CEO of Fit Learning Online. She co-created a powerful system of instruction based in behavior science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide. For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced at least one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Her learning programs effectively target such essential areas as early learning skills, basic classroom readiness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, comprehension, inferential language, basic and advanced mathematics, logical problem solving, grammar, and expressive writing. From her early beginnings in a broom closet at the University of Nevada – Reno, Dr. Berens has helped grow Fit Learning to an organization with centers located throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. In her current role as CEO of Fit Learning Online, she focuses on increasing access for learners living in regions without a Fit Learning center. Dr. Berens is a frequent invited speaker and a contributor to many popular press publications such as Thrive Global, 74 Million, and Medium. Her first book, Blind Spots: Why Students Fail and the Science That Can Save Them, was released in October of 2020.
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee is joined by Dr. Trina Spencer, a leading researcher in language and literacy and the co-developer of Story Champs. They dive deep into why oral language is the true, widely misunderstood foundation of reading comprehension. Dr. Spencer challenges the status quo of literacy instruction by unpacking why we absolutely shouldn't wait for skilled decoding before teaching comprehension.
Tune in as they explore:
Why the idea that academic language develops naturally is a damaging myth.
Why some students struggle despite strong phonics teaching
How just 30 minutes of explicit spoken language instruction daily can close the achievement gap.
Why expecting teachers to act as instructional designers is an unfair burden.
If you are looking for practical, evidence-based ways to boost your students' language skills without adding impossible workloads, this conversation is a must-listen.
Resources mentioned:
Story Champs
trinaspencer.com/
CUBED
DYMOND
MAP (Measuring Academic Progress)
Spencer, T. D. (2021). Ten instructional design efforts to help behavior analysts take up the torch of direct instruction. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14(3), 816-830.
Pamela Snow, Why the Big Six should actually be the Big Five.
Doug Peterson
You can connect with:
Twitter/X: @TrinaDSpencer2
Facebook
Instagram: @trinastoolbox/
Linkedin
Website: https://trinaspencer.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Fluency is often treated as a small piece of mathematics learning, but in reality, it may be one of the most important and overlooked foundations for long term success.
In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Brian Poncy, Professor at Oklahoma State University and the creator of Facts on Fire, a highly regarded program designed to build maths fact fluency through short, structured, and evidence informed daily practice.
Brian challenges the common resistance to timed practice, arguing that fluency—defined strictly as accuracy plus speed—is the bridge that frees up working memory for higher-order problem solving.
Listeners will discover why timed practice only works when students are placed at the right starting point, how small sets and careful sequencing can dramatically improve motivation and success, and what schools can do to implement fluency routines effectively in just a few minutes a day.
The episode also explores the powerful concept of contingency adduction, where mastering component skills can lead students to solve complex problems they have never been explicitly taught.
A practical and thought provoking conversation for any educator serious about improving mathematics outcomes.
Catch Dr. Brian Poncy in Australia:
Tickets can be purchased here:
Perth: https://www.trybooking.com/DHYZM
Adelaide: https://www.trybooking.com/DHZSU
Melbourne: https://www.trybooking.com/DIABM
Sydney: https://www.trybooking.com/DHYZG
Resources mentioned:
M.I.N.D. 2.0 - FACTS ON FIRE
Chalk and Talk podcast (Anna Stokke)
Morningside Academy
PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports)
Rocket Math
Times Tables Rock Stars
Engineering the “Aha!”: When Discovery Learning Actually Works
You can connect with Brian:
Twitter/X: @brian_poncy
Website: M.I.N.D. 2.0 - FACTS ON FIRE
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Implementing Effective Primary Maths Instruction
For School Leaders
This is a two day online course for school and middle leaders and it is all about implementation. We look closely at curriculum and lesson design, assessment, coaching and the systems that help teachers change practice in a sustainable way.
Register here
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Sunday Feb 08, 2026
Have you ever taught a "perfect" lesson where every student got the answer right, only to find they remembered absolutely nothing the next day? In this episode, education author David Didau joins me to reveal why what looks like learning is often just a "performance"—and how our best intentions might be fueling the illusion.
We dig into five common teaching habits you need to stop immediately, including why "Sat Nav teaching" is creating dependency rather than independence and why the popular idea of "productive struggle" might actually be setting your students up to fail. David challenges deep-seated beliefs about practice, compliance, and memory, offering a provocative look at what it really takes to make learning stick.
Resources mentioned:
Books
David Didau – What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong?
David Didau – Intelligent Accountability
Websites & Tools
Carousel Learning
People
Robert Bjork
Adam Boxer
Carl Hendrick
Christina Milos
You can connect with David:
Twitter/X: @DavidDidau
Linkedin
Substack: https://daviddidau.substack.com/
Website: https://learningspy.co.uk/
David Didau Events:
Canberra - Thursday 12th March - https://events.humanitix.com/david-didau-full-day-event
Melbourne - Thursday 19th March - https://events.humanitix.com/coach-to-5k-writing-workshop-with-david-didau
About David Didau
David Didau is an educator, author, and professional learning leader known for his evidence-informed work on teaching, writing, and curriculum. He is the author of several highly regarded books including What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong? and The Secret of Literacy. David writes in his blog The Learning Spy, a widely read platform supporting educators to translate research into classroom practice.
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
The Primary Maths Instruction Framework
For teachers
This is a three day online course for teachers where we focus on how learning happens and how to design maths lessons that support acquisition, build fluency and help students generalise what they know.
Register here
Implementing Effective Primary Maths Instruction
For School Leaders
This is a two day online course for school and middle leaders and it is all about implementation. We look closely at curriculum and lesson design, assessment, coaching and the systems that help teachers change practice in a sustainable way.
Register here
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee is joined by Brad Gaynor, an Australian educator, leadership coach and former principal with decades of experience across schools and systems. Brad is also the author of the new book From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset.
The conversation centres on burnout in education and what sustainable teaching and leadership actually look like beyond surface level wellbeing advice. Drawing on Brad’s lived experience and research informed work, this episode explores why burnout is more than just feeling tired, how hidden emotional labour shapes the work of teachers and leaders, and why framing burnout as a resilience issue can miss the real problem.
Listeners will hear a practical framework for resetting habits and expectations, learn why boundaries are essential rather than optional, and gain insight into how clarity, systems, and culture can reduce cognitive and emotional load.
This is a thoughtful and practical conversation for educators who want to keep doing this work well, without burning themselves out in the process.
You can connect with Brad:
Twitter/X: @brad_coaching
Linkedin
Website: bradgaynor.com.au
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
The Primary Maths Instruction Framework
For teachers
This is a three day online course for teachers where we focus on how learning happens and how to design maths lessons that support acquisition, build fluency and help students generalise what they know.
Register here
Implementing Effective Primary Maths Instruction
For School Leaders
This is a two day online course for school and middle leaders and it is all about implementation. We look closely at curriculum and lesson design, assessment, coaching and the systems that help teachers change practice in a sustainable way.
Register here
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, host Brendan Lee speaks with Natalie Wexler, education writer and author of The Knowledge Gap, The Writing Revolution, and Beyond the Science of Reading. Together they explore what truly drives reading comprehension and why knowledge rich instruction is essential for every learner. Natalie unpacks the surprising limits of treating comprehension as a set of isolated skills, explains how background knowledge shapes understanding in powerful ways, and shows why writing can be one of the most effective tools for securing learning. Listeners will also hear how cognitive load theory connects to literacy and what strong knowledge building lessons look like in real classrooms. A practical and thought provoking conversation for teachers and leaders who want to strengthen literacy through the lens of research.
Resources mentioned:
The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler
The Writing Revolution by Judith Hochman and Natalie Wexler
Beyond the Science of Reading by Natalie Wexler
Why Don’t Students Like School by Daniel Willingham
You can connect with Natalie:
Twitter/X: @natwexler
Linkedin
Website: nataliewexler.com
Substack: http://nataliewexler.substack.com
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
The Primary Maths Instruction Framework
For teachers
This is a three day online course for teachers where we focus on how learning happens and how to design maths lessons that support acquisition, build fluency and help students generalise what they know.
Register here
Implementing Effective Primary Maths Instruction
For School Leaders
This is a two day online course for school and middle leaders and it is all about implementation. We look closely at curriculum and lesson design, assessment, coaching and the systems that help teachers change practice in a sustainable way.
Register here
Saturday Nov 15, 2025
Saturday Nov 15, 2025
In this episode, Brendan sits down with Ingrid Sealey, founder of Teach Well, to explore the hidden nuance behind great teaching. Drawing on her work with thousands of teachers across Australia, Ingrid shares what she has learned about the small deliberate practices that make a real difference for students.
They unpack why clarity matters more than complexity, how spaced practice can shift long-term learning, and why full participation is not about getting every student to join in but about getting every student to think. Ingrid also explains why explicit instruction is not a script but a way to support better decision making in the classroom.
The conversation also dives into her new bookTeach Well’s Instruction & Coaching Companion, which captures the core practices and insights that have shaped Teach Well’s approach. Ingrid reflects on how the book came together and how teachers can use it to make practical confident changes in their everyday work.
They also discuss how professional learning can move beyond one off workshops and become something that genuinely changes practice. Ingrid offers insights from Teach Well’s long-term partnerships and shares examples of what happens when teachers work on small tweaks over time.
This is a thoughtful and practical episode for anyone who wants to refine their craft and understand what really drives effective teaching. If you are looking for ideas you can take straight back to your classroom or leadership team, this one is full of them.
Resources mentioned:
Teach Well’s Instruction & Coaching Companion
Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction – Barak Rosenshine
Why Don’t Students Like School – Daniel Willingham
Dylan Wiliam – formative assessment and full participation strategies
Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) – John Hollingsworth and Silvia Ybarra
You can connect with Ingrid:
Linkedin
Twiiter/X: @TeachWellAus
Teach Well Website: teach-well.au
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Evidence in Action: The Primary Maths Partnership
A long-term professional learning partnership built around what actually works.
This 24 month program provides schools with 20+ hours of structured professional learning grounded in the science of learning spaced out over time — including explicit instruction, daily reviews, fluency-building, and problem-solving.
We work together to create a practical, sustainable implementation plan — so what you learn becomes what you do.Optional Add-ons:✓ Lesson modelling✓ Leadership implementation sessions✓ Coaching and feedback cycles✓ Ongoing Q&A or online check-ins
Learn more > brendan@learnwithlee.net
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Sarah Asome, principal of Bentleigh West Primary School and award-winning educator known for her leadership in evidence-based practice. Together, they unpack what Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) really looks like in action beyond buzzwords and flowcharts. Sarah shares how her school aligns Tier 1 teaching, intervention and extension to ensure every student thrives, not just those who struggle. Listeners will hear how Bentleigh West’s team uses data to drive decisions, keeps variance low across classrooms, and extends students at the top through what Sarah calls a “diamond model” of support. This episode offers a practical, whole-school view of MTSS, one grounded in strong leadership, clear systems, and a belief that consistency creates equity.
Resources mentioned:
DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills)
Spelling Mastery
The Writing Revolution (Judith Hochman & Natalie Wexler)
Letters Course (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling – LETRS)
Story Champs
Reading Doctor Program (Flinders University)
Times Tables Rock Stars
New Wave Mental Maths
Core Knowledge Curriculum
Response to Intervention (RTI) Diamond model
Anita Archer – Explicit Instruction
Endowment Foundation research (Education Endowment Foundation, on education support and learned helplessness)
Victorian Lesson Plans
You can connect with Sarah:
Twitter/X: @SarahAsome
Linkedin: @sarah-asome
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About Sarah Asome
Sarah Asome is a highly experienced educator and the current Principal at Bentleigh West Primary School. She has also worked in the UK and Singapore. Sarah has been instrumental leading the change at BWPS but also been able to support many colleagues State, Nationwide and in New Zealand to implement evidence-based literacy instruction in their schools. This has led to a significant increase in literacy and numeracy levels which now places BWPS as a high performing school. Recently, Sarah was part of the team working on ten Victorian Lesson Plans for Primary English including text units, spelling and grammar and punctuation.
In 2015, Sarah was awarded ‘Outstanding Primary Teacher’ in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards. She has appeared in “Outside the Square ‘a DVD resource for teachers and in 2017 was featured on SBS Insight – ‘A Teacher Who Changed My Life’. Sarah has completed numerous courses including Louisa Moat’s LETRS training, Dyslexia Action (UK) and is a Certified Dyslexia, Reading and Orton-Gillingham specialist and trainer for Australia (OGI international inc). Recently, Sarah completed her Masters in Instructional Leadership at Melbourne University.
In 2023, Bentleigh West Primary School won the Victorian Education Excellence Award (VEEA) for ‘Outstanding Inclusion Education’.
Evidence in Action: The Primary Maths Partnership
A long-term professional learning partnership built around what actually works.
This 24 month program provides schools with 20+ hours of structured professional learning grounded in the science of learning spaced out over time — including explicit instruction, daily reviews, fluency-building, and problem-solving.
We work together to create a practical, sustainable implementation plan — so what you learn becomes what you do.Optional Add-ons:✓ Lesson modelling✓ Leadership implementation sessions✓ Coaching and feedback cycles✓ Ongoing Q&A or online check-ins
Learn more > brendan@learnwithlee.net
Sunday Oct 05, 2025
Sunday Oct 05, 2025
What if forgetting wasn’t failure, but actually part of the learning process?
In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee sits down with bestselling author and educator Kate Jones to explore what retrieval practice really looks like in the classroom. Kate shares practical strategies for making retrieval a habit, clears up common misconceptions, and shows how small tweaks — from scaffolding questions to giving feedback that sticks — can transform learning.
Along the way, you’ll hear stories from Kate’s own teaching journey, insights from research and creative ideas teachers can use right away. Whether you’re just starting out with retrieval or looking to deepen your practice, this episode will leave you with simple, sustainable ways to help knowledge stick and build your students’ confidence.
Resources mentioned:
Why Students Don’t Like School — Daniel Willingham
Love to Teach — Kate Jones
Retrieval Practice series (multiple books) — Kate Jones
Retrieval Practice: Myths, Mutations and Mistakes (free ebook, Evidence Based Education) — Kate Jones
Flashcards ebook (Evidence Based Education) — Kate Jones
ResearchEd Guide to Cognitive Science (Kate wrote chapters on retrieval and spacing; Jonathan Firth on interleaving)
Dunlosky (2013) - Strengthening the Student Toolbox
Retrievalpractice.org (Pooja Agarwal’s meta-analysis of classroom studies)
Carousel Learning (Adam Boxer)
TES (retrieval templates)
You can connect with:
Twitter/X: @KateJones_teach
Email: katesofiajones@gmail.com
Website: https://www.katejoneseducation.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
enuine research from marketing spin, why fluency is about much more than speed, and the dangers of relying on “engagement” as a proxy for learning. Anna also highlights simple, practical strategies—like cover-copy-compare and spaced retrieval—that help students build the confidence they need to tackle more complex maths.
If you’ve ever wondered how to cut through the noise and focus on what truly improves student outcomes, this conversation is packed with insights you can take straight back to your classroom.
Resources mentioned:
Wise Math (advocacy group)
Archimedes Math School
JUMP Math (Canadian maths program)
Singapore Primary Math Program
ResearchEd (conference, where Anna presented)
Chalk and Talk (Anna Stokke’s podcast)
You can connect with Anna:
Twitter/X: @rastokke
Linkedin
Website: https://www.annastokke.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About
Dr. Anna Stokke is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Winnipeg. She is a recipient of a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, which is Canada's most prestigious award for teaching excellence and educational leadership at the post-secondary level. She is co-founder and President of the non-profit organization Archimedes Math Schools, which delivers after-school math classes for children. She hosts the popular math education podcast Chalk & Talk, where she discusses evidence-informed math teaching with leading education experts.
2025 Australian School Improvement Summit
The 2025 Australian School Improvement Summit is coming to Sydney on Wednesday 29 October — a one-day event bringing together system leaders, researchers, principals, and expert practitioners to focus on what works in schools, and how to make it happen at scale.
Hear from leading voices like Natalie Wexler (The Knowledge Gap), curriculum expert Dr Ben Jensen, and school leaders Lisa Holt (Rosebud Secondary College), Manisha Gazula (Marsden Road Public School), and Dr Greg Ashman (Ballarat Clarendon College).
If you’re a school leader or educator committed to improving outcomes for every student — and believe in doing fewer things, better — this is an event not to miss.
Special offer for listeners: 20% off full-price tickets with code LearnWithLee.Check out the full program and register here: https://shorturl.at/Ku9v4
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, I sit down with Dr. Anna Stokke—mathematician, professor, and host of the Chalk and Talk podcast—to unpack what really works in maths education. Anna shares her journey from academic research to advocacy, and why she’s become such a strong voice for evidence-informed teaching.
We explore how to separate genuine research from marketing spin, why fluency is about much more than speed, and the dangers of relying on “engagement” as a proxy for learning. Anna also highlights simple, practical strategies—like cover-copy-compare and spaced retrieval—that help students build the confidence they need to tackle more complex maths.
If you’ve ever wondered how to cut through the noise and focus on what truly improves student outcomes, this conversation is packed with insights you can take straight back to your classroom.
Resources mentioned:
Wise Math (advocacy group)
Archimedes Math School
JUMP Math (Canadian maths program)
Singapore Primary Math Program
ResearchEd (conference, where Anna presented)
Chalk and Talk (Anna Stokke’s podcast)
You can connect with Anna:
Twitter/X: @rastokke
Linkedin
Website: https://www.annastokke.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About
Dr. Anna Stokke is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Winnipeg. She is a recipient of a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, which is Canada's most prestigious award for teaching excellence and educational leadership at the post-secondary level. She is co-founder and President of the non-profit organization Archimedes Math Schools, which delivers after-school math classes for children. She hosts the popular math education podcast Chalk & Talk, where she discusses evidence-informed math teaching with leading education experts.
2025 Australian School Improvement Summit
The 2025 Australian School Improvement Summit is coming to Sydney on Wednesday 29 October — a one-day event bringing together system leaders, researchers, principals, and expert practitioners to focus on what works in schools, and how to make it happen at scale.
Hear from leading voices like Natalie Wexler (The Knowledge Gap), curriculum expert Dr Ben Jensen, and school leaders Lisa Holt (Rosebud Secondary College), Manisha Gazula (Marsden Road Public School), and Dr Greg Ashman (Ballarat Clarendon College).
If you’re a school leader or educator committed to improving outcomes for every student — and believe in doing fewer things, better — this is an event not to miss.
Special offer for listeners: 20% off full-price tickets with code LearnWithLee.Check out the full program and register here: https://shorturl.at/Ku9v4