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
Sunday Jan 12, 2025
Sunday Jan 12, 2025
In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Nick Hart takes us on an inspiring journey from his beginnings in sports science to becoming a school leader in Dubai. A respected voice in educational leadership, Nick shares insights from his blog and books, delving into the evolution of his leadership style. He discusses the critical role of context in decision-making, introduces the concept of the school year’s rhythm for structured improvement and highlights the importance of trust in fostering strong school communities. Tune in for practical advice and thought-provoking ideas on navigating the complexities of educational leadership.
Resources mentioned:
Nick Hart’s books:
Creating a strong culture and a positive climate in schools
Impact: a five part framework for making a difference in schools
Nick Hart’s blog posts discussed in this episode:
Leadership handbook 5.0
School improvement: Rhythm of the year
Culture setting | More than words
A model for school improvement
Vivianne Robinson
Mary Kennedy
Dr. Neil Gilbride
Bryk and Schneider
Ambition Institute - The persistent problems of school leadership
AERO
You can connect with Nick:
Twitter: @MrNickHart
Linkedin
Website: mrnickhart.wordpress.com
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
A Systematic and Structured Approach to Teaching Primary Mathematics - 10 hr Online (Live) Course
While there’s been strong momentum for the science of reading, what about maths?
In this course, I will explore what the research reveals about effective maths instruction, highlighting the importance of aligning teaching with how learning happens. Across these sessions, I will go beyond summarising research and delve into practical implications, showing teachers how to bring these concepts to life in the classroom. Highly interactive, the sessions will offer plenty of opportunities for teachers to engage, practice, and respond.
More info
https://www.learnwithlee.net/a-systematic-and-structured-approach-to-teaching-primary-mathematics/
10% off Discount code: MATESRATES
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Zach Groshell for the third of their trilogy of conversations together. In their first episode, they unpacked the nuances of teaching effectively. In the second one, they spoke about coaching, culture and change. In today’s podcast, you will hear them discuss the complex world of school leadership! They explore the key elements that contribute to a positive and productive school culture. From going beyond superficial evaluation methods to building a diverse team that leverages everyone's strengths, they cover a range of important topics that will help school leaders create a thriving learning environment for both students and teachers.
Zach’s four points were:
Leaders need to start minimizing evaluations and start maximizing teacher performance
Leaders should view behavior as a system that involves everyone, including them
Leaders don’t have to be the best teachers on earth, but they do have to know something about instruction
Leaders should move away from one-off PD as the primary means of teacher training.
Brendan’s 4 points were:
Leaders need to have their fingers on the pulse
Clear Communication is key
Leaders need to build a diverse team
Good leaders don't care about who is right or wrong
Resources mentioned:
Zach’s newly released book: Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching
Viviane Robinson - Reduce change to increase improvement
Daniel Kahnemann - Thinking, Fast and Slow
Progressively Incorrect S4E10: Nathaniel Swain, Steven Capp, and Katie Roberts-Hull on Harnessing the Science of Learning
You can connect with Zach:
Twitter: @mrzachg
Podcast: Progressively Incorrect
Website: educationrickshaw.com
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
A Systematic and Structured Approach to Teaching Primary Mathematics - 10 hr Online (Live) Course
While there’s been strong momentum for the science of reading, what about maths?
In this course, I will explore what the research reveals about effective maths instruction, highlighting the importance of aligning teaching with how learning happens. Across these sessions, I will go beyond summarising research and delve into practical implications, showing teachers how to bring these concepts to life in the classroom. Highly interactive, the sessions will offer plenty of opportunities for teachers to engage, practice, and respond.
More info
https://www.learnwithlee.net/a-systematic-and-structured-approach-to-teaching-primary-mathematics/
10% off Discount code: MATESRATES
Saturday Nov 30, 2024
Saturday Nov 30, 2024
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Leslie Laud. She is the founding Director of ThinkSRSD, a writing program built upon Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD). The discussion covers ThinkSRSD's key strategies, including mnemonics and how to apply them across different grade levels and writing genres. Furthermore, Dr. Laud addresses implementation challenges and provides advice for teachers, emphasising a gradual release of responsibility, the significance of teacher collaboration and the need for professional development that respects teachers' unique contexts.
Resources mentioned:
thinksrsd.com
Facebook Group: think SRSD "Self-Regulated Strategy Development": Releasing Writers
Facebook Group: ThinkSRSD New Zealand and Australia
SRSD
Charles Haynes from Talking to Writing
Judith Hochman
Writing Revolution
Karen Harris
Steve Graham
Amy Thomas
Pooja Patel
Nate Hanford, Leslie Laud, and Elizabeth Rinstra: ThinkSRSD A Secondary Analysis Cohort Investigation
Carol Sue Engler
Linda Mason
Linda Darling Hammond and Anne Lieberman
Dr. Charles Haynes
Dr. Kay Wijekumar
Gemma Maddocks - GEM Literacy
You can connect with Leslie:
Twitter: @LeslieLaud
Bluesky: @leslielaud.bsky.social
Linkedin
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Bluesky: @learnwithmrlee.bsky.social
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Register for my upcoming course: A Systematic and Structured Approach to Teaching Primary Mathematics
Use the code: MATESRATES for a 10% discount.
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He returns for the third time and this time it’s to unpack his new book Harnessing the Science of Learning. However, as you will hear, they actually go beyond the book and dig into some of the critical considerations that schools and teachers need to be making. They explore how to make teaching and learning the top priority in your school, reclaiming valuable instructional time often lost to distractions. They also unpack the essential elements of effective literacy and numeracy instruction, going beyond the surface level to understand the importance of a knowledge-rich curriculum, explicit teaching techniques, and structured implementation processes.
They look at why teaching should be “Fun in the service of learning, not in spite of Learning” and some of the common barriers that school leaders face when initiating change.
Resources mentioned:
Think Forward Educators
Bentleigh West PS
Riverwood PS
Churchill PS
Challis Community PS
Steve Capp
Lyn Stone
David Morkunas
Core Knowledge Foundation
Toni Hattan-Roberts
Doug Lemov
Tom Sherrington
Dr. Zach Groshell
Dr. Simon Breakspear
Katie Roberts-Hull
Helen Hughes
You can connect with Nathaniel:
Twitter: @NathanielRSwain
Facebook
Linkedin
Order Nathaniel's book, "Harnessing the Science of Learning"
Website: www.nathanielswain.com
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
This is the second conversation between Dr. Zach Groshell and Brendan Lee. For those that don’t know, Zach is the host of the Progressively Incorrect Podcast and also the author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching. In this episode, they take a deep dive into some of the key considerations that schools need to take when it comes to instructional coaching.
For this episode, Zach’s four items were:
Schools need an instructional focus for coaching to be successful.
Coaching is not only about teaching techniques, but also about fostering teacher judgement.
Relationships with teachers should not overshadow the goal of coaching
Coaching cycles and drop ins don’t need to take all that long
Brendan’s four points were:
Coaches need to shrink the change
Coaching should feel like a development process, rather than a judgemental one
Participants need to own the problem
Get granular with goal setting
Resources mentioned:
Steplab
Josh Goodrich - Responsive Coaching
Teach Like a Champion
Peps Mccrea
Jim Knight
Tom Sherrington and Oliver Caviglioli - Teaching Walkthrus
You can connect with Zach:
Twitter: @mrzachg
Podcast: Progressively Incorrect
Website: educationrickshaw.com
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Implementing the Science of Learning - For School Leaders
10% off Discount code: MATESRATES
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Sunday Oct 13, 2024
Sunday Oct 13, 2024
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Nancy Jordan. She has been at the forefront of all things to do with early numeracy research including looking at screeners and intervention. Many of you come from the science of reading world and are fans of Scarborough’s Reading Rope, Nancy and colleagues have put together a Number Sense one! I’ve popped the citation in the show notes.
Throughout this conversation she delves into what number sense is, why it’s important, how we can develop it and how to assess it. Nancy also covers the role of manipulatives and the transition to understanding fractions.
Resources mentioned:
SENS: Screener for Early Number Sense
Number Sense Interventions
Jordan, N. C., Devlin, B. L., & Botello, M. (2022). Core foundations of early mathematics: refining the number sense framework. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 46, 101181.
ICME
Ginsburg, Greenes, & Balfanz - Big Math for Little Kids
Bob Siegler
Nora Newcomb
Chelsea Cutting.
What Works Clearinghouse
You can connect with Nancy:
Twitter: @Dr_nancyjordan
Email: njordan@udel.edu
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/udel.edu/nancy-jordan/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Rhonda Filmer, a gifted education consultant and teacher, she discusses her journey into the field and the importance of understanding neurodiversity and twice exceptional students. She has recently released a book, “Neurodiversity and the Twice-Exceptional Student” and they delve into some of the key points from the book throughout the episode.
Resources mentioned:
Center on the Developing Child - Harvard University
Tom Bennett
Michelle Ronksley-Pavia
Gifted Education Resource Center at New South Wales University
Miraca Gross
SPELD NSW
You can connect with Rhonda:
Linkedin
Book: Neurodiversity and the Twice-Exceptional Student
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
Sunday Sep 15, 2024
Sunday Sep 15, 2024
In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee and Dr. Zach Groshell (Host of the Progressively Incorrect podcast) collaborated in the first of a series of episodes together. The theme for this episode was around what are the main principles that teachers need to understand about how learning happens and what are the key mechanisms of effective instruction.
Zach’s 4 points were:
Intrinsic motivation is a lofty goal but can't be depended upon.
Use generative learning strategies after building prior knowledge - and without the help of AI.
The environment is not the "Third Teacher" but it can be designed optimally.
We might underestimate how much students appreciate receiving feedback.
Brendan’s 4 points were:
The instructional hierarchy is the single most important thing for teachers to know
Desirable difficulties optimises learning
Attaining and retaining attention is easier said than done
Designing learning is more than just sequencing concepts in small steps
Resources mentioned:
Haring and Eaton’s Instructional Hierarchy
Bjork and Bjork’s Desirable Difficulties
Fiorella and Mayer - Eight Ways to Promote Generative Learning
Stanislas Dehaene - How we learn
Daniel Willingham - Why don’t students like school
Amanda VanDerHeyden
Dylan Wiliam
You can connect with Zach:
Twitter: @mrzachg
Podcast: Progressively Incorrect
Website: educationrickshaw.com
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
* This was originally published on 15 Sep 2024 with poor sound quality, it was re-published on 20 Sep 2024 with improved sound quality! Hope you enjoy the episode!
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Charlotte Peverett, an experienced learning specialist and inclusion outreach coach, who shares her journey into teaching and special education. Charlotte discusses the significance of structures and routines in creating a safe and consistent learning environment. Charlotte also emphasises the importance of high expectations for all students and the role of teachers in preparing them for adulthood and functioning in society. In this conversation, Charlotte and Brendan discuss the importance of positive reinforcement and effective implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in schools. They also speak the role of leadership in planning and using data to drive improvement.
Resources mentioned:
Tom Bennett
La Trobe University - SOLAR Lab
Sherrington & Caviglioli - Teaching WalkthrusYou can listen to Tom speak about this on episode 5 of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast
Christopher Such - The Art and Science of Teaching Primary ReadingYou can listen to Chris speak about this on episode 17 of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast
Rosenshine’s Principles
You can connect with Charlotte:
Twitter: @lifeoflottie
Facebook: Science of Learning - Special Education Australia
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About Charlotte Peverett
Charlotte is an autistic, special education Learning Specialist/Inclusion Outreach Coach in South-West Victoria. Her specialty is literacy and language intervention with a passion to introduce research and evidence-based practices into mainstream and specialist settings. Charlotte has her Master of Education (LIHI) and is a postgraduate research student with the Latrobe University SOLAR Lab and is an Honorary Affiliate member of the Institute of Special Education (InSpEd). Charlotte has presented at numerous conferences and works with schools to change systems and practices to ensure all students are reaching their full potential.
Sunday Aug 18, 2024
Sunday Aug 18, 2024
In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Jonathan Sharples from the Education Endowment Foundation. He has led the recent update to the EEF’s A School’s Guide to Implementation and in this conversation we unpack the paper. Professor Sharples details the updates and why they were made. He also digs into each of the key elements. As Jonathan highlights, how something is done is as important as what is done and throughout this episode, he provides a number of practical strategies that schools can follow.
Resources mentioned:
Education Endowment Foundation: A School’s Guide to Implementation - https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/implementation
Making Best Use of Teaching Assistants - https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/teaching-assistants
Darren Moore
Martin Weswell
Research Core Network
Active Implementation Hub
National Implementation Research Network
Robin Mildon
Centre for Evidence and Implementation
You can connect with Jonathan:
Twitter: @Sharples_J
Website: educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast