Knowledge for Teachers

S02E11 - Emina McLean on the challenges of research translation in literacy

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Emina McLean. Emina works with systems, schools, leaders, and teachers to develop ambitious and rigorous assessment, curriculum and instruction practices in English and literacy. In this chat, Emina discusses her focus on implementing effective systems and practices for teaching reading and writing. She highlights the importance of aligning curriculum, assessment, and instruction, and the need for a well-sequenced and comprehensive curriculum. Emina also unpacks the challenges of implementing evidence-based practice in schools, including the overwhelming number of competing priorities. 
Resources mentioned:
A Single Shard - Linda Sue Park
Ochre Education
EEF - Implementation Guide
 
You can connect with Emina:
Twitter: @EminaMcLean
Linkedin
Email: emina.mclean@gmail.com 
 
 
Website: www.eminamclean.com/
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

S02E10 - Bron Ryrie Jones on Responsive Teaching and Instructional Playbooks

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Bronwyn Ryrie Jones, an instructional coach who supports teachers and instructional leaders to develop their expertise. She discusses the importance of responsive teaching and shares techniques to effectively check for understanding in the classroom. She emphasises the need for teachers to have a deep understanding of the principles behind responsive teaching before implementing specific techniques. 
 
Bron also explains the concept of instructional playbooks and how they can be useful for schools. She unpacks the potential dangers and how to avoid these pitfalls. 
 
Resources mentioned:
Jim Knight, Ann Hoffman and Michelle Harris - Instructional Playbook
West Beechborough PS
Brad Nguyen
Tom Sherrington and Oliver Caviglioli - Teaching Walkthrus
Dylan Wiliam and Siobhan Leahy - Embedding Formative Assessment
Harry Fletcher-Wood - Responsive Teaching
Atul Gawande - The Checklist Manifesto
You can connect with Bronwyn:
Twitter: @BronRyrieJones
Linkedin: @bronwyn-ryrie-jones/
Website: bronwynryriejones.com
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

S02E09 - Trisha Jha on teacher experiences in implementing the science of learning

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Trisha Jha who currently works with the Centre for Independent Studies and recently released a couple of reports titled: What is the Science of Learning? And Implementing the Science of Learning: Teacher experiences. Trisha unpacks these papers and discusses her journey into education research and the importance of focusing on what happens in the classroom. Throughout the conversation Trisha defines what the science of learning is and the difficulty in making cognitive science common knowledge. 
 
The conversation also explores the challenges and misconceptions surrounding explicit instruction and how teachers engage with the science of learning. We also delve into what schools and systems can do to support effective implementation. 
 
Resources mentioned:
What is the Science of Learning? https://www.cis.org.au/publication/what-is-the-science-of-learning/
Implementing the Science of Learning: Teacher experiences https://www.cis.org.au/publication/implementing-the-science-of-learning-teacher-experiences/
Greg Ashman
Jennifer Buckingham
Five from Five
Why Jaydon Can’t Read: A Forum on Fixing Literacy
Kevin Knight
Education Endowment Foundation
24 – Jessica Del Rio on solving illiteracy in Australia
Daniel Willingham: Why don’t students like school
Hollingsworth and Ybarra: Explicit Direct Instruction
Daisy Christodoulou: 7 Myths about Education
E.D. Hirsch: Why knowledge matters
David Diddau and Nick Rose: What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Psychology
Zac Groshell: Progressively Incorrect
Anna Stokke: Chalk and Talk
Ollie Lovell: ERRR Podcast
You can connect with:
Twitter: @themetresgained
Linkedin: Trisha Jha
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About Trisha Jha
Trisha Jha is a Research Fellow in the Education program, working on projects relating to the science of learning, improvement of initial teacher education and overall school quality.
Prior to rejoining CIS, Trisha had roles as a secondary teacher, including through the Teach for Australia program, in state and independent schools in regional Victoria. She has also worked as a senior policy adviser to opposition leaders in Victoria. She holds a Masters of Teaching with a specialisation in Research from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Australian National University.
 

S02E08 - Dr. Mark Dowley on Managing Behaviour and Maximising Learning

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Mark Dowley (Associate Head – Staff Development at the Crowther Centre for Applied Educational Research) who has recently released the book, “The Classroom Management Handbook” that he co-authored with Ollie Lovell. In this chat, they unpack the book and how it’s what Mark and Ollie wish they had when they started teaching. They also discuss ten important principles for classroom management, including the idea that behavior is a curriculum and the importance of mastering one's own behavior to influence others. The conversation also explores the use of scripts and tools to support effective behavior management.
Resources mentioned:
https://classroommanagementhandbook.com/
Bill Rogers - Know the fair rules
Mastery Schools Australia
Marsden Road PS
Tom Bennett
Michael Fullan - Six Secrets of Change
  
You can connect with Mark:
Twitter: @coachdowley
Linkedin
Website: classroommanagementhandbook.com
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

S02E07 - Rebecca Birch On Improving Australian Education

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Rebecca Birch, a teacher of English and the Director of Research and Practice at a top 50 independent school in Sydney, Australia. She shares her journey from a career in fashion and advertising to becoming an English teacher. Rebecca emphasises the importance of evidence-based practice and the need for teachers to be sceptical and critical of educational trends. She also highlights the challenges of implementing explicit instruction and the need for standardised teacher preparation programs. Rebecca calls for a clear hierarchy of importance within teacher standards and the role of teacher preparation in reinforcing those standards. The conversation also touches on strategies for schools to drive improvement without waiting for systemic changes.
Resources mentioned:
Reimagining Teacher Professionalism. Why standards must be part of ITE reform
Knowledge Society - Elena Douglas
Trisha Jha
What is the Science of Learning? https://www.cis.org.au/publication/what-is-the-science-of-learning/
Implementing the Science of Learning: Teacher experiences https://www.cis.org.au/publication/implementing-the-science-of-learning-teacher-experiences/
Strong Beginnings: Report of the Teacher Education Expert Panel
Andrew Martin
Kate Jones
ResearchEd
Alex Quigley: https://www.theconfidentteacher.com/
Anita Archer
Hollingsworth and Ybarra - Explicit Direct Instruction
You can connect with Rebecca:
Twitter: @msrebeccabirch
Linkedin: @rebeccabirch
Website: https://rebeccabirch.au/
Substack: https://rebeccabirch.substack.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About Rebecca Birch
Rebecca Birch is a teacher of English and the Director of Research and Practice at a top 50 independent school in Sydney, Australia. She worked as a learning support officer in diverse settings while she undertook her teacher training after a successful career in advertising and fashion.
Rebecca has provided consultation and content services for Ochre Education and Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn, and has appeared on panels for ResearchED and the Gonski Institute for Education. Her current research interest is the link between explicit instruction and student wellbeing. She writes for publication and through her newsletter (rebeccabirch.substack.com/).

S02E06 - Tom Bennett On Running The Room

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Tom Bennett, the Director and founder of researchED and school behaviour advisor to the UK government. He shares his journey from running nightclubs to becoming an influential figure in the education sector and we find out how teaching saved him. Bennett delves into the challenges he faced as a teacher, how he got into writing about behaviour, and his eventual role as the UK's Department for Education School Behavior Advisor. He highlights the integral role of setting clear behavioural expectations and embedding routines in creating a conducive learning environment. Tom also discusses the creation and implementation of a behaviour curriculum and the origins of researchED. 
 
Resources mentioned:
Tom Bennett - Running the Room: The Teacher's Guide to Behaviour
Greg Ashman
Daisy Christodolou: Seven Myths about Education
Daniel T. Willingham: Why Don't Students Like School?
Bill Rogers
 
You can connect with Tom:
Twitter: @tombennett71
Website: https://tombennetttraining.co.uk/
Substack: https://bennettt.substack.com/
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

S02E05 - Sarah Powell On Effective Word Problem Instruction

In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, Brendan Lee speaks with Sarah Powell. Sarah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Texas at Austin. She has pretty much dedicated her whole career to researching word problems in maths. She has also contributed to a couple of papers that have recently been released for the Centre for Independent Studies and we touch on those as well. 
 
However, the main focus is Word Problems and we go through everything from Attack Strategies, to the dangers of using keywords and delve into the world of schema instruction. If you care about helping your students improve their ability to solve word problems, then this episode is for you. 
Resources mentioned:
Lynn Fuchs
Sarah Powell , Elizabeth M. Hughes, Corey Peltier: Myths That Undermine Maths Teaching
Sarah Powell , Sarah King , Sarah Benz: Maths Practices You Can Count On: Five Research-Validated Practices in Mathematics
https://www.piratemathequationquest.com/
Powell, S. R., Namkung, J. M., & Lin, X. (2022). An investigation of using keywords to solve word problems. The Elementary School Journal, 122(3), 452-473.
Powell, S. R., & Fuchs, L. S. (2018). Effective word-problem instruction: Using schemas to facilitate mathematical reasoning. Teaching exceptional children, 51(1), 31-42.
Free word-problem intervention is here: https://www.piratemathequationquest.com/
Here's a free math intervention course Sarah developed: https://intensiveintervention.org/training/course-content/intensive-intervention-mathematics
And free teacher materials can be found here: https://mathspiral.com/
You can connect with Sarah:
Twitter: @sarahpowellphd
email: srpowell@utexas.edu
Website: http://www.sarahpowellphd.com/
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
 
About Associate Professor Sarah Powell
Sarah R. Powell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests include developing and testing interventions for students with mathematics difficulties, with a special emphasis on peer tutoring, word-problem solving, mathematics writing, and the symbols and vocabulary within mathematics.
She was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2019.

S02E04 - Dr. Nathaniel Swain On Developing Great Writing Skills

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He currently works at La Trobe University as a Senior Lecturer, Learning Sciences and Learner Engagement and the Director of Undergraduate Academic Programs. He is also the founder of Think Forward Educators. Nathaniel first appeared on the Knowledge for Teachers podcast in episode 20 and unpacked some of the FAQ about the science of learning. This time they delve into the messy world of teaching writing. He explains how writing is a complex skill and provides practical strategies for sequencing the teaching of grammar and integrating writing into the curriculum.
Resources mentioned:
Wexler and Hochman - The Writing Revolution
William Van Cleave - Writing Matters
Think Forward Educators
Ochre Education
La Trobe Short Courses:
Masterclass: Developing Great Writing Skills - Once off - 19 March 2024 (live or asynchronous): https://shortcourses.latrobe.edu.au/masterclass-developing-great-writing-skills
Improving Writing - The Science and Linguistics of Writing - Starting 16 April 2024 (live or asynchronous): https://shortcourses.latrobe.edu.au/improving-writing-the-science-and-linguistics-of-writing
The Science of Teaching Writing - Starting 4 June 2024 (live or asynchronous): https://shortcourses.latrobe.edu.au/the-science-of-teaching-writing
 
 
You can connect with:Nathaniel
Twitter: @NathanielRSwain
Facebook
Linkedin
Website: www.nathanielswain.com     
Order Nathaniel's book, "Harnessing the Science of Learning"
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

S02E03 - Dr. Jenny Donovan on accelerating the use of educational research in Australian classrooms

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Jenny Donovan, CEO of the Australian Education Research Organisation. Jenny has led some of the heaviest hitting bits of research in Australia. In her current role with AERO and previous one with NSW Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, Jenny has been behind the teams that brought cognitive load theory to prominence and highlighted the lack of evidence behind programs like Reading Recovery and Language Learning & Literacy or L3 as it is more commonly known.
 
Throughout this interview, she discusses her journey into education research and the importance of evidence-based practice. Jenny emphasises the importance of areas such as explicit instruction, classroom management, teacher training, standardised testing like NAPLAN, and accountability in educational practices. It also touches on controversial topics such as fads in education and how to spot and avoid them.
Resources mentioned:
AERO: Teaching for how students learn: A model of learning and teaching
AERO: Engaged classrooms through effective classroom management
NSW CESE: Cognitive load theory: Research that teachers really need to understand
NSW CESE: Reading Recovery: a sector-wide analysis
NSW CESE: Language, Learning & Literacy (L3) Review
Project Follow Through
You can connect with: Jenny 
Twitter: @JennyDonovan2
Linkedin
AERO
 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

S02E02 - James Dobson Decoding The Foundations Of Teaching Kindergarten

In this conversation, Brendan Lee speaks with James Dobson, an experienced teacher who has been expertly applying the art and science of learning when teaching students in their first year of school (Kindergarten/Prep/Reception/Foundation). He discusses the importance of evidence-based practice, the use of Direct Instruction programs, and the challenges and rewards of teaching young children. James shares insights on maintaining sanity in the classroom while balancing work and personal life. We also delve into James' weekly timetable, looking at phonemic awareness, phonics, handwriting, writing and mathematics. He really gets into the nitty-gritty of what his lessons look like day-to-day and how they progress throughout the year.
Resources mentioned:
Siegfried Engelmann
Story Champs
Heggerty’s phonemic awareness program
Little Learner’s Love Literacy
Core Knowledge
Ochre
Grammar Project
Number blocks
Direct Instruction Mathematics by Marcy Stein
Doug Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion
Shaping Minds
Christopher SUch’s The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading
Sharing Best Practice
ResearchEd
 
You can connect with James:
Twitter: @jdtdobson
Instagram: @mr_j_dobson
Website: layingthefoundations.weebly.com/ 
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About James Dobson
James Dobson is a Foundation teacher and Learning Specialist at Campbells Creek Primary School including Guildford Campus in central Victoria. James has worked with students from a diverse range of backgrounds in Victoria and the Northern Territory. During his time in the NT, he implemented a range of Direct Instruction programs and became an accredited DI trainer. He was a finalist for the Outstanding Primary Teacher award as a part of the 2022 Victorian Education Excellence Awards. James is passionate about ensuring that all students receive a quality education. This begins by laying a solid foundation. 
 
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: 
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast