Episodes

  • S03E11 - Know Thy Purpose: Jocelyn Seamer on Transforming 3–6 Literacy

    S03E11 - Know Thy Purpose: Jocelyn Seamer on Transforming 3–6 Literacy
    Jun 21 2025
    In this episode, I’m joined by Jocelyn Seamer—educational consultant, author, and leading voice in structured literacy—to unpack what effective literacy instruction really looks like in the upper primary years. We dive into how to move beyond levelled texts and strategy-heavy comprehension lessons, and instead build a literacy block grounded in rich texts, explicit instruction, and purposeful writing. Jocelyn shares practical advice on everything from planning with backward design, to teaching spelling through morphology, to managing cognitive load with the “stretchy band” analogy. Whether you’re trying to make sense of guided reading, support struggling readers, or link reading and writing more effectively, this episode is packed with clarity and actionable ideas. Key topics include: Replacing levelled texts with rich, age-appropriate readingDesigning integrated, text-based units that link reading and writingExplicit vocabulary and background knowledge instructionThe role of syntax, spelling, and morphology in building strong writersResponsive teaching and avoiding the “dress rehearsal” trap in assessments A must-listen for any Year 3–6 teacher ready to teach literacy with more clarity, purpose, and impact. Resources mentioned: Reading Reconsidered – Doug LemovFive Plagues of the Developing Reader – from Reading ReconsideredThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. LewisVelveteen Rabbit – Margery WilliamsRose Meets Mr. Wintergarten – Bob GrahamThe Lost Thing – Shaun TanBringing Words to Life – Beck, McKeown & KucanQuestioning the Author – Beck, McKeown & SandoraDIBELS and Acadience – normed reading screenersMotif – free assessmentsKenn Apel’s morphology assessmentsJared Cooney Horvath You can connect with Jocelyn: Linkedin Facebook: @JocelynSeamerEducation Youtube: @JocelynSeamerEducation Podcast: The Structured Literacy Podcast Website: www.jocelynseamereducation.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 Jocelyn Seamer is a former teacher, tutor and school leader who has experienced, first-hand, the transformative power of evidence-based practice in literacy instruction. She has led teams to grow and develop school policy and practice to reflect the vast body of evidence that makes up the Science of Reading. Through her own classroom practice and leadership roles in schools, Jocelyn has developed a strong understanding of how you can take simple, yet effective action to get every child on the road to literacy proficiency in the first years of school. Jocelyn feels a very personal responsibility to provide opportunities for classroom teachers to have access to the information and training they need to change children's lives and looks forward to helping you achieve great things in your teaching practice. Read more on Jocelyn Seamer Education. 🎯 Struggling to know whether to model again or move on? You’re not alone — and this course is for you. Effective Primary Maths Teaching is my live, two-day online course designed to help you stop second-guessing and start teaching with clarity and purpose. Across two highly practical days, I’ll walk you through: ✅ When and why to use explicit instruction, word problems, fluency tasks, and more ✅ How to align your teaching with student readiness ✅ The nuts and bolts of effective daily reviews, worked examples, and fluency practice ✅ A practical framework to help you teach responsively — not reactively Everything’s grounded in the science of learning, backed by real classroom examples, and designed so you can take action straight away. You’ll leave with a workbook, an action plan, and the confidence to use it all on Monday. 🗓️ Dates: Day 1 – Monday 4 August 2025 (9am–3pm AET) Day 2 – Monday 1 September 2025 (9am–3pm AET) 🖥️ Live online (with recordings) | 🧠 10 hours total | 💲 $299 Whether you’re a teacher wanting clarity or a leader building consistency, this is the course people tell me they wish they’d done years ago. ▶️ Register now: events.humanitix.com/effective-primary-maths-teaching The last one sold out — don’t miss out.
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • S03E10 - Grattan Institute’s Maths Guarantee Report with Amy Haywood & Nick Parkinson

    S03E10 - Grattan Institute’s Maths Guarantee Report with Amy Haywood & Nick Parkinson
    Jun 7 2025
    In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, I speak with Amy Haywood and Nick Parkinson, co-authors of the Grattan Institute’s Maths Guarantee report. We unpack what they describe as Australia’s “national problem” with maths underperformance — from the equity gaps to the urgent need for high-quality curriculum materials and teacher support. Amy and Nick share key findings from their research, including a national teacher survey and international case studies, as well as practical insights from some of Australia’s most effective schools. We dive deep into what explicit instruction really looks like, the power of fluency, and how the instructional hierarchy can help teachers better sequence their maths lessons. Whether you're a school leader, instructional coach, or passionate teacher, this conversation will leave you with clarity, evidence, and next steps to improve maths teaching in your school. Resources mentioned: The Maths Guarantee (Grattan Institute report)The Maths Guarantee: A guide for principals (Grattan Institute)Teach Like a Champion – Doug LemovTeaching Primary Mathematics – George BookerEddie WuCraig BartonOchre EducationPR1ME InternationalEAST materialsMaths OlympiadTimes Tables Rock StarsJames Dobson - From Research to Reality: A Primary Maths Resource Toolkit The schools they visited for case studies were: Wattle Grove Primary, a government school in suburban Perth Bentleigh West Primary, a government school in suburban Melbourne Ballarat Clarendon College, an independent school in regional Victoria St Bernard’s Primary, a Catholic school in Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast Charlestown South Public, a government school in Newcastle, NSW The Entrance Public, a government school on the NSW central coast Budgewoi Public, a government school also on the NSW central coast The final three schools are part of the Explicit and Systematic Teaching (EAST) network, a grassroots network which exists to champion explicit teaching in NSW government schools You can connect with Amy: Twitter/X: @Amy_L_Haywood You can connect with Nick: Twitter/X: @NickJParkinson You can connect with Brendan: Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net About Amy Haywood Amy Haywood is the Deputy Program Director of Grattan’s Education Program. Amy has a background as an educator and brings this practical experience to her work as an education policy researcher. She is the co-author of several Grattan reports, including Ending the lesson lottery: How to improve curriculum planning in schools, The Reading Guarantee: How to give every child the best chance of success, Spreading success: Why Australia should trial multi-school organisations, and The Maths Guarantee: How to boost students’ learning in primary schools. Amy taught English in secondary schools for five years. During this time, she presented at statewide teaching conferences and wrote several study guides for Macmillan Education. Before joining Grattan, Amy worked as a manager in Deloitte Access Economics’ Education Policy team, where she led schooling projects focused on system design, workforce reform, and teaching practice. Amy has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Teaching from the University of Melbourne. As part of her postgraduate degree, she studied international education policy while on exchange at the University of Oulo in Finland. She is a registered teacher. Nick Parkinson Nick is a Senior Associate in Grattan’s Education Program, where he has co-authored reports on whole-school curriculum, multi-school organisation, and primary maths. He also contributed to reports on catch-up tutoring and early reading. Through this research, Nick has conducted case studies of nearly 30 leading schools and analysed more than 5,000 teacher survey results. Nick holds a Master of Teaching from the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Before studying teaching, Nick completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Languages at the University of Melbourne. He is a 2022 Westpac Future Leader. Before joining Grattan, Nick worked as a consultant at Nous Group where he contributed to projects on school culture, student assessment, and occupational safety. Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast 🎯 Struggling to know whether to model again or move on? You’re not alone — and this course is for you. Effective Primary Maths Teaching is my live, two-day online course designed to help you stop second-guessing and start teaching with clarity and purpose. Across two highly practical days, I’ll walk you through: ✅ When and why to use explicit instruction, word problems, fluency tasks, and more ✅ How to align your teaching with student readiness ✅ The nuts and bolts of effective daily reviews, worked examples, and fluency practice ✅ A practical framework to help you teach responsively — not ...
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • S03E9 - Making sense of the science of reading with Mandy Nayton

    S03E9 - Making sense of the science of reading with Mandy Nayton
    May 24 2025

    In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee sits down with Mandy Nayton — CEO of the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation and president of AUSPELD — for a deep and timely conversation about how students really learn to read.

    Mandy draws on decades of experience to unpack what the science of reading actually is (and what it isn’t), why explicit instruction matters, and how effective intervention can change the trajectory for struggling students.

    They explore key frameworks like the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and the Cognitive Foundations Framework — and dig into DSF’s new Word Origins program, designed to transform how spelling is taught in Years 3–6 by building deep morphological and etymological knowledge.

    Whether you're just starting to explore structured literacy or you're leading change in your school, this conversation is packed with insight, clarity, and practical takeaways.

    🎧 Listen now and explore how teacher knowledge is the most powerful tool we have to improve literacy outcomes.

    Resources mentioned:

    Word Origins

    Literacy Frameworks & Models

    • Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer)
    • Scarborough’s Reading Rope
    • Cognitive Foundations Framework (Hoover & Tunmer)
    • Dehaene’s Four Pillars of Learning

    Instructional & Program Resources

    • DSF’s Word Origins Program
    • Direct Instruction Phonics Manual

    Others

    • Kathy Rastle
    • National Reading Panel (2000)
    • Reid Lyon
    • John Hattie

    You can connect with Mandy:

    Twitter/X: @mandynayton

    Facebook: @dyslexiaspeld

    Linkedin

    Website: https://dsf.net.au/

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • S03E08 - Craig Barton on Becoming a Better Maths Teacher

    S03E08 - Craig Barton on Becoming a Better Maths Teacher
    May 10 2025
    In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee is joined by the legendary Craig Barton—maths educator, best-selling author of How I Wish I Taught Maths and Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain, creator of variationtheory.com and tipsforteachers.co.uk, and one of the original voices in education podcasting. In this conversation, Craig opens up about the highs and lows of teaching, the lessons he’s learned from observing thousands of classrooms, and how he’s navigated public criticism and personal growth. They dive deep into his evolving views on instruction, feedback, and what really moves the needle in student learning. The discussion covers things like: Mini whiteboardsDiagnostic questionsIntelligent PracticeAtomisationResponsive teaching We also touch upon his milestone 200th episode of the Mr. Barton Maths podcast and get a sneak peek at his upcoming "Becoming a Better Maths Teacher" tour of Australia with Ollie Lovell in June. It’s honest, reflective, and packed with insights every teacher can relate to. Resources mentioned: Books by Craig Barton: How I Wish I Taught Maths Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain Tips for Teachers Responsive Coaching by Josh Goodrich Some of Craig's Websites: mrbartonmaths.com diagnosticquestions.com variationtheory.com tipsforteachers.co.uk Podcasts: Mr Barton Maths Podcast You can connect with Craig: Twitter/X: @mrbartonmaths Linkedin You can connect with Brendan: Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast About Craig Barton Craig Barton loves teaching, doing, speaking and thinking about mathematics. He taught maths in secondary schools for 15 years, and was TES Maths Adviser for 10 years. He is now the Head of Education at Eedi. Craig is the author of three best-selling books: How I wish I’d taught maths, Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain and Tips for Teachers, the host of the Mr Barton Maths podcast and the Tips for Teachers podcast, and the creator of far too many websites, including eedi, diagnosticquestions, tipsforteachers, mrbartonmaths, variationtheory, and ssddproblems. Craig has been lucky to teach maths and work with teachers and students worldwide. In 2020, he was appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the Mathematics Education Centre at the University of Loughborough. His two proudest achievements are convincing Kate to marry him (and stay married), and being the father to our wonderful boys, Isaac and Jacob. Becoming a Better Maths Teacher: Craig Barton’s Aussie Tour with Ollie Lovell For the first time ever, the UK’s most celebrated mathematics teacher, podcaster, and author, Craig Barton, is coming to Australia for a nationwide tour. Craig will be joined by Australia’s own Ollie Lovell for an unforgettable day of professional learning designed to transform your teaching practice. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative event! Four dates, four cities: Perth: Friday, June 20, 2025 Melbourne: Monday, June 23, 2025 Sydney: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Adelaide: Friday, June 27, 2025 Seats are limited—secure your spot today and take your mathematics teaching to the next level!
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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • S03E07 - Jeanette Breen on lessons learnt from high-performing schools

    S03E07 - Jeanette Breen on lessons learnt from high-performing schools
    Apr 26 2025
    In this episode, I’m joined by Jeanette Breen — Learning Specialist at Templestowe Heights Primary School and Head of Global Partnerships at No More Marking — to unpack insights from her recent tour of some of the highest-performing schools across the UK. From standalone primaries to schools within trusts like Ark Academy, and even the renowned Michaela Community School, where she met Katharine Birbalsingh, Jeanette explored what’s making a real impact in classrooms and leadership teams. What makes this conversation truly unique is not just Jeanette’s sharp eye for what works — it’s that you’ll also hear directly from the educators she met along the way, thanks to recordings made on-site during her journey. You’ll hear from: Andrew Percival and Jess Rennie - Stanley Road Primary School, Oldham Madeleine Roberts, David Williams, Jonathan Howlett and Ellen Clarke - Ark Curriculum team Matt Burnage - Ark Soane Claire Stoneman - 4 Dwellings Academy, Birmingham Michael Eggleton - Charles Dickens Primary Stuart Houghton - Ribbon Academy, Murton Dr Haili Hughes - Professor of teacher coaching & mentoring, Academica University oas, Director of Education, IRIS Connect. ECF & NPQ facilitator Bruno Reddy - CEO Times Tables Rock Stars and former head of Mathematics at King Solomon Academy If you're looking to sharpen your teaching, rethink your curriculum, or get inspired by what’s working in leading schools abroad, this episode is packed with gold. Resources mentioned: Daisy Christodoulou - Seven myths in education and Making good progress The Rose report StepLab Teach Like A Champion New wave maths books The Writing Revolution TimesTable Rockstars Grattan report on multi-school organisations Think Forward Educators Core knowledge units Numeracy screener being trialed by the Center for Independent Studies (CIS) White Rose Maths What Works Series ResearchED No More Marking You can connect with Jeanette: X/Twitter: @jettybe3 Linkedin e-mail: jeanette.breen@education.vic.gov.au or jeanette@nomoremarking.com You can connect with Brendan: X/Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website learnwithlee.net Substack: knowledgeforteachers.substack.com/ Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast About Jeanette Breen Jeanette is an experienced teacher, presenter, and liaison for the creation of partnerships and professional learning opportunities. In addition to her school-based role at Templestowe Heights PS Victoria, Jeanette works with UK company No More Marking as the bridge for schools using innovative writing assessment. She leads a Writing Network with Think Forward Educators and is a founding member of Sharing Best Practice. Jeanette holds a Professional Certificate in Clinical Teaching and Masters in Instructional Leadership. Becoming a Better Maths Teacher: Craig Barton’s Aussie Tour with Ollie Lovell For the first time ever, the UK’s most celebrated mathematics teacher, podcaster, and author, Craig Barton, is coming to Australia for a nationwide tour. Craig will be joined by Australia’s own Ollie Lovell for an unforgettable day of professional learning designed to transform your teaching practice. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative event! Four dates, four cities: Perth: Friday, June 20, 2025 Melbourne: Monday, June 23, 2025 Sydney: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Adelaide: Friday, June 27, 2025 Seats are limited—secure your spot today and take your mathematics teaching to the next level!
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    1 hr and 46 mins
  • S03E06 - Dr. Carl Hendrick on Five Things Every Teacher Should Do

    S03E06 - Dr. Carl Hendrick on Five Things Every Teacher Should Do
    Mar 22 2025

    In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Carl Hendrick, a leading voice in education and co-author of What Does It Look Like in the Classroom?, How Learning Happens, and How Teaching Happens. Carl has been instrumental in helping teachers bridge the gap between research and practice, addressing the key question: That all sounds great, but what does it mean for me?

    Together, they explore five essential things every teacher should do

    1. Being open to powerful evidence
    2. Using retrieval practice
    3. Checking for understanding
    4. Aligning curriculum and assessment,
    5. Embracing the illusion of instruction.

    This episode is packed with actionable insights to support and enhance teaching practice.

    Resources mentioned:

    • What Does It Look Like in the Classroom, How Learning Happens, How Teaching Happens, and Illusions of Instruction (forthcoming, co-authored with Paul Kirschner and Jim Heal)
    • Dan Willingham’s Ask the Psychologist pieces for the AFT
    • Research by Paul Kirschner
    • ResearchEd, founded by Tom Bennett
    • Work by Tom Bennett and Daisy Christodoulou
    • Ignaz Semmelweis’ paper on puerperal fever
    • A 2021 EF review on cognitive science in the classroom by Thomas Perry
    • Research on working memory by George Miller and Nelson Cowan
    • The 1960s Follow Through study on direct instruction
    • Barak Rosenshine’s principles of instruction
    • David Ausubel on the importance of prior knowledge
    • Madeline Hunter on checking for understanding
    • Engelmann and Carnine on Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)
    • Peps McCrea’s Evidence Snacks newsletter
    • Robert and Elizabeth Bjork on desirable difficulties
    • The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
    • John Biggs on constructive alignment
    • Christine Counsell on curriculum as a narrative
    • The How Learning and Teaching Happens eLearning course through Academica
    • No More Marking, where Jeanette Breen works

    You can connect with Dr. Carl Hendrick:

    Twitter/X: @C_Hendrick

    Linkedin

    Websites: https://carlhendrick.substack.com/ and https://carlhendrick.com/

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • S03E05 - The ABCs of Effective Behaviour Management: A Practical Guide for Teachers with Dr. Brandi Simonsen

    S03E05 - The ABCs of Effective Behaviour Management: A Practical Guide for Teachers with Dr. Brandi Simonsen
    Mar 8 2025

    In this episode, we're focusing on a key element of successful schools: understanding and supporting positive student behaviour. Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Brandi Simonsen, a professor of special education at the University of Connecticut and co-director of the National Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

    Brandi shares her practical insights into PBIS, exploring the crucial links between behaviour, attendance, and academic success. We delve into the ABCs of behavior and uncover effective, evidence-based strategies for creating positive classroom environments, from setting clear expectations to the power of specific praise.

    Whether you're new to teaching or looking to enhance your practice, this episode offers valuable knowledge and actionable takeaways on implementing Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports.

    Resources mentioned:

    • Brandi Simonsen and Diane Myers: Classwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: A Guide to Proactive Classroom Management
    • Diane Myers, Brandi Simonsen and Jennifer Freeman: Implementing Classwide PBIS: A Guide to Supporting Teachers, which I highly recommend.
    • National Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

    You can connect with Brandi:

    Linkedin

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • S03E04 - Dr. Matthew Burns on Effective Assessment: Using Data to Drive Reading & Maths Intervention

    S03E04 - Dr. Matthew Burns on Effective Assessment: Using Data to Drive Reading & Maths Intervention
    Feb 22 2025

    In this episode, get ready to dive deep into the world of assessments with Dr. Matthew Burns, as we explore the different categories of assessments, their intended purposes, and how they can be used to inform instruction. Dr. Burns, a researcher with extensive experience in the effective use of assessment data and interventions, shares his expertise on bridging the gap in understanding assessments.

    The conversation highlights the significance of the instructional hierarchy in understanding student learning phases, as well as the differences between curriculum-based measurements (CBM) and curriculum-based assessments (CBA). Dr. Burns stresses the necessity of aligning data with educational goals and ensuring teachers are equipped with appropriate frameworks to use assessments effectively. He offers practical advice on reducing unnecessary screening, using data to drive instructional decisions, and implementing effective interventions in reading and maths.

    Resources mentioned:

    • UFLI Foundations
    • Spring Math
    • PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Strategies)
    • Science of Math: including both the Facebook group and website (thescienceofmath.com).
    • National Center on Intensive Intervention:(intensiveintervention.org).
    • Evidence Advocacy Center (evidenceadvocacycenter.org).
    • Hasbrook and Tyndall fluency norms

    You can connect with Matthew:

    Twitter: @burnsmk1

    Email: burnsm1@coe.ufl.edu

    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ad1ei6p_HOHHhc-T-JnZg

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
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    1 hr and 16 mins