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Great teaching sits between two unhelpful extremes. The best teachers aren't those who never leave the script, nor those who proudly abandon it. They're the ones who are prepared enough to know exactly when, why, and how to depart from the plan in service of student learning. Give students the lesson they need, not just the lesson you have planned and learn about the ‘Meaningful and Responsive…
Discover how explicit routines, consistent expectations, and simple strategies like the “Do Now” can transform classroom culture. This article explores the link between wellbeing and academic success, offering practical tips for creating calm, structured, and inclusive learning environments.
In this personal narrative, guest author Rachel Holden reflects on her journey toward creating a more intentional and focused classroom environment. Inspired by research and admired setups she encountered online, Holden initially struggled with doubts and limitations—concerned about furniture constraints, logistical challenges, and potential pushback. Despite these hurdles, she began making small,…
The content of this post was originally published by the Code Read Dyslexia Network on 14 February 2025. As the school year unfolds, it remains timely to revisit and reflect on its message—to keep effective, research-based teaching at the forefront of our efforts to support every learner. Schools around Australia and the English-speaking world have long relied on balanced literacy practices and…
Checking for Quality of Student Responses REBECCA BIRCH AND NATHANIEL SWAIN Summary In this episode of the BRAND NEW Chalk Dust podcast, Nathaniel Swain and Rebecca Birch visit the classroom of Queensland primary school teacher, Rebecca Sloots, the first teacher to be featured on the Teach Like a Champion practice archive. By exploring checking for understanding (CfU) and checking for quality…
Rethinking Efficiency in Education As educators, the term "efficiency" often feels more like a corporate buzzword than a meaningful tool for teaching. Economic ‘encroachment’ in education is nothing new, and many teachers are rightfully skeptical that such concepts have value in our people-centred profession. But if unpacked thoughtfully, could the economic concept of “efficiency” offer valuable…
Francis Matisi, a teacher at Saint Mark's School in Dingley, was teaching at a Catholic primary school in Brunswick around 2002, just as The Lord of the Rings movies were about to be released. The majority of her students—about 95%—came from an English as an Additional Language (EAL) background. Wanting to engage her students with literature, she decided to share The Hobbit with them. Challenges…
A quick post to point out some recent talks I have given in Victoria, Australia. researchED Ballarat March 2025 Get the slides Bayside Principals Conference 27 Feb 2025 Get the slides
Teachers are bombarded with information about best practice. Advice comes thick and fast on how to solve the daily challenges that are inevitable when working with a group of learners in intensive working environments. But it’s not often teachers get access to a way of conceiving of our practice that is helpful and also clear . Useful snapshots of complex practice While numerous frameworks of…
The provocation — What if you could achieve the same (if not better) outcomes for your students without the logistical complexity of small group rotations? Many educators wrestle with the question of differentiation: How do we ensure all students succeed and are supported? How do we teach to varying abilities without using up valuable teaching time? While small group instruction has long been a…
