The Road to Reading Podcast

In this episode, Kurt Engelmann and Alisa Kerr from the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) join me to talk about what NIFDI is and how the organization supports teachers and schools who are implementing Direct Instruction (DI) programs. Show Notes: Engelmann Foundation Background Videos on DI Origins of DI: Origins and Elements of Authentic Direct Instruction Language Webinar: Scien...

In this episode, Daniel Carroll will share what Precision Teaching is and how it can be used in fluency instruction.  Show Notes: The Precision Teaching System Response to Intervention and Precision Teaching Precision Teaching Webinar  Improving Reading Fluency with Precision Teaching Precision Teaching Guide Morningside Academy Show Notes: Road to Reading Webpage SoR Resource Page Season 2 -episo...

In this episode, Rachel Ball, the Coaching Development Lead at Steplab and the author of the book The Scaffolding Effect, will share the intention behind scaffolding, how and when we should put scaffolds in place, and how we can fade scaffolds. Show Notes: Podcast- Progressively Incorrect with Rachel Ball The Scaffolding Effect by Rachel Ball & Alex Fairlamb Scaffolding Students to Success art...

In this episode, Marcie Samayoa, a high school science teacher, shares ways that we can build students’ schema. Show Notes: Scientist in the Making Substack Knowledge organizers Brain, Book, Buddy Retrieval Activity (Blake Harvard) Brain Book Buddy from Scientist in the Making Effortful Educator Blog Teach Fast by Gene Tavernetti How Do We Learn by Hector Ruiz Martin Just Tell Them by Zach Groshel...

In this episode, Dr. Kripa Sundar shares why concept maps can help students learn and retrieve. She shares how they can be used in both primary and intermediate grades and how teachers can use them to both build and assess learning in the classroom. Show Notes: Expertise-Reversal Effect The Learning Scientists Smart Teaching: Stronger Learning Concept Mapping: A Powerful Tool for Learning by Dr. K...

In this episode, Caitlin Lucas, a kindergarten teacher and Goyen Fellow, will share how she began implementing retrieval practices in her kindergarten classroom. She will explain the small changes or tweaks she made that had huge pay-offs. Show Notes: Brain Dumps by Dr. Pooja Argwal Concept Mapping Make it Stick The Learning Scientist Podcast Show Notes: Road to Reading Webpage SoR Resource Page S...

In this episode, Katie Baker, a 7th-8th grade Texas and United States history teacher, shares how to focus our energy on effective retrieval strategies we can manage. She also explains that she was spinning from all the available resources and pulled back to focus on what she could accomplish in her classroom, and build from there. Show Notes: Powerful Teaching by Pooja Argwal and Patrice Bain Exa...

In this episode, Amber Haven will share the many ways she incorporates cognitive science principles into her instruction. Amber is a 5th-8th-grade STEM teacher. She will also focus on how she weaves retrieval practice into her day. Amber was featured in both Powerful Teaching and Powerful Classrooms, and you can find her presenting at major conferences like Research Ed. Show Notes: Resource on exe...

In this episode, 4th-grade teacher Lauren Proffitt shares how she has implemented retrieval practices in her classroom. Show Notes: Powerful Classrooms by Patrice Bain One Pagers by Jamie Clark Brain dump strategy Smarter Teaching, Stronger Learning by Pooja Argawal Show Notes: Road to Reading Webpage SoR Resource Page Season 2 -episodes Season 3 -episodes

In this episode, Patrice Bain, author of Powerful Teaching and Powerful Classrooms, shares the importance of retrieval practice. Patrice explains 4 Power Tools every teacher should know about and how to use them in your classroom.  Show Notes: Powerful Teaching by Pooja Argwal & Patrice Bain Powerful Classrooms by Patrice Bain Make it Stick by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger III, & Mark McDani...

In this episode, Brett Benson, a 7th-grade World Studies teacher, returns to the podcast to share how mini-whiteboards help him make students' thinking visible and be a responsive teacher. Show Notes: How Teaching Happens by Carl Hendrick, Paul Kirschner, & Jim Heal How Learning Happens by Carl Hendricks and Paul Kirschner SOL in the Wild Substack by Brett Cognitive Load Theory in Action...

In this episode, 6th-grade teacher North Landesman will walk us through his routines as well as the many ways in which he uses mini-whiteboards in his classroom to check student thinking and adjust his instruction. Show Notes: Mini-Whiteboard blog by North Landesman A dam Boxer Tips How I’m Using Mini-Whiteboards blog  by Darren Leslie Craig Barton Tips video You Should Use Mini-Whiteboards by Dyl...

In this episode, Laura Stam, a third-grade teacher from Wyoming, shares how she utilizes choral response, mini whiteboards, turn and talk, stop and jot, and cold calling to increase student participation. Laura explains how each of these techniques allows her to be a more responsive teacher. Show Notes: Everybody Thinks, Everybody Learns blog by SOL in the Wild Distilled by Jamie Clark One Pagers...

In this episode, Dr. Zach Groshell shares why explicit instruction is such a necessary part of student learning and why we need to keep all students accountable for participating and showing their thinking. Show Notes: Just Tell Them Steplab Steplab documentary Progressively Incorrect podcast Education Rickshaw OTR by David Didau direct instruction Academic Learning Time Worked Examples How Learni...

In this episode, Aaron Grossman, a 5th-grade teacher, demonstrates how he effectively integrates various learning strategies throughout his school day. Show Notes: Walk Talk Swap https://justtwoteachers.com/first-days/   4 Corners https://justtwoteachers.com/first-days/   Concept Cards https://justtwoteachers.com/assessment/   Cootie Catcher https://justtwoteachers.com/assessment/   Parts of Writi...

In this episode, Gene Tavernetti shares the essential parts of the lesson that all teachers should be aware of. Gene is the author of the books Teach FAST (Focused, Adaptable, Structured Teaching) and Maximizing the Impact of Coaching Cycles. He presents at conferences like Research Ed, and he is the host of the podcast: Better Teaching: Only Stuff that Works. Show Notes: https://www.tesscg.com/ T...

In this episode, 7th-grade World Studies teacher Brett Benson will share how thinking about CLT has changed his planning process and instruction. He will share ways that he helps to lighten cognitive load for students while still making them think deeply about a topic. He will share lots of strategies he uses in his own classroom every day for retrieval and questioning. Show Notes: SOL in the Wild...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Oberle explains the importance of cognitive load theory and shares what types of things you might think about when looking through the CLT lens as you are planning for students. Show Notes: Executive Functions for Every K-3 Classroom Blog: Executive Functions: Setting the Record Straight From Research to Reality: Bridging Educational Innovations (Edweb) Thrive Educator S...

In this episode, Court Shuller, a 7th-grade ELA teacher in South Jersey, shares their experience of planning lessons and units through a cognitive science lens. They’ll share how the 3 principles of Cognitive Load Theory, Prior Knowledge, and Effortful Thinking can be reflected in their classroom. Show Notes: Powerful Teaching -Pooja Agarwal &Patrice Bain TLAC Guide to the Science of Reading -...

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Jim Heal and Meg Lee as they share why learning science is important to get into the hands of all teachers, what  3 major principles of learning science are, and what their vision for professional learning looks like as they work in Cicero, District 99. Dr. Jim Heal and Meg Lee are the founders of Learning Science Partners. An initiative dedicated to helping educa...

In this episode, two teachers, Kerry Cusick and Tara Livolsi, share how they developed a professional learning plan for their school and district around learning science. They describe where they got the idea, how they implemented the professional learning, and how they plan to build on this learning in the future. If you are interested in bringing learning science back to your district, this epis...

In this episode, Holly Korbey shares her perspective on the landscape of education and how much educators and the public know about how learning happens. She shares some insights about what she has learned through speaking with successful educators, leaders, and schools.  Show Notes: The Bell Ringer -Substack 4 Ways to do Explicit Instruction Right What Happens When a 48K Student District Commits...

In this episode, the founding members of Project for Adolescent Literacy (PAL) will share what their organization is all about, what they have been up to, and where they hope their future will take them. If you work with adolescents, this episode is a must-listen! You will find a community of educators willing to support and learn alongside you. Resources: https://seekcommonground.org/pal PAL@seek...

In this episode, Sean Morrisey shares his newly developed vocabulary curriculum for grades 3-5 with us. He explains why there was a need for it, how the curriculum was built, what is included, and what results he has seen in his own classroom. If you are interested in piloting this new vocabulary curriculum in the upcoming school year, please contact Sean @ smorrisey1975@gmail.com or his X handle...

In this episode, Laura Stam, a 2nd grade teacher in Wyoming shares a knowledge building resource she created called the Knowledge Exchange. This resource is meant to share resources with teachers so that they can build their own knowledge of topics that might be in their curriculum. Make sure to check them out. The resource can be found on her Substack (LauraStam1) or on X or Facebook. https://lst...