Could flashy credentials be leading us astray in educational consulting? Unpack these misconceptions with us as we reveal what truly makes a consultant invaluable to our schools. We're not peddling our services here – our calendar is chock-full – but we are eager to share the scoop on effective collaborations with external experts. This episode cuts through the glitz of experience-based prestige to spotlight the substance of evidence-informed practices. We'll also question the ethics behind consultancy fees that don't align with guaranteed outcomes, advocating for a partnership that fosters tr ..read more

In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, we explore the role of comprehension strategies in our overall instruction.  This episode will  leave you with a clearer vision of the reading instruction landscape and the tools necessary to develop a  deep understanding of texts.  Quick Links Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage The Resource Room The Evergreen Teacher Shop Youtube channel Facebook Page #jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structure ..read more

Join us for a riveting conversation with Jo Griffin from Newtown Primary School, as we unearth the profound impact that structured literacy and daily review have on shaping young minds. In the arena of education, where traditional practices often reign, Jo shares the tale of her school's bold journey towards embracing a systematic phonics approach. It's a story filled with trials and triumphs that have led to undeniable advancements in student retention and the closing of educational gaps. Our dialogue offers a unique glimpse into the historical underpinnings of these methods, affirming their ..read more

Today's episode of Research to the Classroom (Part 2) is about how to maximize your students' learning and get the most out of daily review. What is Research to Classroom?As a teacher, you have likely not had the advantage of examining research in your teaching degree and now that you're in the classroom or leadership position, you probably find it hard to find the time and head space to spend time reading papers and articles. I know that when I was in school full time as a teacher and a leader, I really didn't have a chance to do that. So, I hope that these mini series of episodes help you b ..read more

This Week's Episode. This is the second episode in our current Research to the Classroom series about assisted reading. Our Research to the Classroom series is in three parts: part one, where we share a published research paper; part two, where we unpack what classroom instruction might look like; and part three, where I talk to a real-life teacher about their experience of the particular practice with their students. What is the Research to the Classroom series? The Research to the Classroom series is made up of three episodes. The first episode is a discussion of a research paper. &nbs ..read more

Today's episode of Research to the Classroom (Part 2) is about how to maximize your students' learning and get the most out of daily review. What is Research to Classroom?As a teacher, you have likely not had the advantage of examining research in your teaching degree and now that you're in the classroom or leadership position, you probably find it hard to find the time and head space to spend time reading papers and articles. I know that when I was in school full time as a teacher and a leader, I really didn't have a chance to do that. So, I hope that these mini series of episodes help you b ..read more

This epsiode of Research to the Classroom miniseries focuses on the practice of daily review and retrieval,  why we might do it, what it might look like, and what it's like to implement it in a school. What is Research to Classroom?As a teacher, you have likely not had the advantage of examining research in your teaching degree and now that you're in the classroom or leadership position, you probably find it hard to find the time and head space to spend time reading papers and articles. I know that when I was in school full time as a teacher and a leader, I really didn't have a chance to ..read more

In this episode, we'll continue our discussion on effective questioning techniques in the classroom.  We'll also discuss the importance of providing robust teaching leading up to asking questions and increasing the number of opportunities for students to produce correct responses. Additionally, we'll dive into the first element of questioning – what happens at the start of a new unit of work or topic – by sharing two real-life scenarios from primary and secondary schools. Join us to learn how to ask great questions in the right way and at the right time to get great answers from your stud ..read more

On today's episode, I'd like to speak with you about how you can get bang for your buck in the good stuff in the classrooms. That is through an element of explicit instruction that we have all seen in action but that so many of us are yet to embrace—not asking students to put their hands up in response to a question. The words, hands up if, are such an ingrained part of teaching practice that it feels odd not to use them. But if we can do some things instead of asking students to volunteer responses, we will get more engagement in our classrooms. That is naturally going to lead to better learn ..read more

In today's episode, I will run through a few shifts we might've made in our schools  and share some pointers for how you can get the best out of each of them. Let's start with the early years. There are two main things to consider here. That is phonics instruction and decodable text; of course, there are more elements of early years instruction. These are just two of them that usually come with pretty big purchases  and a lot of time invested. Let's begin with phonics. Quick Links Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage The Resource Room The Evergreen Teacher Shop Youtube channel Faceboo ..read more