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Resource Type: Podcast

S2|E2: Direct Instruction with Jessica Colleu Terradas

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In this episode Jessica explains the difference between ‘big’ DI and ‘little’ di. She delves into the research behind Direct Instruction, dispelling the myths about DI. Jessica lists its key instructional features and talks about what makes a Direct Instruction program effective. We hear about her Churchill Fellowship research and about the time when she met with Engelmann’s sons. Jessica refers to many podcasts, books and research in this episode, which are listed below.

Resources and References mentioned during the episode:

S3E7: Kurt Engelmann and Bryan Wickman on Direct Instruction (DI)
  1. Clear teaching. With Direct Instruction, Siegfried Engelmann discovered a better way of teaching. Written by the American journalist Shepard Barbash in 2012, here
  2. The podcast ‘Progressively Incorrect’ Season 2 Episode 21 with Marcy Stein
  3. The podcast ‘Teachers change lives’ led by fellow Sharyn Angel (also CogLearn coach for CECG) who interviewed Engelmann’s twin sons during Jessica’s visit to the DI conference last July:
  1. The official website of the National Institute For Direct Instruction
  2. One of Engelmann’s best-selling book: teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons (resource for parents) here This is a complete, step-by-step program that shows parents simply and clearly how to teach their children to read in 20 minutes a day.
  3. The theory of instruction: Principles and Applications by Engelmann and Carnine here. 400 pages to read if you wish to become an expert in designing DI programs/sequences.
  4. War against the schools’ academic child abuse where Zig declares war upon educational practices and systems that fail our students. here

S1|E9: Leading Catalyst with Patrick Ellis

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In this episode, Patrick Ellis, Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn’s Education Lead, Patrick Ellis, shares with us:

  • The inspiring initiatives that he has seen across the archdiocese during 2023.
  • Some of the exciting progress that the system has made after 3 years of Catalyst implementation.
  • Some advice for Leadership teams in regard to Catalyst
  • What’s next for CECG and Catalyst future state

S1|E8: Literacy Support through Catalyst featuring Stef Cook

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In this episode Stefanie Cook, the K-6 coordinator and Learning Support Leader at St Patrick’s Primary School in Cooma NSW speaks about: 

  • intervention structures for students that require additional support 
  • insights for monitoring progress with DIBELS data 
  • how she collaborates with her Classroom Support Assistants (or CSAs) to effectively implement programs such as MiniLit and MacqLit.   

Stef also shares with us some of her insights from her school immersion trip to Perth. We also hear from Lisa and Alicia, Classroom Support Assistants and their role in supporting students in learning to read.  

This is a great episode for anyone who wants to learn more about intervention structures and supports students in learning to read. 

S1|E7: HITP and Student Voice with Natalie Fairfax

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in this episode Natalie Fairfax, Head the International Baccalaureate program at Merici College in Braddon, Canberra, shares the student engagement she has seen as a result of High Impact Teaching Practice.

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear students reflecting on 

  • How the change in pedagogy to HITP has positively impacted their learning and engagement, including the use of whiteboards, picking non-volunteers with paddle pop sticks and decks of playing cards
  • Their observations of their peers in lessons 
  • The use of Learning Intentions 
  • How HITP has improved their preparation for exams 

Natalie also explains how she developed a common vocabulary glossary to support teachers and students in connecting with the curriculum. 

S1|E6: Learning about Catalyst featuring Maggie Lloyd

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In this episode we speak with Maggie Lloyd, Assistant Principal at St Monica’s Primary School, Evatt ACT. Maggie talks about her inspiration to learn more about the Science of Learning, the Science of Reading and High Impact Teaching Practices. Listed below are some of the literature that Maggie mentions in this episode. This is a great listen for those who’d like to refresh their knowledge of Catalyst or for those who are learning more about the aspects of Catalyst. 

Books 

  • Why Knowledges Matters – E.D. Hirsch Jr 
  • Explicit Direct Instruction – Hollingsworth, J. R. and Ybarra, S. E. 
  • Cognitive Load Theory in Action – Lovell, O., Sweller, J., Caviglioli, O. 
  • How we understand concepts better – Sweller, J. 
  • The Knowledge Gap – Wexler, N. 
  • Rosenshines Principles in Action – Sherrington, T. 
  • Make it Stick – Roediger III, H. L., McDaniel, M. A. and Brown, P. C. 

Podcasts 

S1|E5: Teacher Insights from Catalyst – Reflecting on the implementation of HITP featuring Toby Flavell

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In this episode Toby talks about Catalyst’s journey at Lumen Christi Catholic College.

As Acting Facilitator of Pedagogy, he has a key role in the facilitation of High Impact Teaching Practices. Hear about what Toby and his team have learned from HITP in Action presenters TeachWell, and how he implements this practice himself in the classroom. Toby talks about: 

  • Participation tactics and student engagement 
  • Daily Reviews   
  • Learning Intentions 
  • The language of HITP ie ‘reteach’, critical content’ 
  • The implementation of Catalyst and where to next 

S1|E4: Teacher Insights from Catalyst – Implementation of Catalyst and HITP featuring Peter Collins

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In this episode of Teacher Insights from Catalyst, join us for a captivating conversation with Peter Collins, teacher and Curriculum Coordinator at St Thomas Aquinas, West Belconnen, Canberra. Peter shares his invaluable experiences and successes in implementing Catalyst and HITP in the classroom. Delve into the world of EDI lessons and Direct Instruction programs like Spelling Mastery, as Peter discusses their transformative impact on student learning outcomes. Discover how Peter enhances students’ mathematical understanding through engaging EDI Maths lessons and how he nurtures language skills with specific Vocabulary lessons. In addition, Peter discusses insights into adopting a Knowledge Rich Curriculum and its connection to reading. 

Mentioned article: The Coach in the Operating Room | The New Yorker 

S1|E3: Teacher Insights from Catalyst – HITP & The Writing Revolution featuring Erica Drewsen

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In this episode Erica speaks about her role in the implementation of Catalyst. She talks about how she led the change process, The Writing Revolution, Macqlit as an intervention program and their use of engagement norms.

  • How to use The Writing Revolution as a tool to teach writing within HUM (a combination of Humanities, English and Religious Education subjects)
    • Sentence level writing
    • Paragraphing SPO
    • Note taking
    • Topic sentence
    • Appositives
    • Guided notes
  • How she uses choral response and whisper reading as engagement norms and teaching strategies
  • How to use ‘hinge point’ questions and why they are important

Sample Resources

Term 2, Week 2 – Check for Understanding

Term 2 Week 4 Review of Learning

Year 7 Religious Education Booklet – sample 1

Year 7 Religious Education Booklet – sample 2

Year 7 Humanities History Booklet