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:

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:

• Season 3 Episode 5 with Kurt Engelmann
• Season 3 Episode 7 with Owen Engelmann and Evan Haney

4. The official website of the National Institute For Direct Instruction
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. War against the schools’ academic child abuse where Zig declares war upon educational practices and systems that fail our students. here