As we get closer to Spring, I am excited to be working with The Writing Revolution as part of my consultancy. The Writing Revolution, or TWR, is an explicit instruction approach to writing that was created by Dr. Judith Hochman. This method has been celebrated by proponents of cognitive science as a solution that adheres … Continue reading S4E21: Judith Hochman, Christine Teahan, & Toni-Ann Vroom on the Writing Revolution

A few years ago, I came upon a paper titled, "Why Educators Resist Effective Practices" with the provocative subheading, And What It Would Take to Make EducationMore Like Medicine. It was written by Douglas Carnine, who I would come to learn was not only one of the most important voices in advocacy for evidence-based education, … Continue reading S4E20: Doug Carnine on Advocacy for Evidence

I am excited to bring you an episode of the Thinking Out Loud series with my friend, Gene Tavernetti, who is cross posting these episodes on his podcast, Better Teaching Only Stuff that Works. During the episode, we talk about "rehearsal tasks", which are simply practice opportunities that a coach or presenter can plan for teachers. … Continue reading S4E19: Thinking Out Loud… Is Rehearsal Necessary for Effective Coaching and PD?

In this episode, I chat with Blake Harvard, aka The Effortful Educator, about applying cognitive psychology to the classroom. Blake and I presented together as part of the cognitive science strand at EdFest USA this year, and we share similar perspectives on the importance of bridging the gap between research and practice. In this interview, … Continue reading S4E18: Blake Harvard on Attention and Memory Constraints

In this episode, I chat with Kris Boulton, a legend in the space of translating principles of Direct Instruction (DI) into actionable steps for all teachers. It is such a great episode, with some very powerful messaging around the crucial role of the teacher in conveying and breaking down information so that all students can … Continue reading S4E17: Kris Boulton on Atomization, DI Principles, and Unstoppable Learning

In this episode, I catch up with Natalie Wexler to discuss her new book, Beyond the Science of Reading. Our wide-ranging conversation covers often underrepresented areas of the science of reading, including the importance of background knowledge for comprehension, cognitive load theory, and explicit writing instruction. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress This … Continue reading S4E16: Natalie Wexler on Knowledge, Cognitive Science, and Beyond Phonics

Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect, a show sponsored by John Catt from Hodder Education and hosted by me, Dr. Zach Groshell. John Catt publishes some of the best books in education, including my book, Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching. https://www.amazon.com/Just-Tell-Them-Science-Explanation/dp/103600368X Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress This is … Continue reading S4E15: Brendan Lee and Zach Groshell on Effective Leadership

Today I am excited to bring you an interview with Kim Lockhart. Kim's work focuses on the science of reading and its application in second language programs. She has been a vocal advocate on social media for moving away from balanced literacy and adopting evidence-based approaches to teaching reading. When I first encountered Kim, it … Continue reading S4E14: Kim Lockhart on Supporting L2 Learners with the Science of Reading

Should students be taught to count on their fingers? Today I am excited to bring you an interview with Catherine Thevenot. Catherine is a researcher at the Institute of Psychology at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Her work focuses on cognitive development, particularly in the area of numerical cognition and arithmetic skills in children. … Continue reading S4E13: Catherine Thevenot on Counting on Your Fingers

Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect. My name is Dr. Zach Groshell, and today I am excited to bring you an interview with Jan Hasbrouck, the keynote speaker at NIFDI’s 2025 National Direct Instruction Conference and Institutes. Dr. Hasbrouck is a renowned researcher and author with a distinguished career dedicated to improving literacy and educational outcomes. Dr. … Continue reading S4E12: Jan Hasbrouck on Reading Fluency and Direct Instruction