Teacher Insights from Catalyst

In this episode we learn about how the leadership team at St Mary Mackillop Catholic College in Canberra successfully implemented the components of Catalyst and scaled up for a two-campus school with over 2000 students. Erin White and Lisa Buckland share with us their insights about how they started their Catalyst journey and the importance of this work in the Secondary context, discussing what worked well and some of the challenges they faced along the way. We learn about where they prioritised, invested their time, supports and resources and how they keep momentum with over 200 staff. Everything shared has relevance for all school contexts, making this an interesting episode for all.  

In this episode Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn (CECG) Teaching and Learning Officers, Jamie Kemp and Gillian Forrester, talk about CECG’s Primary Mathematics and English curriculum and how to effective implemented the lessons and use the accompanying resources. They answer some frequently asked questions about the CECG Mathematics and English materials and outline the importance of a low variance, knowledge rich curriculum.

In this episode Reid speaks about curriculum, diving into Ochre Education and their partnership with CECG in developing high quality curriculum resources, prioritising Explicit Instruction and High Impact Teaching Practice.  Reid speaks about the importance of a knowledge rich, low variance curriculum and what we should be aspiring to. He also speaks about why Ochre and CECG have designed their lessons using slide decks and how to best teach with them.  

Resources mentioned 

Hirsch, E. D. (2016). Why knowledge matters: Rescuing our children from failed educational theories. Harvard Education Press. 

Ashbee, R. (2021). Curriculum: Theory, culture and the subject specialisms. Sage Publications. 

Australian Education Research Organisation. (2024). A knowledge-rich approach to curriculum design. https://www.edresearch.edu.au/research/research-reports/knowledge-rich-approach-curriculum-design 

This episode features Ingrid Sealy, Director and founder of TeachWell. Ingrid brings to light many aspects of High Impact Teaching Practice (HITP). Her wealth of knowledge and experience is extensive in this area. Ingrid is a HITP instructional coach working with some of our schools through the Catalyst program. We discuss the following:

• How TeachWell is supporting CECG

Ingrid references the following people, websites, organisations and readings:

• Rebecca Birch, English teacher and Leader

• Rebecca Birch

• The Learning Scientists

• Unleash the Science of Learning – Retrieval Practice

In this episode Sally Power (instructional leader and 5/6 teacher) and Susan Tighe (principal) discuss about Direct Instruction (DI) at St Joseph’s Primary School, Bombala with reference to InitialLit, Connecting Maths Concepts (CMC) and Spelling Mastery. We discuss:

• Implementation of Direct Instruction programs

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:

https://educationrickshaw.com/2024/02/04/s3e7-kurt-engelmann-and-bryan-wickman-on-direct-instruction-di/?s=09

1. Clear teaching. With Direct Instruction, Siegfried Engelmann discovered a better way of teaching. Written by the American journalist Shepard Barbash in 2012, here

Season 3 Episode 5 with Kurt Engelmann

Season 3 Episode 7 with Owen Engelmann and Evan Haney

1. The official website of the National Institute For Direct Instruction

In this episode we welcome Penny Lucas, Instructional leader of Literacy and Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 teacher at Trinity Catholic Primary school in Murrumburrah, NSW. Penny is a contributor to the Syntax Project, of which she explains in the conversation and how this links in with Catalyst. Click here to link to the resources mentioned in.

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.

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 

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. 

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

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