Teacher Insights from Catalyst

By Catholic Education Canberra & GoulburnEducation

Teacher Insights from Catalyst episodes

September 12, 2024 English and Mathematics Primary Curriculum with Gillian Forrester and Jaime Kemp
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.
50 min
August 15, 2024 Creating a Knowledge Rich Curriculum with Reid Smith
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
56 min
June 27, 2024High Impact Teaching Practice with Ingrid Sealey
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
How teachers can use videoing to improve instructional practice, and why it is so effective
The most effective instructional strategies for teaching
The type of reviews and how their importance
The number one thing that leaders can do to improve instructional practice in schools
How HITP practices allow students to take ownership (agency) in their learning
Ingrid references the following people, websites, organisations and readings:
Rebecca Birch, English teacher and Leader
Rebecca Birch
The Learning Scientists
The Learning Scientists
Podcast Episodes — The Learning Scientists
Pooja K. Agarwal, Ph.D.
Unleash the Science of Learning – Retrieval Practice
Welcome to AERO | Australian Education Research Organisation (edresearch.edu.au)
45 min
May 15, 2024Implementing Direct Instruction with Sally Power and Susan Tighe
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
Advantages of a low variance curriculum and Direct Instruction
Misconceptions of Direction Instruction
35 min
March 27, 2024Direct Instruction featuring Jessica Colleu Terradas
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
Clear teaching. With Direct Instruction, Siegfried Engelmann discovered a better way of teaching. Written by the American journalist Shepard Barbash in 2012, here
The podcast ‘Progressively Incorrect’ Season 2 Episode 21 with Marcy Stein
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
The official website of the National Institute For Direct Instruction
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.
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.
War against the schools’ academic child abuse where Zig declares war upon educational practices and systems that fail our students. here
47 min
February 21, 2024 The Syntax Project featuring Penny Lucas
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.
40 min
December 07, 2023Leading Catalyst with Patrick Ellis
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
42 min
November 08, 2023Literacy Support through Catalyst featuring Stef Cook
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 Mini Lit and Macq lit.
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.
52 min
October 11, 2023HITP and Student Voice with Natalie Fairfax
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.
30 min
September 06, 2023Learning about Catalyst featuring Maggie Lloyd
This episode features Maggie Lloyd from 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
ERRR Episode 5 – Pamela Snow
39 min

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Tune in to hear Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn teachers share their knowledge and change journey with Catalyst, an evidence-based approach to teaching and learning