Teachers Talking Teaching

By CatFish Education

Education K-12 Educational Technology

What's Teachers Talking Teaching about?

John Catterson (@jfcatto) and Pete Whiting (@mr_van_w) are two Australian Flipped Educators. Together they talk education, pedagogy and current practice.

Find more of Pete and John:
Website - www.catfisheducation.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrCattersonScience
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/PWhiting

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

TTTEp 146: Two Efficient Po...

07.14.2022

In this episode, we talk about local competitions and politicians who give teenagers NO QUARTER! Also congrats to Queensland for not ruining the election for the rest of us, in fact well done for being oddly progressive. Generally, we talk ...

Teachers Talking Teaching episodes:

07.14.2022 TTTEp 146: Two Efficient Podcasters In this episode, we talk about local competitions and politicians who give teenagers NO QUARTER! Also congrats to Queensland for not ruining the election for the rest of us, in fact well done for being oddly progressive. Generally, we talk ...
04.20.2022 TTTEp 145: The Lost Patreon Episode - Chakotay was done dirty So this episode was recorded a month ago (maybe more) as an answer to some Patreon questions and then our world all fell apart. Between sickness, pandemic and adventures in heart failure (all is good now I promise, just little ...
04.20.2022 TTTEp 144: Diverse needs are not diverse excuses. Look, did you want a quality podcast or did you want quality show notes? In this episode we talk about a more lady-like approach to decision making, apparently. We dive into the research of Dr Johnston et al out of ...
01.27.2022 TTTEp 143: Unsexy Self Care In this episode Pete and Shawtima get pumped for the new teaching year and settle in for the new normal. Shawtima mentioned using Tango as a tool for making instructables for team members and also violently threatens her team members. ...
01.04.2022 TTTEp 142: UDL Because the UN says so … … not that Pete recognises the UN in any way shape or form. Shawtima talks differentiation this week. Look, differentiation is tricky in the classroom, but it’s worthwhile. There are many aspects of teaching that keep getting harder and harder, ...
12.10.2021 TTTEp 141: SOHCAH-DONT-A In this episode we talk about the impacts of exhaustion. The Culture Wars are alive and well. Schools are the battlegrounds once again. Education is a political act and again we see how the conservatives/trads are looking to push education ...
11.20.2021 TTT Ep 140: Newman’s Racial Errors Here is the Cancelled podcast that led to our long ramble open https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cancelled/id1580836614 Shawtima talks (in the most round about way possible) Habits of Mind. Like, it legitimately started that way and ended up talking about LoLs in the classroom ...
10.20.2021 TTT Ep 139: Tortoise and the Privilege In this episode we dive into some listener mail with questions about privilege and then we talk about the Tortoise and Hare thinkers. This involves the systemic bias in artificial examination environments and the harm it does to all of ...
09.12.2021 TTT Ep 138: The conversation about Inquiry based learning In this episode, we talk about the readjustment of back to home learning for Australian/NSW teachers and the value of non-essential roles in schools. Also, how great is book week! But Pete has a big focus on Inquiry-Based learning and ...
08.31.2021 TTT Ep 137: Darmok & Jalad at Tanagra! This week we discuss metaphor as a privileged types of language, Pete mansplains Sonic the Hedgehog and Shawtima talks about the Gradual Release of Responsibility model. Transfer of knowledge and utilisation of 21st Century Skills also become part of our ...
08.17.2021 TTT Ep 136: Learning Styles, VARKING mad! In this episode we cover a wide variety of topics including Learning Styles and VARK, a way to introduce welcome to country in an academically valued way and most importantly, science where rats drive cars for education. Hell yeah. Stay ...
08.04.2021 TTT Episode 135: A long time coming Hi TTT Fam, Here we have an episode that almost never made it out of the gates thanks to some dodgy recording. We got the sound good though! Enjoy.
06.16.2021 Episode 134: Proper late night energy on the pod. Hey in this episode Pete (@mr_van_w) and Shawtima (@shawtimasmiles) talk about: Stuff. Not gonna lie, there’s some late night energy going on here and Pete ended up spending a considerable amount of time unwell this week (hence the late ep). ...
06.06.2021 Episode 133: Sad Teacher Daddy Hey in this episode Pete (@mr_van_w) and Shawtima (@shawtimasmiles) talk about: In this episode we share a win at school with an indigenous program at our nation’s peak STEM body, CSIRO. We delve into Mastery Learning and Education Systems, particularly ...
05.31.2021 TTT Episode 132: Not Pretty, But Pretty Useful Hey in this episode Pete (@mr_van_w) and Shawtima (@shawtimasmiles) talk about: Thinking Routines (Headlines) and how they've adapted them to suit what they want to do in the classroom. We talk ever so briefly about the authoritarian rise of the ...
05.20.2021 TTT Episode 131: ADHD Squared Pete (@mr_van_w) is back with the original Shiny Educator, Shawtima (@ShawtimaSmiles). It's time to introduce some changes, to the podcast but also not really. Mostly, it's the same nonsense you already love. Pete and Shawti are talking about all sorts ...
03.22.2021 TTT Episode 130: Women's Day and Testing What We Value Pete (@mr_van_w) shares how his school celebrated International Women's Day and discusses some of the considerations to running genuine activities and conversations. John (@jfcatto) then looks at some Biesta's functions of education and the need for having a conversations about ...
03.08.2021 TTT Episode 129: Aboriginal Education By Everyone and The Politics of Professional Development This week Pete (@mr_van_w) shares a resource and encourages non-indigenous people to get involved in Aboriginal education and teaching Aboriginal perspectives. John (@jfcatto) then has a whine about the effects of politics on professional development opportunities. Educator Resource: 'But I ...
02.12.2021 TTT128 Dear John Hi TTT Family, No John this week so I thought I'd reflect a little on life and my new schools for you. Enjoy, Pete @mr_van_w
02.02.2021 TTT Episode 127: Do Learning Pods Work and Ruling Over the Room This week John (@jfcatto) checks in to see how "Learning Pods" worked out. Are they the silver bullet to combatting school shutdowns? (Spoilers: No). Pete (@mr_van_w) read a couple of books. One he likes and one he doesn't like so ...
01.13.2021 TTT Episode 126: Welcome to 2021 Welcome to 2021. We made it. More importantly Pete (@mr_van_w) made it. In this episode Pete and John (@jfcatto) reflect on the year that was and hopes for the year that will be. Pete shares his story and looks for ...
10.26.2020 TTT Episode 125: Instructional Videos and Solo Hexagons This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to some of their trusted wellsprings of pedagogy. John outlines some tips for putting together educational videos. Pete describes a cool twist on the use of solo hexagons in the classroom. How ...
10.15.2020 TTT Episode 124: Black Dogs and Classroom Management On a shaky return to Term 4 our hosts (@Mr_van_w & @jfcatto) compare their struggle with the Black Dog and what their are doing for self-care. They then then discuss two recent books that address classroom management by approaching the ...
09.21.2020 TTT Episode 123: Teachers Need a Hobby and Strategies for Differentiation The Agent of Chaos (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) talk about the podcast format, being unbelievably tired, CSU "Taking You Higher", online conferences, TED Talks, genius hour for teachers, how to define an activity as a hobby, differentiation strategies for the ...
09.17.2020 TTT Episode 122: The Threat of Missed Learning and Unshackling Education from Grades Some unnamed bloke (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) talk time zones, Fijian time, roll marking, teaching Peers and Superiors, competing chains-of-command, holiday/pandemic learning loss, the Bloom's lie and removing grades shackles on education. Is Learning "Lost" When Kids Are Out of ...
09.08.2020 TTT Episode 121: Outdated Teaching Degrees, Duty of Care During Suspension and Do Your Own Research This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) discuss some of the comments in the slow chat, clarify that Pete is not anti-data after last weeks tirade, assert that neither Pete nor John are not negative people, laugh at pictures of ...
08.30.2020 TTT Episode 120: Sign Me The Reseach This week Pete (@mr_van_w) comes in with a new hot take; apparently Twitter might not be the pollyanna, ever positive, safe space we all thought it to be. Pete continues to claim that Education research and Cognitive Science may no ...
08.23.2020 TTT Episode 119: Trad-Prog Divide and Teaching to Mentor Mentoring Teachers Once again Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) jaw off about teaching adjacent topics like seating plans and youngsters accessing pornography. John explores the UK trad-prog divide, questioning Michael Gove's effect on the situation. Pete highlights a study showing most teachers ...
08.17.2020 TTT Episode 118: Teachers Talking Less and Pod Schools John (@jfcatto) and Pete (@mr_van_w) generally meander around a conversation touching on; some news, coaching, viva voce and high stakes assessment stress. John then talks about some ways that teachers can talk less in the classroom. Pete then enlightens us ...
08.07.2020 TTT Episode 117: Liberalism and Retrieval Practice This flexible reporting period; we check in with Pete (@mr_van_w) who has been diligently implementing the teaching strategies discussed from previous podcasts. We discuss the efficacy of vertical non-permanent surfaces as compared to horizontal non-permanent surfaces. Pete expresses solidarity with ...
08.03.2020 TTT Episode 116: Building a Thinking Classroom This week Pete (@mr_van_w) discusses ways to explicitly teach problem solving to create a thinking classroom. He introduces John (@jfcatto) to the idea of "keep thinking questions" rather than "stop thinking questions" and students work on "vertical non-permanent surfaces". Building ...
07.20.2020 TTT Episode 115: Relationships in Self-driven Learning and Compassion in Inclusive Education John (@jfcatto) discusses some of the ways that self-driven learning can be used to build relationships and meet students at the level they are at. Pete (@mr_van_w) then talks compassion in education and why now might be the right time ...
07.11.2020 TOTT Episode 114: Trauma Informed Teaching In this episode of Teachers Occasionally Talking Teaching. Pete (@mr_van_w) tells John (@jfcatto) about Trauma Informed Teaching and how a school is using blended learning and self-paced mastery to cater for students with low attendance rates. Pete: A Student-Centered Model ...
06.04.2020 TTT Episode 113: Fireside Chats and Question Time This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto reflect on current events and discuss the duty and tactics for addressing issues of race within our classes. They also answer the cross platforms listener mailbags and announce an exciting new line of ...
05.20.2020 TTT Episode 113: We Lost an Episode and Mostly Just Banter Unfortunately, due to technical issues last weeks episode will ever be lost in the ether. Obviously our Patreon subscribers will be able to hear John's half of the episode. However, for the rest of us Pete and John discuss online ...
05.06.2020 TTT Episode 111: Connecting with Your Class Online and What Matters in Online Learning Pete and John are back to start another term, different from one they have ever started before. Pete suggests some ways we can build relationships with students despite being physically separated. John explores some of John Hattie's thoughts on online ...
03.19.2020 TTT Episode 110: Covid Shutdown and Online Learning As COVID-19 continues to spread uncontrolled around the world, Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to the bubble, soon to be their own private bubbles. They discuss the imminent cessation of face-to-face teaching and the move to an online learning ...
03.16.2020 TTT Episode 109: Questioning and Out of Field Teaching This week John (@jfcatto) returns to his lane and focuses on effecting change in the classroom through different directed questioning techniques. Then, Pete (@mr_van_w) considers the challenge of teachers' teaching out of their field of expertise. John: No hands up: ...
02.26.2020 TTT Episode 108: Extra Work and A Garbage Education Report This week Pete (@mr_van_w) laments the extra workload caused by menial tasks that have no benefit to the teacher or the students but are mandated within schools or systems. New contributor Shawtima (@ShawtimaSmiles) invites us to join her on her ...
02.16.2020 TTT Episode 107: Master Teachers and Assessment Literacy This week John (@jfcatto) wades through the Grattan Institute's mammoth report recommending the implementation of Instructional Specialists and Master Teachers. Pete (@mr_van_w) highlights the idea of Assessment Literacy for teachers and to question what inferences and conclusions can be made ...
02.10.2020 TTT Episode 106: Liberty in Learning and Is HALT Worth The Effort? This week Pete (@mr_van_w) ponders an interview from one of our our stable mates ERRR that makes him question how progressive is too progressive. John (@jfcatto) then discusses something close to his heart; teacher accreditation at the higher levels of ...
02.03.2020 TTT Episode 105: Teaching in the Media and A Parable on Discovery Learning Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to the 2020 year with a rambling recap of their holidays. Pete identifies some of the obligatory media narratives that need to be trotted out at the start of another school year. John regales ...
11.28.2019 TTT Episode 104: The Cost of Resilience and the Not-so-Great Equaliser In another episode of the occasional podcast Teachers Talking Teaching John (@jfcatto) contemplates the the way in which schools and society frame resilience to children, particularly the ones that need it most. Pete (@mr_van_w) then discusses the equity of the ...
10.24.2019 TTT Episode 103: Praising Generalists and The Motivation for Innovation Another haphazard release finds Pete (@mr_van_w) just returned from ResCon in Brisbane where he was inspired by a presentation to go back to the work of John Dewey. John (@jfcatto) then is impressed by a innovative school but worried about ...
09.12.2019 TTT Episode 102: Students Don't Like (Active) Learning In a triumphant return-from-hiatus episode John (@jfcatto) and Pete (@mr_van_w) make history by bringing so such synergy to the table that they that they have read the same article. Students don't like the brain-sweats because it hurts their head. Unfortunately, ...
08.08.2019 TTT Episode 101: Personalised Learning and Student Evaluation of Teaching This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) are back and a bit more upbeat. Pete did a viva voce and really dug it. John discusses Personalised Learning and some peoples worries about privacy of third party companies from Silicon Valley. ...
07.30.2019 TTT Welcome to the club This is just a quick little episode as a welcome to those new to the profession. It's the best job in the world but it's challenging. Glad to have you on board. Stay shiny Pony Boy!
07.26.2019 TTT Episode 100: Gamified Colonialism and Teaching is Hard in Australia Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) have finally made Episode 100. Crack out a bottle of champagne and lets' celebrate... actually scrap that this one is a super downer. Listener discretion is advised. Pete, a proud Kamilaroi man, gets super angry ...
07.01.2019 TTT Episode 99: Teaching Like Magic and Reading About Yourself This week/fortnight/month Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) barely manage to get an episode out with John on the editing decks. He's pretty rubbish. John ruminates on a listener comment and laments the perceived goal of edupreneurs of aiming bigger and ...
06.13.2019 TTT Episode 98: Teachers Talking Teachers Paying Teachers and It Takes a Village (of Teachers) This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) grapple with the intersection of ideology and economic sense when it comes to www.teacherpayteachers.com. Then John highlights the staggeringly large number of people that it takes to educate a child from K-12. Pete: ...

Older episodes