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We examine why educational practices often fail to stick in schools despite initial enthusiasm and training. The key insight is that sustainable implementation requires building systems where practices become embedded in school culture rather than being treated as temporary initiatives.

• The implementation dip occurs when the "shine of the new" wears off and teachers must embed practices for the long term
• Different teachers need different types of support – some need training, others coaching, mentoring, or collaborative relationships
• Moving beyond compliance-focused implementation to helping teachers understand the purpose behind practices
• Building systems means creating conditions where the practice becomes easier to do than not to do
• Successful schools measure implementation by impact on student learning, not by teacher compliance
• Creating systems that hold practices in place when inevitable pressures of the school year emerge
• Connecting practices to outcomes helps everyone understand why implementation matters

Remember, you likely already have everything you need to make this work. Focus on building systems that will support you when things get challenging – that's when your system needs to be strongest.

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

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Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
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#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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We must be strategic about harnessing teachable moments to ensure they enhance rather than distract from our learning objectives. Even experienced educators can get swept up in exciting classroom discussions that inadvertently create inequitable learning environments.

• The satisfaction of engaging students in rich, spontaneous discussions can sometimes lead us away from our lesson objectives
• Developing a "prompt or park" decision framework helps manage student curiosity without sacrificing focus
• An "I Wonder Board" provides space to acknowledge student questions while staying on track with lesson goals
• Creating schema requires focused attention on the "one thing" students need to learn
• When we allow discussions to drift, we create inequitable situations where some students walk away with necessary background knowledge while others don't
• All learning should build toward summative tasks, so distractions that don't serve this purpose should be parked
• Assuming students have background knowledge because "they learned it last year" is risky—hope is not a strategy

Be intentional about teachable moments because in those wonderful engaging experiences, we might be distracting students from essential learning. Until next time, happy teaching!

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
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Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy Podcast, Jocelyn provides essential guidance for educational leaders navigating the complex process of selecting instructional programs. 

She introduces a research-informed practice model that balances research findings, professional knowledge, and student outcomes, while emphasising that the goal should never be simply to "get a program" but to genuinely improve student learning. Jocelyn outlines the NICE framework for decision-making and shares critical criteria to evaluate when choosing programs. 

She warns against relying on social media recommendations and stresses the importance of evidence-based decisions that prioritise struggling students, offering practical advice on how to evaluate programs through sample lessons and gradual implementation approaches that set both teachers and students up for sustained success. 

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
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#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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Too much professional development feels like a box-ticking exercise with little to show for the time invested. In this episode, Jocelyn unpacks decades of research findings to reveal the seven elements that make PD truly effective, and shows how leaders and teachers can stop wasting time and start creating lasting impact in classrooms.

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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Sustainable school improvement happens when change is done with teachers, not to them, and when professional learning builds genuine understanding rather than just compliance with programs.

• The key difference between compliance and commitment in school change
• Why program implementation alone isn't enough to transform practice
• Starting with strengths rather than deficits when approaching improvement
• Understanding the "why" behind instructional decisions, not just the "what"
• Creating genuine space for reflection and ownership in professional learning
• How collaborative approaches lead to more sustainable changes
• Balancing clear expectations with teacher professionalism
• The importance of understanding context before implementing solutions
• Why the "messier" path of collaborative change leads to better outcomes
• Helping all staff become data-informed practitioners

Join us next episode as we dive into the research on effective professional learning and explore what makes it truly transformative.

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode, Jocelyn unpacks a crucial distinction in the world of education: the difference between professional learning that simply ticks a box and learning that leads to lasting transformation in classrooms. Drawing on her experience as both a teacher and professional learning facilitator, Jocelyn explores the essential elements of impactful PL—from long-term commitment and real-world relevance to leadership support and collaborative action. If you’ve ever sat through a PD session wondering, “Will this actually make a difference?”, this episode is for you.

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn challenges the common assumption that teacher confidence equals competence, drawing on the Dunning-Kruger effect to show how the least skilled teachers often overestimate their abilities while knowledgeable educators frequently doubt themselves. Using her Responsive Leadership Model, she demonstrates how different developmental phases create mismatches between confidence and actual capacity, advocating for educational leaders to focus on observable teaching actions, instructional decision-making quality, and student learning outcomes rather than subjective confidence measures. 

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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Professional judgment grows from a foundation of deep, defensible knowledge about how learning actually works. When you understand the cognitive science behind reading development, why systematic phonics instruction matters, and how orthographic mapping occurs, you're equipped to make informed decisions rather than simply following a script. Yet the strongest professional judgment comes from those constantly willing to question their own assumptions. This balance—being confident in what you know while remaining curious about what you don't—is the hallmark of truly effective teachers. 

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics

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In this episode of the Structured Literacy podcast, Jocelyn argues for reintroducing regular read-alouds in upper primary classrooms, which have largely disappeared amid the focus on explicit, systematic instruction. She explores how interactive read-alouds build oral language foundations that support reading fluency through developing students' "language prediction engine"—the ability to anticipate what words come next based on vocabulary and syntax knowledge. 

Drawing on research showing that interactive read-alouds with vocabulary elaboration significantly improve student vocabulary and comprehension, Jocelyn provides practical strategies for strategic text selection, meaningful interaction, and curriculum integration while maintaining the joy and engagement that fosters lifelong reading habits. 

Lead the Shift That Lasts
The only whole-school transformation pathway that builds trust, develops teacher thinking, and equips leaders to lead sustainable change from within while building a deep understanding of human cognition and evidence-based practice. 

We are now taking bookings for 2026 to support those who are Leading Learning Success.

Click the link to book your discovery call. https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/leadinglearning

Quick Links
Jocelyn Seamer Education Homepage
The Resource Room
Youtube channel
Facebook Page

#jocelynseamereducation #literacy #bestpractice #earlyprimaryyears #primaryschool #primaryschools #primaryschoolteacher #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #structuredliteracy #scienceofreading #classroom #learning #learningisfun #studentsuccess #studentsupport #teacherlife #theresourceroom #theevergreenteacher #upperprimary #upperprimaryteacher #thestructuredliteracypodcast #phoneme #grapheme #phonics #syntheticphonics