This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its structure, pace, and design motivate kids better than any other system. If momentum is the first ingredient of motivation, the second is acknowledgment. Direct Instruction … Continue reading Direct Instruction Motivation Part 2: Productive Praise| Education Rickshaw
I recently joined Dylan Wiliam and Patrice Bain on the Knowledge Matters Podcast to talk about retrieval practice, mini whiteboards, and the kinds of instructional moves that actually help students remember what they’ve learned. It was a generous conversation – one that didn’t just skim the surface of techniques, but dug into why they matter. … Continue reading Knowledge Is Back—But Only If We Teach It Well| Education Rickshaw
Most professional development doesn’t develop teachers. No one checks whether you can do the thing that you were supposed to learn at the workshop. In fact, it’s rarely expected, beyond the occasional ice-breaker, that participants even participate. This is why my experience this week at the National Direct Instruction (DI) Conference, and its emphasis on … Continue reading Where PD Ends and Real Training Begins| Education Rickshaw
This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its structure, pace, and design motivate kids better than any other system. Momentum is fragile. Linger too long, and you’ll lose them. Ask a question the … Continue reading Direct Instruction Motivation Part 1: Keep It Moving| Education Rickshaw
I’m an advocate for evidence-based instruction, and one of the few shining areas in that space is early reading. The science of reading provides a wealth of insights into how the mind learns to decode, comprehend, and engage with text. But simply knowing what goes into a science-based literacy block or textbook isn’t enough—students require … Continue reading Science of Reading Meets Explicit Instruction| Education Rickshaw
If you follow this blog, you will know that I produce a lot of free content for teachers and instructional leaders. Subscribing gets you direct access to my podcast, Progressively Incorrect, plus information about upcoming events that are worth your time. I recently recorded this webinar with Blake Harvard, the author of Do I Have Your … Continue reading Maximizing Attention and Teacher Talk (Webinar Recording)| Education Rickshaw
Neurodivergent people are treated as noise to be filtered out in most studies supporting the “science of learning”. We are discounted as outliers. Our needs and ways of being are deemed too inconvenient to consider. So, the vast majority of studies just ignore us. The post The Incredible Inconvenience of the Neurodivergent to the “Science of Learning”: You’ll Never See Us Through Your Complexity Controls first appeared on Stimpunks Foundation.| Stimpunks Foundation
I’m often told that schools don’t have time to focus on teaching and learning. The reality is they don’t make time. Instructional coaching doesn’t demand a ton of time—it takes just 20-30 minutes to deliver a sharp and purposeful feedback session around a single, granular action step. Done right, it not only improves instruction but … Continue reading When something matters, we make time for it| Education Rickshaw
Blake Harvard, a teacher and author of the best-selling book, Do I have your attention?, and I share an obsession with improving teaching through evidence-based practices. A major focus of both of our work is the translation of principles of learning science into practical strategies that can be used in tomorrow’s lesson. You can hear … Continue reading Harnessing Attention and Explaining Better| Education Rickshaw
I was recently invited onto Chris Baker’s podcast/YouTube hybrid series, Leadership Launchpad, to discuss some of the things I have learned over the last few years about consulting and PD. It is, surprisingly, a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times! I am quite proud of the result, and I think you’ll appreciate some of … Continue reading Teacher PD Without Ice Breakers| Education Rickshaw
In the latest episode of the Unlocking Dyscalculia podcast, Adrianne Meldrum sits down with Dr. Zach Groshell, author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching, to explore why direct, well-scaffolded teaching is essential—especially for students with learning disabilities like dyscalculia.| Education Rickshaw
In education, nothing is truly new. Consider project-based learning, which made its debut in the 18th century under the guise of “The Project Method.” Inquiry-based learning has similarly worn many hats over the years, from discovery learning to exploratory learning to experiential learning. As the veteran teachers have long said, everything old becomes new again. … Continue reading Building Thinking Classrooms is Repackaged Discovery Learning| Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Lynn Gaffney on Progressively Incorrect, a passionate educator and leader known for her deep commitment to bridging research and practice in schools. Lynn brings a weal…| Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Daisy Christodoulou, an esteemed author and education expert renowned for her groundbreaking work on curriculum and assessment. Daisy’s thought-provoking insights have reshaped the way educators approach teaching, and her books, including “Seven Myths About Education,” have become essential reads in the field. In this episode, Daisy will delve into … Continue reading S4E25: Daisy Christodoulou on Assessment Practices and Challenges| Education Rickshaw
Today I am excited to be bringing you an episode of the DI podcast with Randi Saulter and Ann Baum. Randi and Ann are two passionate special education teachers who will take us through what Zig Eng…| Education Rickshaw
Hi everyone, Zach Groshell here. Avid readers of my website will know that I was recently on a show called The Literacy View, which is also one of the podcasts in my listening rotation. It was with great excitement that I was able to snag hosts Judy and Faith for a very Literacy View episode … Continue reading S4E23: Faith Borkowsky and Judy Boksner on “What’s Hot” in Literacy| Education Rickshaw
Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect. Fans of my blogs might remember the interview series that J.R. Wilson and Barry Garelick provided around their book, Traditional Math. I’m excited to bring you the voices behind this common sense approach to math instruction. In our chat, we talk about a wide range of topics, including… 1. Breaking … Continue reading S4E22: J.R. Wilson and Barry Garelick on Engagement and Conceptual Teaching in Math| Education Rickshaw
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…| Education Rickshaw
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 w…| Education Rickshaw
Last year, Amanda VanDerHeyden, while interviewing for my podcast, began listing schools and organizations that had been championing the science of learning long before the term had entered our vernacular. Knowing I was from Seattle, she casually remarked, “And of course, you’re familiar with Morningside Academy.” No, I had never heard of Morningside Academy, nor … Continue reading A Free Webinar on Precision Teaching| Education Rickshaw
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?| Education Rickshaw
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| Education Rickshaw
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| Education Rickshaw
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, …| Education Rickshaw
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. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress This is the … Continue reading S4E15: Brendan Lee and Zach Groshell on Effective Leadership| Education Rickshaw
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 …| Education Rickshaw
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. It is now Amazon’s newest BEST-SELLING book in education! Listen and … Continue reading S4E10: Nathaniel Swain, Steven Capp, and Katie Roberts-Hull on Harnessing the Science of Learning| Education Rickshaw
I am hosting a free instructional coaching webinar on November 25, 2024. Sign up here and join me and special guests to learn about Steplab’s platform and approach to responsive coaching. I recently had the opportunity to present at researchED Chile. You can listen to me interview Rodrigo Lopez, the conference organizer, on Progressively Incorrect about … Continue reading 4 researchED Keynotes You Can Watch for Free| Education Rickshaw
On November 25, 2024, I am hosting a free instructional coaching webinar to correspond with the launch of our Coaching Ambassador Program (North America). Click here to learn about the different pathways that we have available and register for the webinar! Are you a principal who is looking to develop talent, foster an open-door culture … Continue reading How Steplab Supercharges Instructional Coaching| Education Rickshaw
I am excited to bring you an episode of the Thinking Out Loud series with my friend, Gene Tavernetti, from his podcast, Better Teaching Only Stuff that Works. I am hosting a free instructional coaching webinar on November 25, 2024. Sign up here and join me and special guests to learn about Steplab’s platform and approach … Continue reading S4E9: Thinking Out Loud… What is it Like to be Coached?| Education Rickshaw
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. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress This episode is … Continue reading S4E8: Christopher Such on Practical Approaches to Science of Reading Implementation| Education Rickshaw
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. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress This is the … Continue reading S4E7: Brendan Lee and Zach Groshell on Coaching, Culture and Change| Education Rickshaw
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. Listen and subscribe to this podcast on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress Today I am … Continue reading S4E6: Robin Codding on Fluency and Strategies to Support Intervention Implementation| Education Rickshaw
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. Listen and subscribe to this podcast on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress Today I am … Continue reading S4E4: Tamara Bressi on Effective Coaching for Direct Instruction| Education Rickshaw
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. Listen and subscribe to this podcast on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress In this episode … Continue reading S4E3: Brendan Lee and Zach Groshell on the Nuances of Teaching Effectively| Education Rickshaw
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. In this episode, I catch up with Rodrigo Lopez to talk … Continue reading S4E2: Rodrigo Lopez on Putting Principles into Practice in Chile| Education Rickshaw
Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect, a show sponsored by John Catt from Hodder Education and hosted by me, Dr. Zach Groshell. Listen and subscribe to this podcast on…SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress In this episode, me and my friend Gene Tavernetti catch up after a busy summer to talk about strategies for effective modeling from the new book, … Continue reading S4E1: Just Tell Them – The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching| Education Rickshaw
Have a listen to me talk about explicit instruction and Engelmann’s DI in this episode of The Saturday Lunch Show with Jamie Clark! Interested in having me over to train your staff? Send me a message through my Contact page.| Education Rickshaw
Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect and to the season 3 Finale of this podcast. In this final episode before I take a break for the summer, we are going out with a bang by bringing back one of the most respected and influential cognitive psychologists in the world, Paul Kirschner. Before we go over to … Continue reading S3E21: Paul Kirschner on “Let’s Talk Evidence” and the Latest Debates Over Inquiry Learning| Education Rickshaw
Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect, I am your host, Dr. Zach Groshell. This episode is the second of two DI podcast episodes that I am releasing this weekend ahead of the Progressively Incorrect Season 3 finale with Paul Kirschner. Progressively Incorrect is brought to you by John Catt Educational, which publishes some of the best books … Continue reading S3E20: Casey Sovo on Improving Reading Outcomes for Indigenous Students| Education Rickshaw
Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect, I am your host, Dr. Zach Groshell. Today I am excited to be bringing you the first of two DI podcast episodes that I will be releasing this weekend ahead of the Progressively Incorrect Season 3 finale with Paul Kirschner. My guests are DI mathematics experts Marcy Stein and Bernadette … Continue reading S3E19: Marcy Stein and Bernadette Kelly on Direct Instruction Mathematics| Education Rickshaw
Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect, I am your host, Dr. Zach Groshell. Today I am thrilled to be speaking with Meg Lee and Jim Heal, two educators at the cutting-edge of evidence-based education. They’re going to be talking to us about the work they’re doing to scale the science of learning up and across this … Continue reading S3E18: Meg Lee and Jim Heal on Evidence-Informed Practice at Scale| Education Rickshaw
Every week, I write a short blurb about teaching and learning for my school’s parent newsletter. I’ve decided to post old ones on this site from time to time (Here is the archive). If you’re interested in hiring me to lead PD for this or next year, please get in touch. – Dr. G How … Continue reading How can we show appreciation for our teachers? (Parent Digest #6)| Education Rickshaw
Take a look at the screenshot below. It shows a learning activity containing a menu with two choices. Clicking the right button leads to a problem that the student must solve, and clicking the left…| Education Rickshaw