Chalk & Talk

• When a mathematician became education minister: Nuno Crato on transforming education (Ep 58)

  In this episode, Anna Stokke welcomes Dr. Nuno Crato, research professor of mathematics and statistics at the University of Lisbon. He was Portugal’s former Minister of Education and led major education reforms from 2011 to 2015.  His education reforms contributed to Portugal’s strongest-ever results on international assessments like PISA and TIMSS. Nuno shares his belief that everything starts with the curriculum and stresses the importance of clear standards, accountability, and student support. He also explains how Portugal raised academic rigor while helping struggling learners. They also discuss what Nuno’s research on PISA and TIMSS reveal about the characteristics of effective education systems and the lessons policymakers can draw from Portugal’s success. This episode is a must-listen for educators, policymakers, and anyone with an interest in improving education. This episode is also available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke Nuno Crato’s website: https://www.nunocrato.org   TIMESTAMPS [00:00:22] Introduction [00:05:12] Becoming Portugal’s Minister of Education [00:08:51] Adjusting to the position of Minister of Education [00:13:07] The landscape of the Portuguese Education System, early 2000s [00:19:08] The importance of a good curriculum [00:23:07] Using TIMSS data to structure a knowledge-based curriculum [00:26:22] Using testing to ensure curriculum goals are met [00:29:11] Concerns about project-based learning [00:34:18] Standard assessments and evaluations [00:39:31] Accountability markers and incentives for standard assessments [00:43:08] Addressing testing and accountability criticisms [00:44:59] Becoming informed about evidence-based pedagogy [00:48:23] What PISA data reveals about effective types of instruction [00:51:04] Does more money spent on education translate to better outcomes? [00:52:15] What changes are more likely to lead to better outcomes? [00:54:58] Results of PISA and TIMSS in 2015 Portugal [00:59:53] Pushback to education reforms and where it came from [01:04:54] Advice to policymakers RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES  From decline to top rankings: How England transformed education with Nick Gibb https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zps9p-18c1e97 The importance of practice and the power of Math Corps with Alex Kontorovich https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-d8bef-1916f6d EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-58-resources   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-58-transcript   MUSIC Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it Website: www.annastokke.com X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

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• Top takeaways from Anita Archer on explicit instruction (abridged version of Ep 57)

  This episode features top takeaways from Anna Stokke’s interview: The Power of Explicit Instruction with Dr. Anita Archer. If you haven’t heard the full conversation yet, you can find the entire episode on the Chalk & Talk YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/EE5wvi-xQTM?si=Wx8W4eb5YOqdWEvM Anita is one of the world’s leading experts on explicit instruction and co-author of the bestselling book Explicit Instruction: Effective and Efficient Teaching.  Resource page: https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-57-resources

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• The power of explicit instruction with Anita Archer (Ep 57)

  Episode 57:  The power of explicit instruction with Anita Archer In this episode, Anna Stokke welcomes Dr. Anita Archer, one of the world’s leading experts on explicit instruction and co-author of the bestselling book Explicit Instruction: Effective and Efficient Teaching. They discuss what explicit instruction is, why it’s both effective and efficient, and what the research says about its impact. Together, they discuss who benefits from explicit instruction, common mistakes teachers make, and practical strategies such as the “I do, we do, you do” model. Dr. Archer also shares insights from her 50-year career in education and offers advice for teachers looking to strengthen their instructional practices and help all students succeed.   This episode is also available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke   TIMESTAMPS [00:00:22] Introduction [00:05:26] Anita’s background in explicit instruction [00:07:30] The three big C’s (clear, concise, and consistent) [00:10:25] What is explicit Instruction? [00:13:30] Problems with multiple strategies [00:15:50] Explicit instruction is effective and efficient [00:20:58] Research on explicit instruction [00:27:11] Who does explicit instruction benefit? [00:30:56] When to begin using explicit instruction [00:38:24] Lack of awareness about effectiveness of explicit instruction [00:42:32] Teaching well from the start reduces tier 2 intervention [00:45:55] identifying the different stages/phases: I do, we do, you do [00:44:48] Phase 1: I do [00:47:43] Phase 2: We do [00:49:47] Phase 3: You do [00:53:29] Importance of giving students opportunities to respond [00:58:57] What are unison choral responses? [01:03:17] The importance of structured turn and talks [01:08:31] Resource recommendations and Archerisms RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES  The Science of Math with Amanda VanDerHeyden https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-3-the-science-of-math-with-amanda-vanderheyden/   Maximizing learning through explicit instruction with Zach Groshell https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-10-maximizing-learning-through-explicit-instruction-with-zach-groshell/   Balanced literacy didn’t work—will balanced math? with Ben Solomon https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/balanced-literacy-didn-t-work%e2%80%94will-balanced-math-with-ben-solomon-ep-54/   EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-57-resources EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-57-transcript MUSIC Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it Website: www.annastokke.com X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

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• Unmasking instructional illusions with Paul Kirschner, Carl Hendrick and Jim Heal (Ep 56)

  In this episode, Anna Stokke welcomes three leading experts in education, Dr. Paul Kirschner, Dr. Carl Hendrick, and Dr. Jim Heal for a fascinating discussion about their new book, Instructional Illusions. Drawing on decades of experience and research, they explore key ideas from the book, including how to bridge the gap between educational research and classroom practice. Together, they discuss the science of learning, evidence-informed teaching, and how educators can apply research insights to improve instruction. This engaging conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about effective teaching and student learning.   Register for the Masterclass:  Evidence-informed Mathematics Teaching, La Trobe School of Education   Read the book, Instructional Illusions, here: https://tinyurl.com/instructional-illusions    TIMESTAMPS [00:00:22] Introductions [00:05:15] What are Instructional Illusions? [00:07:30] The difference between illusions and myths [00:11:13] The discovery illusion [00:12:50] Why do people believe in discovery learning? [00:19:50] The curse of knowledge [00:24:29] The innovation illusion [00:30:01] Unmasking the innovation illusion [00:32:59] The expertise Illusion [00:38:04] The Dunning-Kruger effect [00:43:48] Unmasking the expertise illusion [00:47:50] The uniqueness illusion [00:50:52] The engagement illusion [00:57:10] Shifting the focus to cognitive engagement [01:01:28] The student-centred illusion [01:05:00] Unmasking the student-centred illusion [01:06:23] Is the science of learning a fad? RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES  Evidence Based Teaching Strategies with Paul Kirschner https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/ep2-evidence-based-teaching-strategies-with-paul-kirschner/   Mindsets and Misconceptions with Carl Hendrick https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-22-mindsets-and-misconceptions-with-carl-hendrick/   EPISODE RESOURCES Why Minimal Guidance During Instruction Does Not Work: An Analysis of the Failure of Constructivist, Discovery, Problem-Based, Experiential, and Inquiry-Based Teaching: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15326985ep4102_1 EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-56-transcript   MUSIC Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it Website: www.annastokke.com X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

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• Mailbag: How to get started with evidence-based math instruction & tackle gaps with Jonathan Regino (Ep 55)

  In this episode, Anna Stokke hosts an informative mailbag edition with guest Jonathan Regino, supervisor of math (pre-K-12) at Interboro School District in Pennsylvania and an experienced classroom teacher. Drawing on their combined experience and expertise, they tackle listener questions, ranging from how to address large knowledge gaps among students to program recommendations. They also offer guidance on becoming informed about evidence-based practices, effective ways to assess students, and more. This engaging conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to strengthen math instruction and improve student learning.   This episode is also available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke   Register for the Masterclass:  Evidence-informed Mathematics Teaching, La Trobe School of Education   TIMESTAMPS [00:00:22] Introduction [00:04:52] Question 1: How can new teachers learn about evidence-based practices? [00:09:52] Book recommendations [00:16:08] researchED [00:18:12] Question 2: Grading math assessments with points versus using standards-based grading [00:23:00] The 1,2,3,4 scale breakdown [00:26:16] Consistency with the grading system [00:27:30] Question 3: Free class-wide interventions to address math knowledge gaps [00:28:40] Delta Math RtI [00:33:09] Supporting high school math students with large knowledge gaps [00:38:46] Recommended resources [00:43:22] Question 4: England’s times table check [00:47:40] Question 5: Are spiraling programs ineffective? [00:50:02] Understanding spiraling vs. interleaving vs. spaced practice [00:56:14] Program recommendations [00:59:44] Final thoughts   RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES  From decline to top rankings: How England transformed education with Nick Gibb https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zps9p-18c1e97 Cognitive load theory in math class with David Morkunas https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-znh5k-15f7937 Rocking the times tables with Bruno Reddy https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/rocking-the-times-tables-with-bruno-reddy/ Math fact crisis: Strategies for improving numeracy with Brian Poncy https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/math-fact-crisis-strategies-for-improving-numeracy-with-brian-poncy/   EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-55-resources   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-55-transcript   MUSIC Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it Website: www.annastokke.com X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

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