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. There is a certain romance in education about the idea of “Productive Struggle.” The notion goes … Continue reading Direct Instruction Motivation, Part 3: Success, Not Struggle
S5E02: Linda Diamond & Paige Pullen on Connecting Learning, Literacy, and Instruction
In this powerful episode, I’m joined by two of the most influential voices in literacy education today—Linda Diamond and Paige Pullen. With decades of experience in education, Linda and Paige bring clarity to the evidence-based education movement and the science of reading in particular. Together, we dive into their framework of three interrelated sciences—Learning Science, … Continue reading S5E02: Linda Diamond & Paige Pullen on Connecting Learning, Literacy, and Instruction
Why I’m Skeptical About Pre-Testing
I was recently invited to debate the utility of “pre-testing” or pre-questions as an instructional strategy in a new webinar with my friends at InnerDrive (link here). I wish I had prepared and performed better, but it turned out to be good fun anyway. Below is the recording, as well as some lingering thoughts about … Continue reading Why I’m Skeptical About Pre-Testing
Big DI and little di
When I talk about Direct and Explicit Instruction, I try to emphasize an important distinction. Big DI refers to Direct Instruction (capital D, capital I): the Engelmann-designed, scripted, highly validated programs with decades of research behind them. These programs are precise, carefully field-tested, and engineered so that success is the default outcome. Big DI is … Continue reading Big DI and little di
The Truth About Lesson Planning
The first truth about lesson planning is a paradox: In a perfect world, it wouldn’t even exist. Designing curriculum and instruction is its own science, and a difficult one at that. When well-designed programs (e.g., Direct Instruction) are in place, the heavy lifting of content analysis, sequencing and integrating of concepts, and field-testing of lessons … Continue reading The Truth About Lesson Planning
S5E01: Greg Ashman on Explicit Teaching and Inquiry Learning
Welcome to Season 5 of Progressively Incorrect! In this special premiere episode, I’m joined by Greg Ashman, a leading advocate for explicit instruction and one of the most important voices in education today. We begin by analyzing a new video from Jo Boaler, where she casts “step-by-step instruction” as the villain in favor of an … Continue reading S5E01: Greg Ashman on Explicit Teaching and Inquiry Learning
Harnessing the Science of Learning
If you haven’t heard of the book Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Help Kickstart Your School Improvement … where you been? I was honored to contribute two chapters to Nathaniel Swain’s latest book—a resource that bridges the gap between cognitive science and real-world classroom practice. My chapters focused on cognitive load theory … Continue reading Harnessing the Science of Learning
Voices of Direct Instruction
As I embark on another year of advocacy for evidence and powerful instruction, I’m excited to share a project I started for the National Institute for Direct Instruction: DI Voices. It's a YouTube playlist and podcast filled with raw, bite-sized conversations captured between sessions using just my phone. Real educators, principals, researchers, and NIFDI team … Continue reading Voices of Direct Instruction
Cognitive Bottlenecks and Clarity in Teaching
I recently joined Robyn Young on her podcast Behind the Educator’s Lens for a conversation that felt refreshingly honest. We talked about cognitive science, instructional clarity, and why sometimes the most effective thing a teacher can do is simply… tell students what they need to know. This builds on the work I started at the … Continue reading Cognitive Bottlenecks and Clarity in Teaching
S4E39: Shawn Datchuk on Teaching Sentence Construction with Precision
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Dr. Shawn Datchuk, a leading researcher who’s helped shape how we think about sentence construction for struggling learners. Drawing from the literature on Precision Teaching and Direct Instruction, Shawn shares how timed practice and explicit strategies can accelerate mastery in writing, especially for students with learning … Continue reading S4E39: Shawn Datchuk on Teaching Sentence Construction with Precision
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