Brian Poncy on Math Facts with Zach Groshell
Zach Groshell Education, Language, Learning, Math, motivation, PD, Progressively Incorrect, relationships, Research, Science of Learning, Student, Teachers

S5E12: Brian Poncy on Better Ways to Teach Math Facts

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brian Poncy to explore a claim you’ve probably heard in schools: “Teaching math facts interferes with understanding.” From there, we dig into better ways to think about math facts, what schools can do differently, and the practical decisions that show up when schools decide to take facts … Continue reading S5E12: Brian Poncy on Better Ways to Teach Math Facts

Alex Gingell and Zach Groshell
Zach Groshell Education, Language, Learning, Math, motivation, PD, Progressively Incorrect, relationships, Research, Science of Learning, Student, Teachers

S5E11: Alex Gingell on Setting the Culture and Conditions for Effective Instructional Coaching

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Gingell to unpack what it actually takes to make instructional coaching work in a school. Alex explains why his first priority wasn’t improving teaching, but stabilizing behavior, curriculum, and trust—and why coaching can only succeed once those foundations are secure. We talk through how he used Steplab … Continue reading S5E11: Alex Gingell on Setting the Culture and Conditions for Effective Instructional Coaching

Zach Groshell Education

How to Make Coaching Work — Every Time, With Every Teacher

When I first started teaching, I was fortunate. I got paired with two people who made a real difference in my development: a math coach and my mentor teacher. Neither had a formal coaching framework. They didn’t have an evidence-informed approach or shared language for what “good” looked like. Still, they helped me grow - … Continue reading How to Make Coaching Work — Every Time, With Every Teacher

Zach Groshell Education

Take an Edu-Trip to New York City

When I first started teaching, the best professional development I received came from two people: the math coach at my school and my assigned mentor teacher. It wasn’t perfect. The math coach only focused on math, and my mentor teacher often had to teach her own class while I was in front of mine. Still, … Continue reading Take an Edu-Trip to New York City

Zach Groshell Education, Inquiry, Language, Learning, Math, motivation, Science of Learning, Student, Teachers

Knowledge Is Back—But Only If We Teach It Well

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

Zach Groshell Classroom management, differentiation, Education, Instructional coaching, Interviews, Language, Learning, Math, motivation, Research, Science of Learning, Student, Teachers

Defining Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction

Something about the label, direct instruction, seems to conjure images of boring lectures. The change to using explicit instruction was probably, at least in part, an attempt to remedy this, just like how testing got changed to retrieval practice to avoid associations with standardized tests. Retrieval is still testing, and explicit instruction is still direct, … Continue reading Defining Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction

Zach Groshell Classroom management, differentiation, Education, Instructional coaching, Interviews, Language, Learning, Math, motivation, Research, Science of Learning, Student, Teachers

The Literacy View & Lucy Calkins

I was recently invited to speak on The Literacy View, where we had a laugh and discussed some of the policies that are being put in place to filter out nonsense in some of the worst reading programs, like three cueing. We also sipped to our concerns that the gurus of balanced literacy past may … Continue reading The Literacy View & Lucy Calkins

Zach Groshell Classroom management, differentiation, Education, Instructional coaching, Interviews, Language, Learning, Math, motivation, Research, Science of Learning, Student, Teachers

Just Tell Them, Don’t Play Guessing Games

Today I was interviewed by Robert Pondiscio, who has hosted talks by me before. It will be a while before that article is published, so in the meantime, I thought I would share two media appearances of my new book, Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching. 1. Just Tell Them: A … Continue reading Just Tell Them, Don’t Play Guessing Games

Zach Groshell Classroom management, differentiation, Education, Instructional coaching, Interviews, Language, Learning, Math, motivation, Research, Science of Learning, Student, Teachers

Explicit Teaching: A Podcast and a Webinar

Training opportunity approaching!!! 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. Several people have asked me recently if explicit teaching and structured learning is making a comeback. I cannot be sure, because the people who … Continue reading Explicit Teaching: A Podcast and a Webinar

Zach Groshell Education, Inquiry, Instructional coaching, motivation, Papers and Podcasts, Progressively Incorrect, Research, Science of Learning, Teachers, technology, Top Posts

S4E9: Thinking Out Loud… What is it Like to be Coached?

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?