Mr Barton Maths Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Ollie Lovell sent me a recording of a maths lesson he had recently taught in a school he has been supporting. I suggested we discuss the lesson, centring around Ollie’s planning, the decisions he made, and his responses in the lesson. Fortunately, Ollie agreed, hence what you are listening to now.

I have shared the video clips from the sections of the lesson that we discussed on the show-note page here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/ollie-lesson

In this conversation, Craig Barton and Ollie Lovell discuss various topics related to teaching and professional development. They touch on the importance of aligning pedagogy in schools and the potential benefits and drawbacks of co-constructing instructional practices. They also discuss effective strategies for delivering CPD, including cold calling participants and switching partners during activities. Craig shares his takeaways from attending CPD sessions by Doug Lemov and from Ollie's conversation with Harry Fletcher-Wood. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of thoughtful and intentional approaches to teaching and professional development. In this part of the conversation, Craig and Ollie discuss the importance of effective training and the role of habits in learning. They also explore the power of writing as a tool for participation and reflection. They highlight the need for visible writing to facilitate discussion and the benefits of rewriting to deepen understanding. They also discuss the importance of pushing conversations to a higher level to uncover underlying beliefs and assumptions. Finally, they reflect on the challenges of one-off PD sessions and the value of distilling wisdom into actionable takeaways. You can view the shownotes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/tools-and-tips-for-teachers-14

Time-stamps:

1. Should school teaching and learning playbooks be constructed? (07:54)
2. Reflections on Doug Lemov CPD (29:17)
3. Effective training focusses on developing habits (44:08)
4. The power of writing (59:01)
5. During tricky conversations, push to a higher level (1:08:43)
6. The importance (and perils) of models during CPD (1:22:04)

In this episode, Craig, Ollie, and special guest Zach Groschel discuss various topics related to education. They start by introducing themselves and discussing their current locations. Then, they dive into the importance of standardizing entry and exit routines in schools. They also explore the concept of relentless precision in holding high standards and the obstacles to understanding that teachers may face. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for clear expectations, effective coaching, and ongoing support in education. The conversation covers obstacles to understanding, effective explanations, checking for listening, refining the list, gradual release of responsibility, six direct instruction shifts, and self-explanation. The conversation explores the pre-test effect, the value of mass practice, the importance of discriminative contrast in interleaving, and the role of similarity in interleaving. You can access the show notes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/tools-and-tips-for-teachers-8

Time-stamps:

1. Standardizing classroom entry and rewards for students. (8:45)
2. Classroom management strategies for quiet and focused learning. (13:06)
3. Implementing a new behavior system in a school. (16:55)
4. Implementing a behavior change initiative in schools. (22:56)
5. Improving school standards through coaching and precision. (26:07)
6. Holding high standards in schools. (30:42)
7. Sustaining high standards in teaching and coaching. (36:18)
8. Coaching in education, obstacles to understanding. (41:03)
9. Obstacles to understanding in teaching. (44:50)
10. Clear explanations in teaching. (49:57)
11. Teaching strategies and checklists for effective explanations. (55:30)
12. Gradual release of scaffolding in teaching. (1:02:22)
13. Teaching strategies for language learning. (1:07:30)
14. Gradual release of responsibility in teaching. (1:12:21)
15. Teaching strategies and frameworks. (1:16:09)
16. Self-explanation in education. (1:19:37)
17. Self-explanation in teaching and learning. (1:23:42)
18. Self-explanation in teaching and learning. (1:28:28)
19. Pre-testing and interleaving in math education. (1:32:42)
20. Motivating students through math education. (1:37:42)
21. Interleaving and spaced practice in learning. (1:41:05)
22. Teaching math concepts through spaced repetition and interleaving. (1:48:32)
23. Interleaving and practice strategies in education. (1:51:49)
24. Teaching, learning, and poetry. (1:57:31)

Emma is a former maths teacher who now trains teachers in ITE and FE. She is a self-confessed Maths geek and the author of the superb of 'Making every maths lesson count'. On this episode Emma shares three fantastic ideas from her book, we discuss the challenges novice teachers face, and what the Learning Curriculum is all about.

For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/emma-mccrea-making-every-maths-lesson-count-training-teachers-and-the-learning-curriculum/ 

Alex is a journalist, the man who runs the Guardian’s fortnightly Monday puzzle, and the author of some of the best-loved Maths books of recent times, including Alex’s Adventures in Numberland. As I found out, he is also just a brilliant person to have a chat to. We talk about puzzles, writing about maths, the perception of our subject, and plenty more!

For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/alex-bellos-puzzles-perception-and-pool-tables/ 

Julia is a former teacher, who is now a teacher trainer, author, and pioneer of the 5Rs approach. This simple way of breaking down lessons into manageable chunks, each of which serves a key purpose, has been revolutionary in terms of the impact it has had on GCSE resit students. But, as we examine in this conversation, its application could go much wider.

For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/julia-smith-teaching-gcse-resit-and-the-5rs/ 

In a special episode of the show, I speak to AQA's resident multiple choice question guru, Zeek Sweiry to discuss the merits of diagnostic multiple choice questions both as a teaching tool and a tool of assessment.

For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/multiple-choice-questions-on-trial-with-aqas-zeek-sweiry/ 

Rob is a mathematician, author, presenter and puzzle writer. In this episode we delve deep into the importance of estimation, even in the an age of technology. We also cover the public perception of maths, humour in lessons, the writing and answering of maths puzzles, the relationship between cricket and maths, and even a bit of parenting advice. It is a good one!

For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/rob-eastaway-estimation-perception-of-maths-and-the-importance-of-haha/

Bradley Busch and Edward Watson have worked in the fields of education, sport and business, looking at research-informed strategies that help get the very best out of people. Their book - The Science of Learning - is one of the most accessible, easily-actionable education books I have read. In this conversation we discuss everything from research into memory, mobile phones and motivation.

For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/the-science-of-learning-77-studies-that-every-teacher-needs-to-know/ 

The band are back together again to reflect on what they learned in 2018/19. Expect contributions from the likes of Dylan Wiliam, Mary Myatt, Harry Fletcher-Wood, Tom Bennett, Oli Caviglioli, and many, many, many more. Roll on the summer!

For more information about today’s guest, plus links to the websites, resources and ideas they mention, please visit the show notes page: http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/blog/slice-of-advice-2019-what-did-you-learn-this-year/