Explicit instruction

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Modelled writing in KS2: Making revisions (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · Years 3-6 · UK

A Key Stage 2 teacher in England models how she revises and edits her own writing, questioning herself aloud as she re-reads so students see the process. Reflection prompts are included.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

Anita Archer (explicitinstruction.org)

Lesson footage

Active participation instruction, 2nd grade (Anita Archer) (opens in a new tab)

Anita Archer (explicitinstruction.org) · Primary · USA

Anita Archer models explicit instruction in a primary classroom.

FreeOpens at explicitinstruction.org

NSW Department of Education

Lesson with commentary

Explicit phonics instruction: Illustration of practice (opens in a new tab)

NSW Department of Education · 6 short videos · F-2 · Australia

Six short videos follow teachers at Newcastle East Public School through one phonics teaching cycle, from joint planning and review to modelled, guided and independent practice, with reflection questions.

FreeOpens at education.nsw.gov.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Gradual release of responsibility in writing at Key Stage 2 (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · Years 3-6 · UK

Gradually handing responsibility to pupils, with support for revising their writing.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

AERO

Lesson with commentary

Explicit instruction in mathematics (opens in a new tab)

AERO · 6:25 · Primary · Australia

Victorian primary teacher Sue Davis teaches place value and adding 100 to four-digit numbers in small steps, using base-10 blocks and place value charts and checking understanding before moving on.

FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Teaching writing composition strategies (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

A whole-school approach to modelling and scaffolding writing in primary classrooms.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

AERO

Lesson with commentary

Explicit instruction at Loxton Primary School (opens in a new tab)

AERO · 3:35 · Year 1 · Australia

Year 1 teachers at Loxton Primary School use explicit instruction in their classrooms.

FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Fluency: Modelled fluent reading (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

A teacher models fluent reading as part of guided oral reading.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

ONlit

Lesson footage

Explicit Vocabulary Instruction Demonstration (Anita Archer) (opens in a new tab)

ONlit · Upper primary and above · North America

Anita Archer teaches an explicit vocabulary lesson to older students, with every student actively taking part.

FreeOpens at onlit.org

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Breaking down complex writing tasks (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

Modelling and scaffolding a complex writing task in a post-16 lesson.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

Reading Universe

Demonstration

How to Teach a Phonics Lesson (opens in a new tab)

Reading Universe · F-2 · USA

A series that shows a strong phonics lesson routine and teaches you how to deliver it.

FreeOpens at readinguniverse.org

Lesson with commentary

Great Teaching, Unpacked episode 3: Securing success (opens in a new tab)

Steplab · 44:06 · Primary and secondary · UK

How great teachers plan precisely, break content into manageable chunks and guide students with clear, interactive teaching.

FreeOpens at steplab.co

Chalk Dust

Lesson with commentary

Chalk Dust S2 E7: Everyone can learn mathematics with John Mighton (opens in a new tab)

Chalk Dust · Primary · Canada

JUMP Math founder John Mighton uses footage from Canadian primary classrooms, on place value and long division, to show how small steps and carefully sequenced practice help every student succeed in maths.

FreeOpens at youtube.com

The Writing Revolution

Demonstration

Modeling explicit writing instruction with The Writing Revolution (opens in a new tab)

The Writing Revolution · Primary · USA

The Writing Revolution models explicit writing instruction for primary students. Helpful for teachers who want to see the approach taught, not just described.

FreeOpens at youtube.com

SBCUSD

Lesson footage

Explicit Phonics Instruction Using the 6 Step Method (opens in a new tab)

SBCUSD · 22:37 · F-2 · USA

A 22-minute video from SBCUSD in the United States showing explicit phonics instruction for the early years, organised around a six-step lesson method.

FreeOpens at youtube.com

The IRIS Center Video Collection

Lesson footage

Explicit, Systematic Instruction: Elementary (opens in a new tab)

The IRIS Center Video Collection · Primary · USA

A primary school example of explicit, systematic instruction in maths, from the IRIS Center's video collection in the United States.

FreeOpens at youtube.com

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Explicit vocabulary teaching in KS2 (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · Years 3-6 · UK

Strategies for teaching vocabulary explicitly in upper primary.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

Impact Curriculum (formerly Ochre Education)

Lesson footage

Primary mathematics classroom demonstration: Instructional cycle, Year 5 (opens in a new tab)

Impact Curriculum (formerly Ochre Education) · 4:06 · Year 5 · Australia

A Year 5 classroom demonstration of the instructional cycle in primary mathematics, from Ochre Education (now Impact Curriculum).

FreeOpens at youtube.com

AERO

Lesson with commentary

Evidence-based practices at Riverwood Public School (opens in a new tab)

AERO · Years 5-6 · Australia

Evidence-based practices working together in a lesson that consolidates students' use of conjunctions in writing.

FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Integrating reading comprehension strategies in KS2 (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · Years 3-6 · UK

Teaching reading comprehension strategies explicitly in upper primary.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

AERO

Lesson with commentary

Scaffold practice: Primary and secondary (opens in a new tab)

AERO · F-10 · Australia

Teachers in primary and secondary classrooms show how they scaffold practice.

FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Promoting high-quality dialogue in Year 5 (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · Year 5 · UK

Scaffolding pupil talk in a Year 5 classroom.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

AERO

Lesson with commentary

Evidence-based practices at Briar Road Public School (opens in a new tab)

AERO · Primary · Australia

Evidence-based practices working together in a maths lesson on splitting numbers.

FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Modelling and explicit strategy instruction (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

A short clip from the maths section of the Research Schools Network library showing teacher modelling and explicit strategy instruction, presented as a way to support students' metacognition.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

Anita Archer (explicitinstruction.org)

Lesson footage

Modelling retell, 1st grade (Anita Archer) (opens in a new tab)

Anita Archer (explicitinstruction.org) · Primary · USA

Anita Archer models how to introduce a comprehension strategy.

FreeOpens at explicitinstruction.org

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Modelling reading comprehension in the primary classroom (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · Primary · UK

A teacher models reading line by line to support comprehension.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

NSW Department of Education

Lesson footage

Explicit phonics instruction: Modelled and guided practice (opens in a new tab)

NSW Department of Education · 10:00 · F-2 · Australia

Ten minutes of classroom footage from Newcastle East Public School in which students see, hear, say and write a newly taught letter-sound correspondence.

FreeOpens at players.brightcove.net

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Using worked examples to reduce cognitive load in maths (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

Worked examples that break multi-step maths processes into manageable parts.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

AERO

Lesson with commentary

Evidence-based practices at Ballarat Clarendon College (opens in a new tab)

AERO · 20:34 · Year 11 · Australia

A Year 11 Visual Communication Design lesson in which several evidence-based practices work together as students apply design strategies they have already learned.

FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

The power of presenting the problem and solution together (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

Worked examples in mathematical problem solving, with problem and solution shown together.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Scaffolding in action: Building independence with least support first (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

Teaching assistants scaffold learning with the least support first, to build independence.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

AERO

Lesson with commentary

Explicit instruction in English (opens in a new tab)

AERO · Australia

An AERO video on explicit instruction in English lessons. One of AERO's subject-specific practice videos.

FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au

Research Schools Network

Lesson footage

Explicit instruction for pupils with SEND (opens in a new tab)

Research Schools Network · UK

Explicit instruction for pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and specialist primary settings.

FreeOpens at researchschool.org.uk

ONlit, with Nathaniel Swain and guests

Series

Harnessing the Science of Learning: Book study recordings (opens in a new tab)

ONlit, with Nathaniel Swain and guests · Six sessions · 2025 · Canada

A six-part book study on Nathaniel Swain's Harnessing the Science of Learning, with guest experts joining each session.

FreeOpens at onlit.org

Think Forward Educators, with Kate Barton

Webinar

The Differentiation Conundrum: How to Pair Explicit Instruction with High Potential Learning (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Kate Barton · About 1 hour · 2026 · Australia

Dr Kate Barton weighs the evidence on differentiation and ability grouping, then shows ways to add depth and stretch for high potential students within explicit teaching, with K-12 examples.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Peps Mccrea

Webinar

Evidence Informed Teaching (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Peps Mccrea · About 1 hour · 2026 · UK

Peps Mccrea sets out a framework of five evidence-informed strategies teachers can use to lift learning, motivation and equity.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Samantha Charlton, Templestowe Heights Primary School

Webinar

Structuring Explicit Maths Lessons (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Samantha Charlton, Templestowe Heights Primary School · About 1 hour · 2025 · Australia

Samantha Charlton unpacks the parts of an explicit maths lesson aligned with the VTLM 2.0, covering review, teaching new content, guided and independent practice, fluency and in-lesson assessment.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Sean Alston

Webinar

Explicit Teaching and Problem Solving, Using the Instructional Hierarchy (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Sean Alston · About 50 minutes · 2025 · Australia

Sean Alston explains the four stages of the Instructional Hierarchy and uses primary maths examples to show when to teach explicitly and when problem solving fits.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Jane St John, Jonathan Nettelbeck and Michelle Lastrilla

Webinar

Teaching Maths Explicitly in Small Schools (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Jane St John, Jonathan Nettelbeck and Michelle Lastrilla · About 1 hour · 2025 · Australia

Staff from three small and regional schools describe how they organise multi-age classes, lessons, planning and intervention to teach maths explicitly, and the challenges they still face.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Joshua Bourke, Dandenong West Primary School, and Cassandra Flanagan, Rosewood Downs Primary School

Webinar

Principal as Lead Learner Series: Enabling Learning, Embedding Explicit Instruction Schoolwide (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Joshua Bourke, Dandenong West Primary School, and Cassandra Flanagan, Rosewood Downs Primary School · About 1 hour · 2025 · Australia

Leaders from Rosewood Downs and Dandenong West primary schools recount how they built whole-school routines and behaviour expectations, then embedded explicit instruction and a knowledge-rich curriculum.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Webinar

Principals' Forum: Marsden Road Public School, with Manisha Gazula (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Manisha Gazula, Marsden Road Public School · About 75 minutes · 2023 · Australia

Principal Manisha Gazula describes how Marsden Road Public School in NSW used evidence and explicit teaching of foundational literacy and numeracy to lift student results.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Webinar

Principals' Forum: Churchill Primary, with Jacquie Burrows (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Jacquie Burrows, Churchill Primary School, hosted by Steve Capp · About 1 hour · 2022 · Australia

Principal Jacquie Burrows recounts Churchill Primary School's turnaround using explicit direct instruction and the science of reading. The page notes that only part of the session was recorded.

FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Samantha Charlton and Martin Ravindran, Templestowe Heights Primary School

Webinar

Mathematics in the Early Years (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Samantha Charlton and Martin Ravindran, Templestowe Heights Primary School · 30 to 60 minutes · 2023 · Australia

Two Templestowe Heights teachers unpack the evidence behind the F-2 maths strands, show what explicit teaching of them looks like and where play can connect.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Nuella Flynn, AERO

Webinar

Teaching that aligns with how students learn: AERO's teaching and learning model (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Nuella Flynn, AERO · 30 to 60 minutes · 2023 · Australia

Nuella Flynn introduces AERO's model of learning and teaching, explaining why practices aligned with how students learn work more consistently and how the model can frame teacher development.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Alice Westera and Lisa Brodbeck

Webinar

Direct Instruction: Introduction and History (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Alice Westera and Lisa Brodbeck · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia

Alice Westera and Lisa Brodbeck introduce Engelmann's Direct Instruction, including Project Follow Through, the philosophy behind it and the teaching design shared by all DI programs.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Nathaniel Hansford

Webinar

The Myth of Discovery-Based Learning in Maths (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Nathaniel Hansford · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Canada

Nathaniel Hansford compares discovery, inquiry and explicit approaches in maths, reviews meta-analysis evidence and addresses common myths about conceptual knowledge, procedures and productive struggle.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Toni Hatten-Roberts, David Morkunas and Ollie Lovell

Webinar

Explicit Mathematics Teaching: Unlocking the science of mathematics in the primary classroom (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Toni Hatten-Roberts, David Morkunas and Ollie Lovell · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia

Toni Hatten-Roberts, David Morkunas and Ollie Lovell cover instructional routines, cognitive load and systematic review in primary maths, with practical strategies teachers can try straight away.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Peter Sherwin

Webinar

Designing the 'Desirably Difficult' Classroom (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Peter Sherwin · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia

Maths teacher Peter Sherwin draws on Bjork's desirable difficulties to describe effective teaching techniques and study habits that feel uncomfortable or counter-intuitive, and how to build them into lessons.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with David Suter

Webinar

Putting the Science of Learning into Primary Science (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with David Suter · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia

Principal David Suter applies science of learning ideas to primary science, covering vocabulary, science inquiry versus inquiry learning, common misconceptions and formative assessment.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Think Forward Educators, with Nathaniel Swain

Webinar

Harnessing the Science of Learning (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Nathaniel Swain · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia

Nathaniel Swain introduces his book Harnessing the Science of Learning, using its school case studies to show how small changes in teaching, literacy, maths and curriculum add up.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

Teachers Talk Radio, with Jamie Clark and Nathaniel Swain

Interview

Decoding the science of learning, with Nathaniel Swain (opens in a new tab)

Teachers Talk Radio, with Jamie Clark and Nathaniel Swain · 2024 · UK

Jamie Clark talks with Australian teacher and researcher Nathaniel Swain about the science of learning movement and practical classroom strategies drawn from it.

FreeOpens at youtube.com

Teachers Talk Radio, with Jamie Clark and Zach Groshell

Interview

Direct instruction demystified, with Zach Groshell (opens in a new tab)

Teachers Talk Radio, with Jamie Clark and Zach Groshell · 2024 · UK

Jamie Clark and Zach Groshell discuss how students learn, how direct instruction improves learning, and how instructional coaching can help teachers refine their practice.

FreeOpens at youtube.com

Think Forward Educators, with Brendan Lee

Webinar

What you need to know about teaching primary mathematics (opens in a new tab)

Think Forward Educators, with Brendan Lee · 30 to 60 minutes · 2023 · Australia

Brendan Lee sorts through mixed messages about primary maths, covering what to teach, how and when, with attention to fact fluency and the hierarchical nature of the subject.

Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org

NSW Department of Education

Webinar

Leading explicit teaching: Information session (opens in a new tab)

NSW Department of Education · 30 minutes · 2024 · Australia

Jarrad Cox from the department's curriculum team walks leaders through the explicit teaching workshops, strategy modules and technique guides, and the thinking behind how to roll them out.

FreeOpens at education.nsw.gov.au

Shaun Brien

Strat Chat - Checking for Understanding (opens in a new tab)

Shaun Brien · Substack · 2026 · Australia

A Victorian teacher explains why checking for understanding sits at the heart of explicit instruction, and how to do it quickly and often with the whole class.

FreeOpens at mutallyassuredinstruction.substack.com

Cognitive load theory: One-page guide (opens in a new tab)

Jamie Clark · One-page guide · Australia

Explains working memory, long-term memory and schemas, then offers six ways to plan instruction that avoids overload. Draws on the NSW CESE classroom practice guide.

FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (NSW)

What Works Best 2025: Evidence guide for excellent schools (opens in a new tab)

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (NSW) · Evidence guide · Australia

Opens at education.nsw.gov.au

Dr Nathaniel Swain

Great teaching is neither scripted nor improvised (opens in a new tab)

Nathaniel Swain · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Swain offers a simple matrix of preparation and deviation to show why expert teaching is neither rigid script-reading nor improvisation, and why responsive teaching depends on thorough preparation.

FreeOpens at nathanielswain.substack.com

Tip #48: Check for listening to see if your explanation is clear and concise (opens in a new tab)

Craig Barton (Tips for Teachers) · Substack · 2024 · UK

Using two versions of a maths explanation, Barton shows how to plan explanations that are clear and free of clutter, and how checking students were listening reveals whether an explanation worked.

FreeOpens at tipsforteachers.substack.com

Dr Haili Hughes

When cognitive science becomes a checklist: The problem with generic lesson structures (opens in a new tab)

Haili Hughes · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Hughes explains how well-meant whole-school lesson structures built from cognitive science can become rigid checklists, and why subject knowledge and teacher judgement must shape how principles are used.

FreeOpens at hailihughes.substack.com

Curriculum 101

What if our scaffolds are holding pupils back? (opens in a new tab)

Mary Myatt (Curriculum 101) · Substack · 2026 · UK

Myatt asks whether sentence starters and talk frames can become a ceiling rather than a launch pad, and how teachers can push for fuller, more thoughtful answers.

FreeOpens at marymyatt.substack.com

Publican Policy

People keep arguing what teachers think and do around explicit teaching. So we asked them. (opens in a new tab)

Trisha Jha (Publican Policy) · Substack · 2026 · Australia

A summary of new Australian research surveying teachers on what they know and do about explicit teaching, with replies to common criticisms of the findings.

FreeOpens at publicanpolicy.substack.com

Five arguments against explicit teaching, #1: Rote memorisation versus deeper understanding (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2025 · Australia

The first in a series preparing teachers for common objections. Ashman examines the claim that explicit teaching only builds rote recall, drawing on empirical evidence and theory about understanding.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

Five arguments against explicit teaching, #2: Creativity and other higher order skills (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2025 · Australia

Ashman tackles the claim that explicit teaching stifles creativity and higher-order thinking, tracing the idea to readings of Bloom's taxonomy and arguing for the whole explicit teaching process instead.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

Five arguments against explicit teaching, #3: Explicit teaching kills teacher creativity and autonomy (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2025 · Australia

Ashman takes on the claim that explicit teaching kills teacher creativity and autonomy, arguing that constraint can free creativity and that shared lesson plans leave room to refine one thing well.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

Five arguments against explicit teaching, #4: Explicit teaching takes no account of student differences (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2025 · Australia

Ashman responds to the objection that explicit teaching ignores individual differences, questioning differentiation as a cure-all and explaining which differences between students really matter for instruction.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

Five arguments against explicit teaching, #5: Explicit teaching is demotivating (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2025 · Australia

The last in Ashman's series takes on the claim that explicit teaching kills motivation, arguing from experience and research that early success through clear instruction is what motivates learners.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

The science of simplicity: Applying cognitive load theory to instructional design (opens in a new tab)

Jamie Clark · One-page guide · Australia

Shows how to design slides and handouts that cut clutter, keep information visible and keep related material together, with short subject examples for each cognitive load effect.

FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com

The Learning Dispatch

Privileging the Already Privileged (opens in a new tab)

Carl Hendrick (The Learning Dispatch) · Substack · 2026 · UK

Hendrick argues that minimally guided discovery learning shifts the work onto students and favours those who arrive with advantages, making explicit instructional design the more progressive and equitable choice.

FreeOpens at carlhendrick.substack.com

On Education

On how to change your mind (opens in a new tab)

Rebecca Birch (On Education) · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Birch explains how new research on prior knowledge and the expertise reversal effect has partly changed her view on whether gifted learners always need explicit teaching before problem solving.

FreeOpens at rebeccabirch.substack.com

WAGOLL Teaching

Organising Knowledge: Designing Tasks That Help Children Think Part 1 (opens in a new tab)

Ben Cooper (WAGOLL Teaching) · Substack · 2025 · UK

The first in a series on task design, explaining how tasks such as comparing, sequencing and chunking help primary children organise knowledge so it sticks.

FreeOpens at wagollteaching.com

Explicit instruction: Topic page (opens in a new tab)

AERO · Guides and explainers · Australia

Opens at edresearch.edu.au

Explicit teaching resources (opens in a new tab)

NSW Department of Education · PL workshops and technique guides · Australia

Opens at education.nsw.gov.au

The Science of Learning

What the most successful teachers do (opens in a new tab)

Nidhi Sachdeva and Jim Hewitt (The Science of Learning) · Substack · 2025 · International

Opens at scienceoflearning.substack.com

Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0: Policy (opens in a new tab)

Department of Education, Victoria · Policy · Australia

Opens at www2.education.vic.gov.au

Tes

Direct Instruction works, says 50 years of research (opens in a new tab)

Tes · News report · UK

Opens at tes.com

Teach Like a Champion (Doug Lemov)

Teaching Unpacked (opens in a new tab)

Teach Like a Champion (Doug Lemov) · Blog series · USA

Opens at teachlikeachampion.org

Coe, Rauch, Kime and Singleton (Evidence Based Education)

Great Teaching Toolkit: Evidence Review (opens in a new tab)

Coe, Rauch, Kime and Singleton (Evidence Based Education) · Evidence review · 2020 · UK

Opens at evidencebased.education

Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Schools: Guidance report (opens in a new tab)

Education Endowment Foundation · Guidance report · UK

The Education Endowment Foundation's guidance report gives five evidence-based recommendations for supporting pupils with additional needs in mainstream classrooms, with high quality everyday teaching at the centre.

FreeOpens at educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk

Minding the Gap

The Key to Motivating Students--and Maybe Everyone Else Too (opens in a new tab)

Natalie Wexler (Minding the Gap) · Substack · 2025 · USA

Wexler argues that motivation tends to follow achievement, so clear teaching that lets students succeed is a more reliable way to motivate them than choice, relevance or rewards.

FreeOpens at nataliewexler.substack.com

Filling the Pail

Explicit teaching is inclusive (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2023 · Australia

Ashman links tiered support to whole-class teaching, arguing that explicit teaching, including structured literacy, is a strong Tier 1 approach for learning and behaviour and is inclusive of students with disabilities.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

Stories are cognitively (psychologically) privileged (opens in a new tab)

Doug Lemov (Doug Lemov's Field Notes) · Substack · 2026 · USA

Lemov shares notes on Daniel Willingham's explanation of why stories are easier to understand and remember, and what that means for how teachers structure explanations and use shared stories.

FreeOpens at douglemov.substack.com

Explicit instruction: One-page guide (opens in a new tab)

Jamie Clark · One-page guide · Australia

Summarises Anita Archer and Charles Hughes's model, including the lesson opening, body and closing and the input, question, response, monitor and feedback cycle.

FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com

Responsive teaching: One-page guide (opens in a new tab)

Carl Hendrick and Jamie Clark · One-page guide · Australia

A one-page version of Carl Hendrick's responsive teaching guide for UNESCO's International Bureau of Education, covering prior knowledge, high expectations and adapting to evidence of learning.

FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com

Jamie Clark (DistillED)

Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction: The full guide (opens in a new tab)

Jamie Clark (DistillED) · Newsletter article · 2026 · Australia

Brings together the ten principles, grouped into Tom Sherrington's four strands, with explanations of why they matter and how they look in practice.

FreeOpens at newsletter.jamieleeclark.com

Paul Kirschner

The Seductive Appeal of Discovery Learning (opens in a new tab)

Paul Kirschner · Substack · 2025 · International

Kirschner sets out ten psychological, ideological and practical reasons discovery learning stays popular even though the research favours guided, explicit teaching for novices. Useful for staff conversations about pedagogy.

FreeOpens at paulkirschner173727.substack.com

Kylie Hoey

Explicit Destruction: The Real Death by Slides (opens in a new tab)

Kylie Hoey · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Warns that many schools claiming explicit instruction deliver little more than slide-heavy lessons, and explains what the approach actually involves when it is done well.

FreeOpens at kyliehoey.substack.com

Shaun Brien

Strat Chat – Worked Examples/Think Alouds (opens in a new tab)

Shaun Brien · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Explains why novices need expert thinking made visible, and how worked examples and think-alouds help, with an example video made for a class.

FreeOpens at mutallyassuredinstruction.substack.com

The Debate That’s Missing from “Sold A Story” (opens in a new tab)

Daniel Willingham · Substack · 2026 · USA

Willingham notes that Season 1 of Sold a Story disputed methods for a shared goal, while the newer debate over Direct Instruction is partly about what schooling is for.

FreeOpens at dtwuva.substack.com

The Learning Dispatch

We Need to Talk About Scaffolding (opens in a new tab)

Carl Hendrick (The Learning Dispatch) · Substack · 2025 · UK

Hendrick examines a careful replication of the famous 1978 scaffolding study that found no benefit from the classic rule of more help after failure, and considers what this means for teaching and tutoring.

FreeOpens at carlhendrick.substack.com

On Education

On what we mean when we say "inclusive" teaching (opens in a new tab)

Rebecca Birch (On Education) · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Birch argues that inclusive teaching should build on the needs students share, such as clear explanation, predictability and guided practice, rather than treating a growing group of students as individual adjustments.

FreeOpens at rebeccabirch.substack.com

WAGOLL Teaching

⭐ Lesson Pace: Reducing Friction in Classrooms (opens in a new tab)

Ben Cooper (WAGOLL Teaching) · Substack · 2026 · UK

Argues that good pace is not about talking faster but removing friction, such as slow transitions and unclear instructions, that wastes primary lesson time.

FreeOpens at wagollteaching.com

Explicit guidance versus discovery learning (opens in a new tab)

Jamie Clark · One-page guide · Australia

Sets out why fully guided instruction beats minimal guidance for novices, drawing on Kirschner, Sweller and Clark, and shows the I do, we do, you do sequence with fading.

FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com

Filling the Pail

Is productive struggle ethical? (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2024 · Australia

Ashman questions the popular idea, especially in maths, of designing lessons so students struggle first, examining the case for constructivism and productive failure and the ethics of deliberate difficulty.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

What Works Best 2025 illustration of practice: Explicit teaching at Doonside Technology High School (opens in a new tab)

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (NSW) · Illustration of practice · Australia

Opens at education.nsw.gov.au

Dr Nathaniel Swain

Explicit teaching isn’t regurgitation (opens in a new tab)

Nathaniel Swain · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Swain answers the claim that explicit teaching produces passive learners. He shows how building secure foundations first lets students generate and apply ideas, so knowledge becomes something to think with.

FreeOpens at nathanielswain.substack.com

Research Bite #79: When and how to use visuals effectively, a meta-analysis of dual coding (opens in a new tab)

Craig Barton (Tips for Teachers) · Substack · 2026 · UK

Barton breaks down a meta-analysis of classroom experiments on adding pictures and diagrams to explanations, including where visuals helped most and how to use them well.

FreeOpens at tipsforteachers.substack.com

Dr Haili Hughes

Faded scaffolding: Keeping challenge high while building independence (opens in a new tab)

Haili Hughes · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Hughes explains how scaffolds such as sentence starters and writing frames should be temporary and targeted, keeping tasks ambitious and gradually removed as students show they are ready.

FreeOpens at hailihughes.substack.com

Curriculum 101

When support starts to limit (opens in a new tab)

Mary Myatt (Curriculum 101) · Substack · 2026 · UK

Myatt explores how well-meant supports, such as simplified tasks and heavy prompting, can lower expectations, and how to keep challenge high while making it manageable for all pupils.

FreeOpens at marymyatt.substack.com

Publican Policy

Explicit teaching in Victoria (opens in a new tab)

Trisha Jha (Publican Policy) · Substack · 2024 · Australia

Asks whether Victorian government schools really treat explicit teaching as a core component, comparing official documents and guidance with the Catholic sector's science of learning position.

FreeOpens at publicanpolicy.substack.com

Explicit Direct Instruction: One-page guide (opens in a new tab)

Jamie Clark · One-page guide · Australia

Summarises Hollingsworth and Ybarra's lesson design, from learning objective to periodic review, with student engagement norms such as choral reading, pair-shares and whiteboards.

FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com

Stop teaching (through) failure (opens in a new tab)

Paul Kirschner · Substack · 2026 · International

Kirschner questions failure-first lesson designs, arguing that struggle before students have the knowledge to make sense of it is rarely a desirable difficulty, and that support should come first.

FreeOpens at paulkirschner173727.substack.com

Shaun Brien

Strat Chat - Document Cameras/Visualisers (opens in a new tab)

Shaun Brien · Substack · 2026 · Australia

Practical advice on using a document camera to model live, show student work and give feedback without clunky transitions.

FreeOpens at mutallyassuredinstruction.substack.com

The Learning Dispatch

Does Explicit Instruction Work For Students with Learning Difficulties? (opens in a new tab)

Carl Hendrick (The Learning Dispatch) · Substack · 2025 · UK

Hendrick discusses a computational study suggesting students with ADHD and dyslexia face distinct extra costs in unguided learning, and why clear, explicit guidance matters even more for them.

FreeOpens at carlhendrick.substack.com

On Education

On the transformative power of teaching first (opens in a new tab)

Rebecca Birch (On Education) · Substack · 2024 · Australia

Birch explains how the TAPPLE sequence from Explicit Direct Instruction changed her secondary English teaching, walking through each step and what it is not, including its effect on workload.

FreeOpens at rebeccabirch.substack.com

WAGOLL Teaching

The Art of Modelling: Thinking Aloud (opens in a new tab)

Ben Cooper (WAGOLL Teaching) · Substack · 2025 · UK

How to think aloud when modelling, including showing hesitations and corrections, so primary pupils hear the expert thinking behind a finished piece of work.

FreeOpens at wagollteaching.com

Filling the Pail

Boring lessons and what to do about them (opens in a new tab)

Greg Ashman (Filling the Pail) · Substack · 2023 · Australia

A short, practical reflection on keeping whole-class explicit teaching lively, using voice, story, urgency and momentum, and why being interesting does not mean being an entertainer.

FreeOpens at fillingthepail.substack.com

Scaffolding learning: One-page guide (opens in a new tab)

Jamie Clark · One-page guide · Australia

Argues for scaffolding upwards rather than differentiating downwards, with worked examples of writing frames and guided practice that keep the task demanding while supporting students who struggle.

FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com