Magnify Matters

How great teachers keep getting better with Josh Goodrich

What does it take for teachers to keep getting better? In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Tim Edwards is joined by Josh Goodrich, founder and CEO of StepLab, for a conversation about instructional coaching, professional growth and the science of improving teaching practice. Drawing on his own experience as an early career teacher in some of England’s most challenging schools, Josh reflects on the coaching model that transformed his practice and ultimately shaped the development of StepLab, now used by schools and systems around the world. Together, Tim and Josh explore: • Why instructional coaching is one of the most effective forms of professional learning • The difference between direct instruction and discovery learning • How rehearsal, feedback and deliberate practice support teacher growth • Why teachers must sometimes learn like novices again • The six-step StepLab framework and its growing impact in schools and systems Steplab are a Magnify Sandhurst partner, playing a pivotal role in instructional decision-making and support for teachers across our 51 schools. We are thrilled to welcome Josh and the rest of the Steplab Australia team to Shepparton in May for an exclusive session with all Sandhurst principals and leaders. In this episode, Josh also references recent research on the impact of StepLab’s work in schools across England. Congratulations to the Steplab team, and we’re excited to share details with Sandhurst principals. Whether you are in the classroom, leading a team or supporting system improvement, this is a thoughtful conversation about coaching, expertise and keeping improvement simple enough to sustain. Now join us as we magnify what truly matters in education. Mentioned in this episode * Magnify Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/learning/magnify-sandhurst] * Catholic Education Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] * Josh Goodrich [https://josh-goodrich.com/] * Steplab [https://steplab.co/au/about] * Get Better Faster [https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1119278716?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au] * Teach like a champion [https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=teach+like+a+champion] * Rosenshine Principles ABOUT MAGNIFY SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement. ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools and six early learning centres across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,298 students. We empower regional young people, their families, our staff and communities to have 'life to the full' (John 10:10). Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] or follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiceducationsandhurst], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catholiceducationsandhurstltd/]and LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/company/catholic-education-sandhurst].

Making every lesson count with Dr Nathaniel Swain

Effective teaching is deliberate, informed and refined over time. In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Tim Edwards is joined by Dr Nathaniel Swain - teacher, instructional coach and founder of Think Forward Educators - for a conversation on what effective teaching looks like in today’s classrooms. Drawing on his experience across schools, universities and instructional coaching, Nathaniel explores how the science of learning can support teachers to make better decisions — not by adding complexity, but by bringing clarity to what works. Together, Tim and Nathaniel explore: * Why time is the most precious resource in the classroom and how to use it well. * The importance of explicit, whole-class instruction as a starting point for learning. * How knowledge builds knowledge and why strong foundations matter. * The role of working memory, cognitive load and structured teaching. * How to build challenge and extension without creating multiple lessons. * The power of checks for understanding and responsive teaching. * Why great teaching is both structured and adaptive. Whether you are in the classroom, leading a team or supporting system improvement, this is a conversation about making every minute of learning count. Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education. Mentioned in this episode * Magnify Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/learning/magnify-sandhurst] * Catholic Education Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] * Dr Nathaniel Swain [https://www.nathanielswain.com/] ABOUT DR NATHANIEL SWAIN Dr Nathaniel Swain is a teacher, instructional coach and writer. He produces a blog for teachers called Dr Swain’s Cognitorium and is co-host of the Chalk Dust Podcast with Rebecca Birch. Nathaniel works directly with schools and systems and through an online learning platform called Luminary. Having worked at universities and government school systems in Victoria, Nathaniel has taught a range of learners in schools and tertiary settings. In 2019, Nathaniel founded a community of teachers committed to the Science of Learning: THINK FORWARD EDUCATORS [https://www.thinkforwardeducators.org/], now 30,000 members and growing. He also has a book titled 'Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success stories to help kickstart your school improvement'. ABOUT MAGNIFY SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement. ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools and six early learning centres across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,298 students. We empower regional young people, their families, our staff and communities to have 'life to the full' (John 10:10). Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] or follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiceducationsandhurst], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catholiceducationsandhurstltd/]and LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/company/catholic-education-sandhurst].

Building better teaching through practice and feedback with Teach Well

Teaching should not be as hard as it sometimes feels, for teachers or for students. In this episode of Magnify Matters, Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst, Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) is joined by Katie Webster and Katie Roberts-Hull from Teach Well for a conversation about what it takes to translate evidence into everyday classroom practice. Drawing on their work across more than 900 schools, Katie Webster and Katie Roberts-Hull reflect on the realities of school improvement, from early career teaching experiences to system-wide professional learning, and what it takes to move beyond one-off professional development to something that genuinely shifts teaching. As partners in the Magnify Sandhurst journey, they connect research to practice, exploring how modelling, feedback and sustained support build teacher confidence and create the conditions for every student to learn. Together they explore: * Why calm, orderly and predictable learning environments are the foundation for effective teaching and learning. * What doesn't work in professional learning, and why one-off workshops rarely lead to sustained change in practice. * Why teachers need to see what effective instruction looks like, not just hear the theory behind it. * How retrieval practice, review and full participation strengthen learning and support long-term memory. * Why system improvement relies on coherence, shared language and continuous learning over time. Whether you’re in the classroom, leading a school or working across a system, this episode offers practical insight and a clear reminder that improving teaching is not about doing more, but about doing what works, consistently and well. Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education. Mentioned in this episode * Magnify Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/learning/magnify-sandhurst] * Catholic Education Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] * Teach Well [https://teach-well.au/] * Ochre Education [https://ochre.org.au/] * Classroom Mastery [https://www.classroommastery.com.au/] ABOUT TEACH WELL Teach Well create life-long learning opportunities for teachers and school leaders, that translate research into action, improving outcomes for all students. Across Australia, 8,800+ educators and 650+ schools have improved student learning and engagement through its programs. In 2025, Teach Well joined forces with Ochre Education [http://www.ochre.org.au/] to deepen its collective impact, bringing together Teach Well’s expertise in professional development and Ochre Education’s comprehensive curriculum offerings. Ochre Education is a national not-for-profit, that supports teachers and expands student access to comprehensive high-quality curriculum through a free online library. ABOUT MAGNIFY SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement. ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools and six early learning centres across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,298 students. We empower regional young people, their families, our staff and communities to have 'life to the full' (John 10:10). Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] or follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiceducationsandhurst], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catholiceducationsandhurstltd/]and LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/company/catholic-education-sandhurst].

Dr Pamela Snow on why literacy is a social justice issue

Literacy is not a matter of luck, postcode or chance; it’s a matter of equity, access and social justice. In this episode of Magnify Matters, Distinguished Professor Pamela Snow, one of Australia’s leading voices in literacy, language and the science of learning, joins Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) for a conversation about what it takes to ensure every child learns to read well. Pam reflects on the personal, professional and research journey that has shaped her national leadership in literacy, from speech pathology and brain injury rehabilitation to her advocacy for evidence-informed reading instruction and the establishment of La Trobe University’s SOLAR Lab. As a trusted contributor to early Magnify Sandhurst conversations, Pam helps connect decades of research to the lived realities of classrooms, teachers and systems working to lift learning outcomes for every student. In this episode, Tim and Pam explore: 1. Why learning to read is a social justice issue, not an individual outcome. 2. What cognitive science tells us about how children learn to read and why the debate went on for so long. 3. Why the first three years of school matter more than any later intervention. 4. How strong Tier 1 instruction supports both learning and wellbeing. 5. The role of speech pathologists and interdisciplinary collaboration in schools. 6. Why lifting teacher expertise lifts the profession itself. Whether you’re teaching in the early years, leading a school, shaping system-wide improvement or supporting learning at home, this episode offers clear principles, grounded insight and a strong case for doing fewer things — better — for every learner. Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education. Mentioned in this episode 1. Professor Pamela Snow [https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/pcsnow] 2. The Snow Report [https://pamelasnow.blogspot.com/] 3. The Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab [https://solar.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/] 4. Magnify Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/learning/magnify-sandhurst] 5. Catholic Education Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] ABOUT MAGNIFY SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement. ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across rural and regional Victoria, educating more than 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] or follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiceducationsandhurst], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catholiceducationsandhurstltd/]and LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/company/catholic-education-sandhurst].

Rethinking classroom tech with Dr Jared Cooney Horvath

Neuroscientist and educator Dr Jared Cooney Horvath returns to Magnify Matters for a fast, practical check-in on what lifts learning from knowledge-rich curriculum and whole-class instruction to cutting through the noise on EdTech. In conversation with Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst, Assistant Director: Learning & Teaching), Jared reflects on Sandhurst’s momentum since his three-day intensive earlier this year, and also previews his new book The Digital Delusion including that now-famous Hugh Grant blurb. Together, Tim and Jared explore: * What knowledge-rich, low-variance looks like in real classrooms * Why whole-class instruction builds empathy, synchrony and deeper understanding * How background knowledge speeds new learning and boosts creativity * Practical ways to align teachers, students and parents around the same learning language * Where EdTech helps, where it harms, and how to keep people at the centre * What’s next for Magnify Sandhurst in 2026. Whether you’re in the classroom or leading a school, this episode offers clear principles, memorable stories and next steps you can use tomorrow. Now join us as we magnify what truly matters in education. Mentioned in this episode * Magnify Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/learning/magnify-sandhurst] * Catholic Education Sandhurst [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/]   * LME Global [https://www.lmeglobal.net/] * The Digital Delusion [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5622DQQ] ABOUT DR JARED COONEY HORVATH   Dr Jared Cooney Horvath is a cognitive neuroscientist and educator with expertise in human learning, memory, and brain stimulation. He is the co-founder of LME Global, a company dedicated to bringing the Science of Learning to schools and learning communities worldwide. Jared has published four books, including the bestseller 'Stop Talking, Start Influencing', and has been featured in The New York Times, WIRED, and The Economist. Jared is passionate about bridging the gap between laboratory research and classroom practice, helping teachers and students achieve better outcomes through applied brain science.   ABOUT MAGNIFY SANDHURST  Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.   ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST  Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across rural and regional Victoria, educating more than 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story.  Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au [https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/] or follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiceducationsandhurst], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catholiceducationsandhurstltd/]and LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/company/catholic-education-sandhurst].