Teacher Insights from Catalyst

Transforming the Science of Learning with Rebecca Birch & Dr Nathaniel Swain

In this rich and highly practical conversation, I sit down with Dr Nathaniel Swain and Rebecca Birch - two of Australia’s leading voices in evidence‑based teaching - to explore how the science of learning can transform teaching and learning in secondary schools, with a deep dive into writing instruction. Nathaniel and Rebecca unpack how learning really works, why attention matters so much, how explicit instruction supports all students (including high achievers), and what high‑impact writing instruction looks like in secondary classrooms. Whether you're a secondary teacher, school leader, instructional coach, or anyone curious about the science of learning, this episode is full of practical insights you’ll want to take straight back to the classroom.

Beyond the Science of Reading: A Conversation with Natalie Wexler

Today, I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Natalie Wexler, an acclaimed education writer and thought leader whose work has shaped conversations around literacy, cognitive science, and equity in education. Natalie is the author of Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning and The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—And How to Fix It. She also co-authored The Writing Revolution and The Writing Revolution 2.0. Natalie’s insights have reached audiences across the U.S. and beyond, and she continues to share her expertise through her Substack newsletter Minding the Gap and as host of the Knowledge Matters Podcast. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * Why Natalie wrote Beyond the Science of Reading as a follow-up to The Knowledge Gap * The critical role of writing in learning- Why writing reinforces reading comprehension, boosts memory, and encourages deeper thinking—and why it’s often overlooked. * Practical advice for teachers

Implementing HITP with St Mary’s War Memorial Primary School

In this episode St Mary’s War Memorial Primary School’s (West Wyalong) assistant principal, Nickey Harland, and classroom teachers, Bree Taylor and Carlie Iverach chat about High Impact Teaching Practices (HITP). Nickey will unpack for us: * Insights from HITP implementation and how to keep momentum. * How to embed HITP in daily school life, both inside and outside the classroom. * Coaching and Supporting Others * The implementation of three Direct Instruction programs - Connecting Maths Concepts, Spelling Mastery and Reading Mastery, including how this change was communicated with parents Bree and Carlie individually discuss how they implement HITP throughout their day and what this looks like, providing plenty of actionable examples that can be applied to your classroom. You’ll also hear how this sounds in their classroom, with snippets from their lessons.

How Learning Happens with Dr Carl Hendrick

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Carl Hendrick—educator, researcher, and co-author of How Learning Happens, How Teaching Happens, and Instructional Illusions. Carl shares his insights on the evolving educational landscape in Australia, the science of learning, and the myths that often mislead teachers and schools. We explore key ideas from his books, including the “Engagement Illusion,” the importance of prior knowledge, and what is ‘learning’. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or education enthusiast, this episode will challenge your assumptions and offer practical strategies for improving learning outcomes. What You’ll Learn * Carl’s thoughts of the Catalyst program and educational innovation in Australia * How to support autonomy in learners * The role of prior knowledge in effective teaching * Why popular practices like “discovery learning” may harm learning outcomes * How strong teacher-student relationships impact learning * The difference between engagement and deep understanding * Where technology and AI fit into modern classrooms * How to foster creativity while maintaining cognitive rigor Featured Books How Learning Happens – Carl Hendrick & Paul Kirschner How Learning Happens: Seminal Works in Educational Psychology and What [https://www.routledge.com/How-Learning-Happens-Seminal-Works-in-Educational-Psychology-and-What-They-Mean-in-Practice/Kirschner-Hendrick/p/book/9781032498393] How Teaching Happens – Carl Hendrick, Paul Kirschner & Jim Heal How Teaching Happens: Seminal Works in Teaching and Teacher Effectiven [https://www.routledge.com/How-Teaching-Happens-Seminal-Works-in-Teaching-and-Teacher-Effectiveness-and-What-They-Mean-in-Practice/Kirschner-Hendrick-Heal/p/book/9781032132082] Instructional Illusions – by Paul Kirschner [https://www.amazon.com.au/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Paul+Kirschner&text=Paul+Kirschner&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books-single-index] (Author), Carl Hendrick [https://www.amazon.com.au/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_2?ie=UTF8&field-author=Carl+Hendrick&text=Carl+Hendrick&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books-single-index] (Author), Jim Heal [https://www.amazon.com.au/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_3?ie=UTF8&field-author=Jim+Heal&text=Jim+Heal&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books-single-index] (Author) Instructional Illusions | Hachette Learning [https://www.hachettelearning.com/teaching-strategies/instructional-illusions] Links & Resources Carl Hendrick’s Substack:The Learning Dispatch | Carl Hendrick | Substack [https://carlhendrick.substack.com/] Learn more about the Catalyst program: Catalyst - Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn [https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/]

Transforming Teaching Through Catalyst with St Patrick's Primary School

Episode Overview In this episode, we sit down with staff from St Patrick’s Primary School Bega, a school that has embraced the Catalyst initiative to transform teaching and learning. From instructional programs to leadership strategies, we explore how this school has aligned its practices to create a knowledge-rich, student-centered environment. School-Wide Impact * Catalyst Learnings * How Catalyst has influenced school-wide practices. * Implementation of instructional programs: Reading Mastery, Spelling Mastery, InitialLit, and CMC supplemented with units developed in partnership with Ochre. * Emphasis on a knowledge-rich curriculum: Teaching deeper, not broader, while meeting outcomes. * Curriculum beyond DI Programs School Routines & Behaviour * Creating Consistency * Aligning expectations around routines and behaviour. * Tools and strategies: Behaveability (Ian Luscombe), scripted routines Teaching Practice * Teachers share their experiences and reflections on Catalyst’s impact.