John (@jfcatto) examines a teaching practice significantly different to his and explores some of the motivations behind this pedagogy. In usual TTT style, he comes to record with no preparation at all and mistakenly refers to a teacher named Ben as Mark for half an hour.

John also presents Pete's (@mr_van_w) article where the NSW Education Minister makes some positive sounding submissions to the Gonski review despite revealing the underlying misconceptions of politicians talking about education.

John: Am I allowed to sit at my desk - Ben Newmark (@bennewmark)

https://bennewmark.wordpress.com/2018/02/16/am-i-allowed-to-sit-at-my-desk/ 

Also John: Reduce HSC pressure in favour of a 'growth mindset', NSW tells David Gonski - Michael Koziol (@michaelkoziol) 

http://www.smh.com.au/national/secondary-education/reduce-hsc-pressure-in-favour-of-a-growth-mindset-nsw-tells-david-gonski-20180215-p4z0fo.html 

Pete (@mr_van_w) explores some of the many problems with the implementation of the Year 1 Phonics test of made up words in a sometimes tricky language to negotiate.

John (@jfcatto) dips his toe into some of the many ways to differentiate a mixed ability classroom.

Tips to teachers: Automate, choose jobs wisely and accept done is done.    

Pete: 'Plood, pove, moul': teachers push back against year 1 phonics test - Pallavi Singhal

http://www.smh.com.au/national/plood-pove-moul-teachers-push-back-against-year-1-phonics-test-20180212-p4z02l.html

Private school considers banning works of Shakespeare

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/38905133/wa-private-school-considers-banning-works-of-shakespeare/ 

John: A Starter Kit for Differentiated Instruction 

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/starter-kit-differentiated-instruction/ 

"Work Smarter Not Harder" - Crystal Caton

https://educatingthedigitallearner.com/2018/02/08/strategies-to-work-smarter-not-harder/ 

Pete (@mr_van_w) is bemused by continued calls for banning mobile phones in classroom. Now in Australia.  Then at an anonymous strawman story of a progressive teacher who lost his way. 

John (@jfcatto) introduces an overarching framework that allows teaching professionals to identify when to apply different learning strategies for different students. 

Pete: Banning mobile phones in classrooms takes education back in time, experts say - Ashleigh Raper and Brooke Wiley

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/debate-on-mobile-phones-in-the-classroom/9397898

The lure of 21st century skills - (Anonymous via Greg Ashman) 

https://gregashman.wordpress.com/2018/02/05/the-lure-of-21st-century-skills/

John: Learning strategies: a synthesis and conceptual model - John Hattie and Gregory Montegue

https://www.nature.com/articles/npjscilearn201613.pdf

How Do You Know When a Teaching Strategy Is Most Effective? John Hattie Has And Idea - Katrina Schwartz 

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/06/14/how-do-you-know-when-a-teaching-strategy-is-most-effective-john-hattie-has-an-idea/ 

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) manages to keep his cool over a website published by #hisABC that seems to serve no purpose other than to shame/enrage parents in both the public and private sector of education. 

John (@jfcatto) highlights the lack of correlation between college achievement and fame and fortune. 

Pete: You decide: Should you send your kids to a public or private school? - Cristen Tilley, Ben Spraggon, Nathan Hoad 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-31/public-vs-private-school-you-decide/8380980 

John: Why valedictorians rarely become rich and famous - and the average millionaire's college GPA was 2.9 - Shana Lebowitz

https://amp.businessinsider.com/why-high-school-valedictorians-dont-become-really-successful-2017-5 

Visit www.teacherstalkingteaching.com to see more of the podcast.