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Teachers Talking Teaching

John Catterson (@jfcatto) and Pete Whiting (@mr_van_w) are two Australian Flipped Educators. Together they talk education, pedagogy and current practice. Find more of Pete and John: Website - www.catfisheducation.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrCattersonScience YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/PWhiting
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Now displaying: 2020
Oct 26, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to some of their trusted wellsprings of pedagogy. John outlines some tips for putting together educational videos. Pete describes a cool twist on the use of solo hexagons in the classroom.  

 

How to Create Engaging Instructional Videos - Jenny Gieras

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-create-engaging-instructional-videos

 

Digital Learning Selector - NSW DofE

https://app.education.nsw.gov.au/digital-learning-selector/ 

 

Hexagonal Thinking: A Colorful Tool for Discussion - Betsy Potash

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/hexagonal-thinking/

 

 

 

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

Oct 15, 2020

On a shaky return to Term 4 our hosts (@Mr_van_w & @jfcatto) compare their struggle with the Black Dog and what their are doing for self-care. 

They then then discuss two recent books that address classroom management by approaching the profession from vastly different pedagogical viewpoints.

 

Restoring Teaching - Adam Voigt (@adam_voigt) 

https://adamvoigt.com.au/books/restoring-teaching/

 

Running the Room - Tom Bennett (@tombennett71) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-Room-Teachers-Guide-Behaviour/dp/1913622142

 

3 things I've learnt from 'Running the Room' - Alice Leung (@aliceleung) 

https://aliceleung.net/2020/10/09/3-things-ive-learnt-from-running-the-room/

 

Mental Health Resources

https://au.reachout.com/

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

https://www.openarms.gov.au/

https://soldieron.org.au/

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

 

Sep 21, 2020

The Agent of Chaos (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) talk about the podcast format, being unbelievably tired, CSU "Taking You Higher", online conferences, TED Talks, genius hour for teachers, how to define an activity as a hobby, differentiation strategies for the top end, attainment grouping discussion on TER before devolving into talking about gaming.   

 

CSU - Free webinar with industry experts to inspire women to pursue careers in space  

https://news.csu.edu.au/in-brief/free-webinar-with-industry-experts-to-inspire-women-to-pursue-careers-in-space 

 

Teachers Need a Genius Hour, Too - John Spencer

http://www.spencerauthor.com/teachers-gh/

 

The Real Difference Between Google and Apple - Mark Wilson

https://www.fastcompany.com/3068474/the-real-difference-between-google-and-apple 

 

High Potential and Gifted Education - Differentiation adjustment strategies - NSW DET 

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/high-potential-and-gifted-education/supporting-educators/implement/differentiation-adjustment-strategies#Table%20suggesting%20differentiation%20adjustment%20strategies 

 

TER #155 - Attainment Grouping with Becky Taylor

https://terpodcast.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/ter-155-attainment-grouping-with-becky-taylor-01-sept-2020/ 

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

Sep 21, 2020

The Agent of Chaos (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) talk about the podcast format, being unbelievably tired, CSU "Taking You Higher", online conferences, TED Talks, genius hour for teachers, how to define an activity as a hobby, differentiation strategies for the top end, attainment grouping discussion on TER before devolving into talking about gaming.   

 

CSU - Free webinar with industry experts to inspire women to pursue careers in space  

https://news.csu.edu.au/in-brief/free-webinar-with-industry-experts-to-inspire-women-to-pursue-careers-in-space 

 

Teachers Need a Genius Hour, Too - John Spencer

http://www.spencerauthor.com/teachers-gh/

 

The Real Difference Between Google and Apple - Mark Wilson

https://www.fastcompany.com/3068474/the-real-difference-between-google-and-apple 

 

High Potential and Gifted Education - Differentiation adjustment strategies - NSW DET 

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/high-potential-and-gifted-education/supporting-educators/implement/differentiation-adjustment-strategies#Table%20suggesting%20differentiation%20adjustment%20strategies 

 

TER #155 - Attainment Grouping with Becky Taylor

https://terpodcast.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/ter-155-attainment-grouping-with-becky-taylor-01-sept-2020/ 

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

Sep 17, 2020

Some unnamed bloke (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) talk time zones, Fijian time, roll marking, teaching Peers and Superiors, competing chains-of-command, holiday/pandemic learning loss, the Bloom's lie and removing grades shackles on education. 

 

Is Learning "Lost" When Kids Are Out of School - Alfie Kohn

https://www.alfiekohn.org/article/loss/

 

I Hate the Pandemic, but I'm Grateful to Be Rid of Grades - Mariela Tyler

https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/i-hate-the-pandemic-but-im-grateful-to-be-rid-of-grades/

 

Doom on a Pregnancy Test - Foone

https://twitter.com/Foone/status/1302820468819288066?s=20 

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

 

 

 

Sep 8, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) discuss some of the comments in the slow chat, clarify that Pete is not anti-data after last weeks tirade, assert that neither Pete nor John are not negative people, laugh at pictures of cycads, insult Primary School teachers. As far as articles go: John discusses some opinions on the current offering of education degrees, Pete supports that the rules around long term suspension of students is changing and finishes with the importance of teachers being their own researcher for their own classroom and evaluating the effectiveness of their own pedagogy.  

 

This weeks slow chat is inspired by a tweet from Courtney (@ComfortDisturb https://twitter.com/ComfortDisturb/status/1300913335261487104

What real world subject specific texts do you use in your classroom?

 

Some starting ideas for a Science classroom:

Science Journals for Kids - https://sciencejournalforkids.org/

Brulosophy exBEERiments - https://brulosophy.com/projects/exbeeriments/ 

 

Teaching Degrees No Longer Meet the Needs of Complex Classrooms - Jordan Baker

https://www.smh.com.au/national/teaching-degrees-no-longer-meet-the-needs-of-complex-classrooms-20200901-p55rf1.html 

 

Maximum school suspension to be cut to 10 days under discipline plan - Jordan Baker

https://www.smh.com.au/education/maximum-school-suspension-to-be-cut-to-10-days-under-discipline-plan-20200826-p55pme.html 

 

Teacher as Researcher - Marzano, Parsley, Gagnon and Norford

https://sites.google.com/view/educational-reading-group/article-19?authuser=0

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

 

Aug 30, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) comes in with a new hot take; apparently Twitter might not be the pollyanna, ever positive, safe space we all thought it to be. 

Pete continues to claim that Education research and Cognitive Science may no be all it's cracked up to be and questions not only the Laws of Thermodynamics but perhaps the Five Fundamental Forces.

John (@jfcatto) manages to insult Pete whilst testing the limits of an audio medium by describing hand gestures that could be used in an classroom discussion, online or otherwise. 

 

50+ Resources for LGBTQIA Allies - Courtney Seiter

https://buffer.com/resources/lgbtqia-resources/

 

Teacher as Researcher - Marzano et al 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AnSpcXu9MdDBgZQ1HIwpCFMoTzqUV1wu/view

Using Hand Signals for More Equitable Discussion - Edutopia

https://www.edutopia.org/video/using-hand-signals-more-equitable-discussions

 

Tea and Consent - Blue Media 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbei5JGiT8 

 

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

 

 

Aug 23, 2020

Once again Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) jaw off about teaching adjacent topics like seating plans and youngsters accessing pornography. John explores the UK trad-prog divide, questioning Michael Gove's effect on the situation. Pete highlights a study showing most teachers want to be mentored beyond the usual induction training. 

 

'Drill and kill' for England's state schools while private sector goes progressive - Melissa Benn

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/18/drill-and-kill-for-englands-state-schools-while-private-sector-goes-progressive

 

Nest generation mentoring : Supporting teachers beyond induction - Bressman, Winter, Efron

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0742051X17316608

 

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com 

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

Aug 17, 2020

John (@jfcatto) and Pete (@mr_van_w) generally meander around a conversation touching on; some news, coaching, viva voce and high stakes assessment stress. John then talks about some ways that teachers can talk less in the classroom. Pete then enlightens us about the ridiculousness of so called "pod schools".   

 

 

John: 8 ways teachers can talk less and get kids talking more - Angela Watson

https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/8-ways-teachers-can-talk-less-get-kids-talking/

 

Pete: Pods, Microschools and Tutors: Can Parents Solve the Education Crisis on Their Own? - Melinda Wenner Moyer

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/parenting/school-pods-coronavirus.html

 

Watch KORN: https://youtu.be/3zPvfVmL0nE 

 

Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/

Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com

Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/

Support us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation

Buy some merch:  https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore

Aug 7, 2020

This flexible reporting period; we check in with Pete (@mr_van_w) who has been diligently implementing the teaching strategies discussed from previous podcasts. We discuss the efficacy of vertical non-permanent surfaces as compared to horizontal non-permanent surfaces.

Pete expresses solidarity with the Police Force in their justifiably heavy handed dealing with Sovereign Citizens.  He continues to scoff at the treatment of these terrorist kooks, and unilaterally supports Officers of the Law and those who are here to protect us.

Completely, devoid of the predjudice. John (@jfcatto) reminds citizens to comply to law enforcement whilst still confirming their status. 

John (@jfcatto) continues to discuss retrieval practice and how it could be implemented in a learning environment. 

Slow chat: If you could build a learner profile that was used for admission to further education. What would it include? How would it out-compete the ATAR.

Remember: In every police interaction with state or federal police; confirm "Am I being detained?"

 

CogSciSci: Retrieval Practice in the Classroom

https://cogscisci.wordpress.com/2020/01/23/retrieval-practice-in-the-classroom-a-cogscisci-symposium/

 

How not to screw up retrieval practice - Adam Boxer

https://achemicalorthodoxy.wordpress.com/2020/01/26/how-to-not-screw-up-retrieval-practice/

Aug 3, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) discusses ways to explicitly teach problem solving to create a thinking classroom. He introduces John (@jfcatto) to the idea of "keep thinking questions" rather than "stop thinking questions" and students work on "vertical non-permanent surfaces".

 

Building a Thinking Classroom in Maths - Peter Liljedahl

https://www.edutopia.org/article/building-thinking-classroom-math

Jul 20, 2020

John (@jfcatto) discusses some of the ways that self-driven learning can be used to build relationships and meet students at the level they are at. Pete (@mr_van_w) then talks compassion in education and why now might be the right time to change the way we think about inclusive education. 

 

Self-Driven Learning Relies on Relationships - Derek Davidson 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/self-driven-learning-relies-relationships

 

Pandemic a Golden Opportunity to Bring Compassion to Education - Dev Nath Pathak

https://www.thequint.com/news/education/pandemic-a-golden-opportunity-to-switch-to-compassionate-pedagogy-e-learning-coronavirus

 

Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Paulo Friere

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy_of_the_Oppressed 

https://www.booktopia.com.au/pedagogy-of-the-oppressed-paulo-freire/book/9780241301111.html

 

Teachers Talking Teaching on Red Bubble

https://www.redbubble.com/i/iphone-case/Teachers-Talking-Teaching-Logo-by-CatfishEd/49592763.PM7U2

Jul 11, 2020

In this episode of Teachers Occasionally Talking Teaching. Pete (@mr_van_w) tells John (@jfcatto) about Trauma Informed Teaching and how a school is using blended learning and self-paced mastery to cater for students with low attendance rates.  

 

Pete: A Student-Centered Model of Blended Learning - Edutopia

https://youtu.be/zrR-KIoggf4 

 

Redbubble:

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/49592763

 

Jun 4, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto reflect on current events and discuss the duty and tactics for addressing issues of race within our classes.  

They also answer the cross platforms listener mailbags and announce an exciting new line of merch.  

 

Merch:

https://www.redbubble.com/i/mask/Teachers-Talking-Teaching-Logo-by-CatfishEd/49592763.9G0D8

May 20, 2020

Unfortunately, due to technical issues last weeks episode will ever be lost in the ether. Obviously our Patreon subscribers will be able to hear John's half of the episode. However, for the rest of us Pete and John discuss online learning and the motivation for the design of the current online learning experience. They also use this time to answer a few listener question. 

 

Dylan Williams - Pose Pause Pounce Bounce 

https://youtu.be/TMBsTw37eaE

Jess: Classroom hours slashed for teaching students to avoid educator shortage - Adam Carey https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/classroom-hours-slashed-for-teaching-students-to-avoid-teacher-drought-20200426-p54ncf.html

 

Please keep sending in your questions, comments and doubtful points to catfisheducation@gmail.com

May 20, 2020

Unfortunately, due to technical issues last weeks episode will ever be lost in the ether. Obviously our Patreon subscribers will be able to hear John's half of the episode. However, for the rest of us Pete and John discuss online learning and the motivation for the design of the current online learning experience. They also use this time to answer a few listener question. 

 

Dylan Williams - Pose Pause Pounce Bounce 

https://youtu.be/TMBsTw37eaE

Jess: Classroom hours slashed for teaching students to avoid educator shortage - Adam Carey https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/classroom-hours-slashed-for-teaching-students-to-avoid-teacher-drought-20200426-p54ncf.html

 

Please keep sending in your questions, comments and doubtful points to catfisheducation@gmail.com

May 6, 2020

Pete and John are back to start another term, different from one they have ever started before. Pete suggests some ways we can build relationships with students despite being physically separated. John explores some of John Hattie's thoughts on online learning. 

 

Pete: Connecting with students in the online classroom - Reach Out

https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/connecting-with-students-in-the-online-classroom

 

John: Visible Learning Effect Sizes When Schools Are Closed: What Matters and What Does Not - John Hattie

https://corwin-connect.com/2020/04/visible-learning-effect-sizes-when-schools-are-closed-what-matters-and-what-does-not/

Mar 19, 2020

As COVID-19 continues to spread uncontrolled around the world,  Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to the bubble, soon to be their own private bubbles. They discuss the imminent cessation of face-to-face teaching and the move to an online learning environment.

 

Pete: Mr Corona/Covid-19 plea to Admin everywhere - Pete Whiting (@mr_van_w) 

https://mrvanw.com/2020/03/15/my-corona-covid-19-plea-to-admin-everywhere/

John: Online Learning in the Time of a Pandemic: What it is, What It Isn't - Joel Speranza (@JoelBSperanza) 

https://joelsperanza.com/uncategorized/online-learning-in-the-time-of-a-pandemic-what-it-is-what-it-isnt/

 

Awkward PSA chats with the Education Minister

https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/social-distancing-in-action

 

Mar 16, 2020

This week John (@jfcatto) returns to his lane and focuses on effecting change in the classroom through different directed questioning techniques. Then, Pete (@mr_van_w) considers the challenge of teachers' teaching out of their field of expertise.

John: No hands up: Rethinking questioning techniques - Daniel Beech (@MrDBeech)  

https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/10-effective-questioning-techniques/4011025.article

Pete: “From Weakness to Strength: Turning the challenge of ‘out of field’ teaching into a team that thrives” by Yasodai Selvakumaran. 

 

Other stuff:

Do We Really Need Baby Boomers? - CollegeHumo[u]r

https://youtu.be/S195dc3-8D8

 

"Too strong for you Karen"  

https://youtu.be/EsaqmdQIq_0 

Feb 26, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) laments the extra workload caused by menial tasks that have no benefit to the teacher or the students but are mandated within schools or systems. New contributor Shawtima (@ShawtimaSmiles) invites us to join her on her quest to improving her workflow and taking some of the power back. John (@jfcatto) comments on a report written by an idiot, who somehow managed to get a job as chair of a committee, that doesn't even garner support from the members of the committee.

Also - who knew John would know what Dementors are?

 

Pete: The Pedagogical Dementors - Sarah Barker

https://thestableoyster.wordpress.com/2019/12/05/the-pedagogical-dementors/

It Starts as an Annotated Seating Plan - Sarah Barker

https://thestableoyster.wordpress.com/2020/02/12/it-starts-as-an-annotated-seating-plan/

John: Report calls for school inspectors to monitor teachers - Jordan Baker

https://www.smh.com.au/national/report-calls-for-school-inspectors-to-monitor-teachers-20200218-p541z6.html

 

Taika Waititi - Give Nothing To Racism

https://youtu.be/g9n_UPyVR5s 

 

Thanks so much Shawtima, you're a druid of the highest order, lady of all crocheted crustaceans, and the shiniest shiny there is!

 

Contact us:

catfisheducation@gmail.com

www.catfish.education

www.mrvanw.com  

Feb 16, 2020

This week John (@jfcatto) wades through the Grattan Institute's mammoth report recommending the implementation of Instructional Specialists and Master Teachers. 

Pete (@mr_van_w) highlights the idea of Assessment Literacy for teachers and to question what inferences and conclusions can be made from assessments.  

 

John: Top teachers: sharing expertise to Improve teaching - Peter Goss and Julie Sonnemann

https://grattan.edu.au/report/top-teachers/

 

Pete: Needed: A Dose of Assessment Literacy - W James Popham

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar06/vol63/num06/Needed@-A-Dose-of-Assessment-Literacy.aspx 

Feb 10, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) ponders an interview from one of our our stable mates ERRR that makes him question how progressive is too progressive.  John (@jfcatto) then discusses something close to his heart; teacher accreditation at the higher levels of Highly Accomplished Teachers (HAT) and Lead Teachers (LT). 

 

Pete:  Education Research Reading Room #038: Peter Gray on the Freedom to Learn - Ollie Lovell 

https://www.ollielovell.com/errr/petergray/

 

John: Incentivising Quality: It will take more than just carrots to keep teachers in the classroom - Melanie Ralph

https://lustreeducation.wordpress.com/2020/01/15/incentivising-quality-it-will-take-more-than-carrots-to-keep-teachers-in-classrooms/

Feb 10, 2020

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) ponders an interview from one of our our stable mates ERRR that makes him question how progressive is too progressive.  John (@jfcatto) then discusses something close to his heart; teacher accreditation at the higher levels of Highly Accomplished Teachers (HAT) and Lead Teachers (LT). 

 

Pete:  Education Research Reading Room #038: Peter Gray on the Freedom to Learn - Ollie Lovell 

https://www.ollielovell.com/errr/petergray/

 

John: Incentivising Quality: It will take more than just carrots to keep teachers in the classroom - Melanie Ralph

https://lustreeducation.wordpress.com/2020/01/15/incentivising-quality-it-will-take-more-than-carrots-to-keep-teachers-in-classrooms/

Feb 3, 2020

Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to the 2020 year with a rambling recap of their holidays. Pete identifies some of the obligatory media narratives that need to be trotted out at the start of another school year. John regales us with a parable illustrating the some of the nuances between Direct Instruction and Discovery Learning that are not taken into account by the quantitative studies

Articles:

Pete:  I haven't even started teaching yet, but it's already cost me $700 - and I'm not alone - Ellen Wengert

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-24/starting-costs-graduate-teachers-in-the-classroom/11872676

What can parents do to help their child's teacher? A 'recovering' teacher's term one wishlist - Gabby Stroud

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/what-can-parents-do-to-help-their-childs-teacher/11902654

John: Discovery Learning Experiments - Georgios Zonnios

https://georgios.blog/discovery-learning-experiments/

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