Best Disciplinary Literacy Podcasts (2025)

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From the Classroom to Leadership: Building Cultures that Thrive 32:22

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4d ago32:22

32:22

Episode 230: For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⁠⁠⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-primary-education-conference-tickets-1295761139449 In this episode o…

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Beyond Sentence Stems: Deep Scaffolding for Inclusive Literacy 51:32

11d ago51:32

51:32

Episode 229: For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⁠⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠⁠ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-primary-education-conference-tickets-1295761139449 In this instalment of…

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Three Lessons Learned from Three Years in Deputy Headship 47:53

18d ago47:53

47:53

Episode 228: Three Lessons Learned from Three Years in Deputy Headship For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-primary-education-…

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Lessons learned from a classroom sabbatical with Lisa Coe 9:45

21d ago9:45

9:45

Archive 011+2: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, primary mathematics expert, Lisa Coe returns to share the lessons she learned by taking a break from the classroom to work for a company supporting schools and teachers with their mathematics professional development. Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned prof…

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Thinking Deeply about Conceptual Understanding 39:50

25d ago39:50

39:50

Episode 227: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by mathematics educator and doctoral researcher Will Mcloughlin to explore the complex and vital theme of conceptual understanding in mathematics education. Drawing on his teaching experience in the UAE and his academic research into how conceptual understanding dev…

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School-wide maths improvement with Lisa Coe 7:30

28d ago7:30

7:30

Archive 012: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, primary mathematics expert, Lisa Coe returns to share her thoughts on implementing change on a school-wide level. Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers a gateway into the kind of thinking that shapes high-quality classroom …

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36. What does literacy utopia look like, and how can we get there? with Jennie Shearer 35:05

29d ago35:05

35:05

What if every secondary school teacher knew how to teach a child to read? What if we stopped treating literacy as simply spelling and grammar exercises and instead recognised it as the foundation of all learning? In this thought-provoking conversation with English teacher and literacy lead Jennie Shearer, we explore the troubling reality that most …

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Literacy Leadership, Testing and Disciplinary Reading with Chris Such 31:36

1M ago31:36

31:36

In this special episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Chris Such returns to tackle three brilliant questions from our listeners, exploring the intersection of pedagogy, leadership, and literacy development. Drawing on years of research and classroom experience, we dive into some of the most commonly debated areas of primary practice: …

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The One Paper Every Primary Teacher Should Read – with Lloyd Williams-Jones 11:19

1M ago11:19

11:19

Archive Episode 011: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, expert leader and education research enjoyer, Lloyd Williams-Jones returns to share the research paper he believes every primary teacher should read. More than just a recommendation, Lloyd breaks down why this paper matters, how it connects to everyday classroo…

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35. Breaking literacy barriers with Kaley Macis-Riley and Laura May Rowlands 39:42

1M ago39:42

39:42

Host Andy Sammons welcomes two extraordinary educators who are transforming how schools approach literacy: Kaley Macis-Riley, Senior Lead for Quality of Education, and Laura May Rowlands, Head of English. Both working in schools with high levels of disadvantage, they share candidly about their journey to establish thriving reading cultures in an ag…

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From Planning to Practice: Mastering Professional Development Design 30:26

1M ago30:26

30:26

Episode 225: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Stuart Welsh to explore what it takes to design effective professional development sessions that truly make an impact. We discuss the thought processes behind planning professional development episodes, the models that can scaffold effective session design, commo…

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Driving School-Wide Change with Lloyd Williams-Jones 12:02

1M ago12:02

12:02

Archive 010: In this archive episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we revisit a powerful response to a question about school-wide change with education leader Lloyd Williams-Jones. Lloyd explores exactly what it means - and takes - to successfully instigate and sustain meaningful change across an entire school community. Drawing from …

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34. The Role of EdTech within Literacy with Jenny Webb 37:01

1M ago37:01

37:01

What happens when we treat reading as a checkbox rather than an ongoing developmental journey? Jenny Webb, Director of English and Literacy at Carlton Academy Trust, pulls back the curtain on the challenging reality of literacy in UK schools today. Despite government claims about improvements in reading standards, educators are experiencing somethi…

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Standing Room Only – Deconstructing Word Problems by Gareth Metcalfe 29:55

2M ago29:55

29:55

Episode 224: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we bring you a special "Standing Room Only" session led by Gareth Metcalfe. Following last week's discussion, Gareth returns to walk us through the thinking and practicalities behind his project Deconstructing Word Problems. In this CPD-style talk, Gareth shares: The rationale behi…

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Deconstructing Word Problems with Gareth Metcalfe 39:51

2M ago39:51

39:51

Episode 223: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Gareth Metcalfe and Elliot Morgan to explore the ideas behind Gareth's latest project: Deconstructing Word Problems. After three years of development and classroom testing, Gareth shares the thinking and pedagogy that underpin his approach to designing word probl…

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Teaching Through Comparison: What Works and When? 1:00:10

2M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Emma Lindley-Thompson and John Jackson dive into a landmark study by Bethany Rittle-Johnson and Jon Star: Does comparing solution methods facilitate conceptual and procedural knowledge? We explore: The premise of the study and how the researchers tested their hypothesis through equation-solving …

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Writing First, Assessment Second: A Conversation with Chris Youles 44:53

2M ago44:53

44:53

Episode 221: Writing First, Assessment Second – A Conversation with Chris Youles This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Chris Youles for a timely conversation about writing assessment—why it often feels so difficult, how we’ve arrived at this point, and what we can do to realign assessment with the true purpose of teach…

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33. Getting implementation right: Upstream, downstream and root causes with Mark Miller 33:50

2M ago33:50

33:50

How do schools successfully implement change that actually sticks? Mark Miller, Director of Bradford Research School, joins us to break down the recent updates to the Education Endowment Foundation's implementation guidance - revealing why the social dimensions of change might be the most critical factor for success. The conversation dives deep int…

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From Coaching to Confidence: The Power of Whole-Staff Rehearsal 52:29

2M ago52:29

52:29

Episode 220: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Alex Gingell to explore the power of whole-staff rehearsal in teacher development and coaching. Drawing on his personal experience of professional development, Alex outlines why this approach holds such promise for schools looking to build consistency, confidence, and …

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What do schools who provide a stellar religious education offering do so well? 16:01

3M ago16:01

16:01

From the Archives 009: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Adam Smith shares his thoughts on the features of a high-quality religious education offering in schools. Enjoy this episode? Let…

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What's in Store at TDaPE Manchester 2025? 32:01

3M ago32:01

32:01

Episode 219: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Anna Hackett and I dive into what’s in store at the upcoming TDaPE Manchester Conference on Saturday, 29th March 2025. We explore the talks, themes, and workshops that will bring together educators passionate about primary education, with practical insights to enhance teaching and l…

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Ausubel's concept hierarchy explained 4:31

3M ago4:31

4:31

From the Archives 008: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Sarah Cottinghatt shares her thoughts on the way David Ausubel structures his hierarchy of concepts and what this means for teach…

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32. Reading is learning: Breaking down the artificial barrier with Natalie Wexler 35:38

3M ago35:38

35:38

Natalie Wexler joins Andy Sammons to tackle one of education's most persistent challenges: the artificial barrier between reading and learning. This eye-opening conversation dives deep into why traditional approaches to reading comprehension don't work - and what cognitive science tells us actually does. Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap and co-a…

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Sustaining School Improvement – Leadership, Culture, and Change with Adam Lowing & Stuart Welsh 39:57

3M ago39:57

39:57

TDaPE Manchester Tickets Episode 218: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Stuart Welsh is joined by Adam Lowing to explore sustained school improvement—what it takes to make meaningful changes that last. Drawing on extensive experience working with schools at different stages of their improvement journey, Adam shares insights into…

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What are some high-impact, low-effort ways to improve mathematics across a school? 11:59

3M ago11:59

11:59

Unseen Question 003: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to develop a mathematics teaching across a school. ⁠TDaPE Mathematics Playlist⁠ (Over 22 hours of mathematics focused episodes) Enjoy this episode? Let us know in…

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Concreteness Fading: Bridging Procedural and Conceptual Understanding 1:12:03

3M ago1:12:03

1:12:03

Episode 217: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, John Jackson and Emma Lindley-Thompson from Ambition Institute return to explore the next extract from their expert edit—this time, focusing on concreteness fading and its role in mathematics teaching. We discuss: The relationship between procedural knowledge and conceptual understa…

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How can schools embed a consistent, research-informed approach to mathematics teaching? 8:43

3M ago8:43

8:43

Unseen Question 002: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to develop a consistent, research-informed approach to mathematics teaching. TDaPE Mathematics Playlist (Over 22 hours of mathematics focused episodes) Enjoy this…

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31. Revolutionising Education: Aaron Leary's Journey from Teacher to Innovator 45:43

3M ago45:43

45:43

Aaron Leary's journey - from a student grappling with language to co-founding Bedrock Learning - illustrates the transformative power of literacy in education. This episode explores personal experiences, teaching philosophies, and future aspirations in the PedTech sphere. Literacy, Aaron reveals, is more than just words; it’s a tool that shapes our…

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Disciplinary Literacy: Unlocking Deeper Learning with Juli Ryzop 46:13

3M ago46:13

46:13

Episode 216: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Juli Ryzop and Elliot Morgan to explore disciplinary literacy—what it means, why it matters, and how it can transform learning across subjects. Understanding how literacy functions within different disciplines helps students access, engage with, and critically interpre…

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How can I incorporate retrieval effectively in maths lessons without causing unnecessary cognitive overload? 9:52

3M ago9:52

9:52

Unseen Question 001: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to incorporate retrieval practice into lessons without contributing to cognitive overload. TDaPE: Retrieval Practice Playlist (Over 11 hours of retrieval adjacent…

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The Future of School Inspection: Still Analysing Ofsted's Proposed Reforms 50:37

4M ago50:37

50:37

Episode 215: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we continue our discussion on Ofsted’s reform proposals with Shannen Doherty and Louise McLaughlin. In this second part, we explore the next three points in the proposal, looking at how changes to inspection methodology, full and monitoring inspections, and accountability for state-…

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Improving reading across a whole school 14:26

4M ago14:26

14:26

From the Archives 007: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Lloyd Williams-Jones explores how he took the ideas of Christopher Such to improve reading across his school. Enjoy this episode?…

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The Future of School Inspection: Analysing Ofsted’s Proposed Reforms 46:48

4M ago46:48

46:48

Episode 214: This week onThinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Shannen Doherty and Louise McLaughlin to discuss the first two points in Ofsted’s reform proposal - Report Cards and Inspection Toolkits. We take a deep dive into the potential benefits, the likely impact on schools, and the unintended consequences that could arise from…

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David Ausubel's Key Ideas (In Summary) with Sarah Cottinghatt 5:28

4M ago5:28

5:28

From the Archives 006: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Sarah Cottinghatt shares her thoughts on the David Ausubel's key ideas and why they might be important for teachers. Enjoy this e…

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Multilingualism is a Super Power - Supporting English Learners Flourish! 40:09

4M ago40:09

40:09

***Brought back by popular demand! Our MOST downloaded episode ever! :) Hawai‘i is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse states in the country. As a result, English learners (ELs) make up a significant portion of Hawaii’s student population: up to 18% of students are, or have been, classified as English learners and represent up to …

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Finding time in busy timetables for high-quality art lessons 25:08

4M ago25:08

25:08

Episode 213: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by secondary art teacher Andrea Welsh to explore the importance of art education and how to ensure high-quality art lessons despite the pressures of a packed timetable. We discuss: Why art is often overlooked and how it contributes to students’ education and development. …

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Is the English writing system introduced in ways that can lead to spelling difficulties? 17:14

4M ago17:14

17:14

From the Archives 005: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Lyn Stone and Chris Such share the thoughts on the extent to which the way the English writing system is introduced can lead to s…

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The Hospital of Hope and The Fight Against Cancer 45:07

4M ago45:07

45:07

Episode 212: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Kylie McKee and Hugh Williams-Jones representing Velindre Cancer Centre to explore why we were raising money for this great cause at the TDaPE London Conference. Tickets for TDaPE Manchester can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-prim…

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To what extent is English orthography a representation of spoken language? 21:00

4M ago21:00

21:00

From the Archives 004: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Neil Almond and Chris Such share the thoughts on the extent to which is English orthography a representation of spoken language a…

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30. Interdisciplinary approaches to modern education with Carl Gombrich 42:54

4M ago42:54

42:54

Carl Gombrich is the Lead Academic at London Interdisciplinary School and oversees curriculum design, teaching, and learning. He was previously a Professorial Teaching Fellow of Interdisciplinary Education at UCL and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In this episode, prepare to rethink higher education as Carl shares his journe…

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Elevating Disciplinary Literacies in an Elementary Classroom 24:53

5M ago24:53

24:53

Disciplinary literacies have always been a hot topic for secondary schools since much of the literacy learning in these grades occurs across the content areas. Even the Hawaii Common Core State Standards established DL goals for grades 6-12. But does that mean that elementary teachers don’t have an important role to play in teaching specialized way…

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Maximising Learning with Interleaved Practice in Maths 49:41

5M ago49:41

49:41

Episode 211: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by John Jackson and Emma Lindley-Thompson from Ambition Institute to explore interleaving practice in mathematics lessons. Drawing on their expert edit, Helping Pupils Learn Maths, and insights from a seminal study, we dive into how interleaving can transform the way stud…

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Summative assessments: Why and when do we use them? 10:12

5M ago10:12

10:12

From the Archives 003: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Lloyd Williams-Jones and Chris Such share the thoughts on summative assessments thanks to a question from a listener. Enjoy this …

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What are the four most prominent features of an effective mathematics lesson? 9:10

5M ago9:10

9:10

From the Archives 002: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Lisa Coe shares the four most prominent features of her mathematics lessons. If you're looking for the full episode, it's (S1,E2)…

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Waimanalo's Awesome Family Resource Center - A Shared Partnership! 21:08

5M ago21:08

21:08

How can we build this bridge from school to home in a way that can be relevant to the world that families live in today? Family Resource Centers (FRC) are one way to promote family engagement that promotes a “shared partnership” that can enhance students’ language and literacy learning. In today's episode, we get to learn from Mrs. Fuli Soa, the fa…

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Beyond Words: The Purpose and Practice of Modern Foreign Language Education 49:28

5M ago49:28

49:28

Episode 210: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I'm joined by primary teacher, Charle Benkowitz, as we delve into the teaching of modern foreign languages in UK schools. From systemic differences with European neighbours to the broader purpose of language learning, this episode offers insights into how we can elevate language edu…

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What are the four most prominent features of an effective lesson? 11:31

5M ago11:31

11:31

From the Archives 001: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Lloyd Williams Jones shares the four most prominent features of his lessons, along with his thoughts on effective teaching. This …

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Unlocking Learning: Background Knowledge, Spelling, and Modelling 52:32

5M ago52:32

52:32

Episode 209: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we revisit three of the most impactful questions from some of our most-listened episodes of 2024. Covering essential topics like the role of background knowledge in reading, effective spelling instruction, and the power of modelling, this episode provides interesting perspectives on…

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Family Engagement Designed for Pacific Islander Students/Families 33:31

5M ago33:31

33:31

We have 50 years of research that proves family engagement is an important strategy to improve students’ literacy (and overall?) learning - so why is this still so hard to achieve? In this episode, we will explore the “what/why/how” around the topic of family engagement in Hawaii. Why does it matter? What are the obstacles that get in the way, espe…

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Transforming Reading and Mathematics: Powerful Questions for Teachers 51:19

5M ago51:19

51:19

Episode 208: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we revisit some of the most impactful questions from our four most-listened episodes. From the essentials of teaching multiplication tables to the intricacies of supporting struggling readers, these conversations have shaped the way teachers approach their craft. Whether you’re new …