Cognitive science tells us that, especially with novices, the use of worked examples, direct instruction, and self-explanation and elaboration are key. So, what can we do to make the most of each of these? What are the differences between effective and ineffective uses of examples? How do we make our explanations more impactful? What elaborative questions should we be asking students and have them ask themselves to get more out of a given question?

A momentous Think Forward Educators event to super-charge your school's strategic planning for 2023. This in-person event is suitable for Leadership teams, and primary & secondary teachers, across all subjects. It is a session on the overarching principles around assessment and writing, and how to make measurement meaningful.

A unique networking and professional learning opportunity with one of the UK's most sought-after education authors, Daisy Christodoulou, and Literacy Expert and TFE founder, Dr Nathaniel Swain. Sessions in this Breakfast Masterclass will include:
- Creating effective assessments
- Improving Writing
- Bullet-Proof Instruction for Writing Success

In a world first, we will be hearing from real teachers discussing their real-world challenges in implementing the science of learning. Dr Nathaniel Swain and Brendan Lee will then guide teachers and school leaders through some possible solutions, taking an evidence-informed approach. To respect people's privacy, this session will not be recorded.

Take a dive into the DIBELS reading assessment. DIBELS is a freely available reading assessment from the University of Oregon, for students from Foundation to Year 8. This session covers how, when and why to use DIBELS as part of literacy assessment in primary schools and into early high school. See examples of how DIBELS is used at Carlton Primary School to inform planning for classroom and intervention teaching.

Have ever you had the realisation that the way your school has been going about things is not evidence-informed? Have you also struggled with initiating the changes that are needed for school improvement? This talk is targeted at classroom teachers and middle leaders who are experiencing barriers in the implementation process. In this presentation, Brendan will discuss some of the strategies that teachers can use when approaching school leaders and what you need to understand before moving forward.

Do you have burning questions about mathematics education including understanding a particular concept or process or suggestions on how could to best teach them? Ask Maths Education Whiz Alex Blanksby !! What about Engelmann's Direct Instruction and Theory of Instruction including making the most of your explanations and examples, the textbook making process, or the Vic Maths Notes website? Ask them in a live Q&A session! Submit your questions in the registration form or during the session.

We are excited to welcome James Kelly and Dave Pascoe for this SA Branch Event. This presentation will demonstrate the contextual and sustainable approach to Trauma Informed Practice at Elizabeth Vale Primary School. Key elements will be: the importance of intentionality, predictability, consistency and communication in a trauma informed school and some tips that we would give to others on a similar journey. From here, the workshop will provide a snapshot of Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) as a pedagogy for learning and how it complements the trauma informed approach. It will provide a very clear idea of what EDI is and what EDI is not and some practical uses in a classroom setting.

Basing their work on professional reading around the importance of calm, settled learning environments, our guest presenters will be sharing their experiences and findings about effective classroom setup. Reviewing the kinds of seating plans that lend themselves to different kinds of work in the classroom; they have a heap of practical experiments in their own classrooms to share!

Jac and Leah will also share insights about classroom displays and organising student materials.

Join Benji Gersh has he addresses the assumptions that are implicit in all behaviour management strategies and relational approaches to education. There is a gap between knowing information and being able to implement it effectively. This session utilises evidence to support a model of education that understands who Australian teachers are, and how best to support them in service of providing the best possible education for Australian students.

How does a brand new school start developing a knowledge-rich curriculum? Join Brad Nguyen as he shares lessons learned from Docklands Primary School’s first year in operation.

Helping teachers to become even more effective is mainly about teacher learning. Crucially, teacher learning is just like every other kind of learning, so clarifying the curriculum - what is worth learning to get better at - is fundamental.

The Great Teaching Toolkit: Evidence Review, published in June 2020, presents the latest and best available evidence about what great teachers do that makes a difference. Teacher learning also depends on feedback - rich, insightful, actionable feedback that helps teachers to focus on the things that matter, to see how well they are doing, what they are improving and what they can most usefully work on. In this talk, Rob will describe what the great Teaching Toolkit, how it could support your teaching, and how you can get involved.

A meet-and-greet and discussion about evidence-based practice, featuring:
Professor Lorraine Hammond: The Science of Reading
Kelly Forder: Serpentine Primary School’s improvement journey
Jenny Baker: Designing a Low Variance Spelling Curriculum

Reid shares his experiences in working towards a coherent and knowledge-rich curriculum, discussing the development of a low-variance approach to instruction and its importance to long-term knowledge building.

Think Forward Educators is thrilled to welcome Daisy Christodoulou to speak with us. Join us for an evening with one of the world’s most influential educators. Daisy Christodolou will provide her take on some of her areas of expertise, including Effective instruction, Assessment, and Writing. Reserve your spot at this event now!