Chalk & Talk

In this episode, Anna is joined by Dr. Montserrat Gomendio, former Deputy Director for Education at the OECD, to discuss the newly released PISA 2025 results. They explore why student achievement is falling in many countries.  They discuss whether COVID, smartphones, and AI explain the declines, why some education systems are holding up better than others, and what policymakers can learn from countries that are seeing better results.  They also answer questions from listeners that were submitted during a livestream version of the episode. Chalk & Talk website:  www.chalkandtalkpodcast.com This episode is available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke   TIMESTAMPS [00:00:04] - Introduction: PISA 2025 and student achievement [00:05:41] - Why did reading become the dominant PISA story? [00:08:23] - Do phones, digital technology, and AI explain the decline? [00:14:54] - Did COVID and school closures cause the decline? [00:20:58] - What can England teach us about education policy after COVID? [00:22:14] – Scores started declining before COVID [00:27:35] - What do top-performing education systems have in common?[00:34:32] - What makes effective teacher training? [00:39:59] - How can countries improve teacher quality in the short term?[00:45:24] - Why evidence-based professional development matters [00:48:10] - What can countries learn from England’s approach to math? [00:51:22] - What should teachers do when they disagree with their training?[00:56:10] – How to encourage teachers to change [00:59:14] - How should schools design a knowledge-rich curriculum? [01:03:35] - What makes an effective math curriculum? [01:06:44] - Does PISA data hide differences between education systems?[01:10:41] - What does the OECD get wrong about interpreting PISA data? [01:16:14] – Finland: PISA declines and bad advice about following Finland [01:21:54] - Final thoughts EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://chalkandtalkpodcast.com/episode/ep-81/ RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES (linking to website) The Story Behind Mississippi’s Education Turnaround with Rachel Cante https://chalkandtalkpodcast.com/episode/ep-76/ The Finland myth, East Asia’s rise, and what makes education systems work with Montserrat Gomendio https://chalkandtalkpodcast.com/episode/ep-68/   When a mathematician became education minister: Nuno Crato on transforming education https://chalkandtalkpodcast.com/episode/ep-58/   From decline to top rankings: How England transformed education with Nick Gibb https://chalkandtalkpodcast.com/episode/ep-49/   MUSIC Intro & Outro: Funk Jazz Big Band -  ColorFilmMusic Website: http://www.chalkandtalkpodcast.com/ FB: Chalk & Talk IG: @chalkandtalkpodcast Tiktok: @chalkandtalkpodcast X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

In this episode, Anna is joined by two elementary school teachers from California who are appearing anonymously so they can speak candidly about their experiences. Both teach at a school where math achievement has remained consistently low. After watching many of their students struggle with the curriculum they were expected to use (Illustrative Math), they began exploring research, learning about the science of learning and evidence-informed teaching practices, and rethinking what they had been taught about how children learn math.  They changed the way they taught math and the results were remarkable. Their students began the year below the national average in math and finished well above it.   This inspiring conversation explores what happens when teachers refuse to accept poor outcomes and take the initiative to find better ways to help their students succeed. Max and Todd are also interested in hearing your thoughts and questions.    Submit feedback and questions about this episode here: https://chalkandtalkpodcast.com/episode/ep-80/   Sept. 29, 11:00 AM CST Livestream for Making Sense of PISA 2025: Live with Montserrat Gomendio):  https://www.youtube.com/live/g_VTy4q55zo?si=9CWypiuqR1GyHIWc Chalk & Talk website:  www.chalkandtalkpodcast.com   TIMESTAMPS [00:00:04] Introduction [00:04:03] Remarkable math gains in a struggling school [00:07:05] What they learned in teacher education about math instruction [00:14:49] A school facing years of poor math outcomes [00:17:54] When classroom reality didn’t match what was being taught [00:23:43] Illustrative Math and issues with problem-based instruction [00:33:50] A close look at an Illustrative Math lesson [00:43:14] Recognizing the teaching approach didn’t work [00:46:35] How they transformed their math instruction [00:54:28] What explicit instruction looks like in the classroom [00:58:52] Creating more opportunities for students to respond [01:01:54] How administrators responded to the results [01:06:11] Evidence-informed teaching has a huge impact [01:11:38] Advice for teachers [01:15:03] When a teacher’s work feels hopeless EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://chalkandtalkpodcast.com/episode/ep-80/   RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES Cognitive load theory and learning math with John Sweller  https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-s2zyd-1a717d6   Teaching math so students learn with Craig Barton https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vr69j-1a277a2   Using the Instructional Hierarchy to teach math with Brendan Lee https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-3zux7-193d0fc   Transforming education through behaviour science with Dr. Kimberly Berens https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-9tfz7-16f2e02   The Science of Math with Amanda VanDerHeyden https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bksbz-13c732d   Math & the Myth of Ability with John Mighton https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-22c7a-139dc72 MUSIC Intro & Outro: Funk Jazz Big Band -  ColorFilmMusic Website: http://www.chalkandtalkpodcast.com/ FB: Chalk & Talk IG: @chalkandtalkpodcast Tiktok: @chalkandtalkpodcast X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

In this episode, Anna is joined by returning guest Dr. Brian Poncy to discuss math fact fluency and whether improving students’ fluency with basic number operations leads to better overall math achievement. Brian shares new results from the first year of a large implementation of the free Facts on Fire program in a Texas school district. They discuss what the data shows, how the program has evolved based on teacher feedback, and what educators are saying about it. They also revisit five evidence-based reasons why fluency—being able to do math both accurately and effortlessly—matters. With a new school year underway, this episode offers practical and encouraging ideas for helping students build automaticity with math facts through clear instruction, practice, and feedback. This episode is available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke TIMESTAMPS [00:00:04] Introduction [00:04:25] What’s changed with Facts on Fire? [00:08:15] Measuring fluency in problems per minute [00:14:47] How Facts on Fire builds fluency through practice and feedback [00:17:29] How much practice do students need? [00:20:11] Facts on Fire goes school-wide in Texas [00:23:22] Teachers’ experiences implementing Facts on Fire [00:24:56] Did Facts on Fire improve math achievement? [00:30:10] What the MAP data reveals [00:34:40] The impact of Facts on Fire and the results [00:42:40] Five reasons why fluency matters [00:43:01] Cognitive load and working memory [00:46:15] Increasing opportunities to respond [00:47:31] Effort, reinforcement, and building confidence [00:49:23] Maintaining skills and promoting generalization [00:52:14] Recapping the five reasons fluency matters [00:54:26] The future of Facts on Fire [00:56:19] A call to action for the new school year [00:57:58] Final thoughts EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-79-resources EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-79-transcript   RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES Math fact crisis: Strategies for improving numeracy with Brian Poncy https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-u9y84-165d773 Math Fluency matters with Brian Poncy https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-pj6z6-166741e How to Build Automaticity with Math Facts: A Practical Guide  https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-3ny3k-17323a9 Rocking the Times Tables with Bruno Reddy https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2pbdy-18f76df  MUSIC Intro & Outro: Funk Jazz Big Band -  ColorFilmMusic Website: www.annastokke.com FB: Chalk & Talk IG: @chalkandtalkpodcast Tiktok: @chalkandtalkpodcast X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

In this episode, Anna is joined by returning guests Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva and Dr. Paul Kirschner, authors of the upcoming book Becoming an Expert Teacher: Deliberate Practice for Effective Teaching. They explore what makes an expert teacher and how teaching expertise can be deliberately developed. They discuss the importance of deep subject knowledge, mental models, deliberate practice, and reflection, while explaining the difference between the science and the craft of teaching. They also examine how teaching expertise can be measured and why striving to become an expert teacher is both a professional responsibility and an equity issue. This episode is available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke TIMESTAMPS [00:00:22] Introduction [00:03:26] What makes an expert teacher? [00:12:09] Why teacher content knowledge matters [00:13:24] Why content knowledge isn’t enough [00:16:00] Schemas & pattern recognition explained [00:18:04] How expert teachers think [00:22:55] Deliberate practice to develop teaching expertise [00:30:31] The challenge and importance of deliberate practice [00:38:31] The importance of reflection in teaching [00:40:51] The science and craft of teaching [00:47:57] A reflection on teacher education preparedness [00:55:21] Can teaching expertise be measured ?[00:01:07] The responsibility to become an expert teacher [01:11:40] Final thoughts RESOURCES Becoming an Expert Teacher: Deliberate Practice for Effective Teaching https://www.routledge.com/Becoming-an-Expert-Teacher-Deliberate-Practice-for-Effective-Teaching/SachdevaKirschner/p/book/9781041107453 Code to get 20% off: 26AFLY2 EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-78-transcript RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES We know more about teaching than ever ¬– so why is change so slow? With Joanna Barbousas https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/we-know-more-about-teaching-than-ever––so-why-is-change-so-slow-with-joanna-barbousas-ep-69/ Rebuilding teacher training through cognitive science with Jonas Linderoth https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/rebuilding-teacher-training-through-cognitive-science-with-jonas-linderoth-ep-60/ How we learn: Naive, purposeful, and deliberate practice with Stephen Chew https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-mrwn2-18adce0 How advocacy is changing reading instruction with Jamie Metsala https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/how-advocacy-is-changing-reading-instruction-with-jamie-metsala/ Exploring evidence for equitable education with Nidhi Sachdeva and Jim Hewitt https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-fjdnt-1685615 Using evidence in education with Pamela Snow https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/using-evidence-in-education-with-pamela-snow-ep-27/ MUSIC Intro & Outro: Funk Jazz Big Band - ColorFilmMusic Website: www.annastokke.com FB: Chalk & Talk IG: @chalkandtalkpodcast Tiktok: @chalkandtalkpodcast X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social

In this solo episode, Anna Stokke explores five common misconceptions in math education that may sound convincing but aren't supported by high-quality evidence. This episode is based on a chapter she wrote for The Practice Project, which is a joint initiative of the American Enterprise Institute and researchED, dedicated to improving classroom practice through research-informed professional knowledge.   She tackles five common misconceptions about math instruction:  teaching multiple strategies to new learners, relying on technology instead of learning facts and procedures, believing that conceptual understanding must precede procedures, using problem solving as the primary method of instruction, and thinking that practice turns kids off math. She concludes the episode by discussing evidence-based approaches that better support student success in mathematics. This episode is available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke The Practice Project article can be read here: https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/five-math-education-misconceptions-that-are-holding-students-back/   TIMESTAMPS [00:00:00] Introduction [00:02:16] Myth #1: New learners should learn multiple math strategies [00:05:41] What to do instead [00:06:04] Myth #2: Technology makes facts and procedures unnecessary [00:09:31] Myth #3: Conceptual understanding must come before procedural skill [00:13:50] Myth #4: Problem solving is the best way to teach mathematics [00:15:09] The instructional hierarchy guides instructional methods [00:16:29] Myth #5: Practice turns kids off math [00:18:41] What the evidence says about effective math instruction [00:20:06] Final thoughts: takeaways for teachers and parents   RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES  Cognitive load theory and learning math with John Sweller https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-s2zyd-1a717d6 Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction with Tom Sherrington https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hmh6w-1a3a5b0 Techniques for Building Fluency with Math Facts https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-3ny3k-17323a9 Cognitive load theory with Greg Ashman https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-thbad-13cea56 Evidence-based teaching strategies with Paul Kirschner https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-thbad-13cea56   EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-77-resources   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-77-transcript   MUSIC Intro & Outro: Funk Jazz Big Band -  ColorFilmMusic Website: www.annastokke.com FB: Chalk & Talk IG: @chalkandtalkpodcast Tiktok: @chalkandtalkpodcast X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social