How I Support
I support educators to apply what we know from research in ways that truly work in the classroom. These are the key areas where I help schools turn evidence into practice.
Science of learning
I translate cognitive psychology, behaviour science and neuroscience into practical classroom strategies — helping teachers apply research on memory, attention, and motivation to design lessons that support long-term learning.
Primary Maths
I support schools in delivering clear, structured maths instruction that builds understanding, fluency and reasoning — with a focus on evidence-informed routines, representations and sequencing.
Explicit Instruction
I help educators implement effective modelling, scaffolding and guided practice through the gradual release of responsibility — reducing confusion and increasing student success.
Implementing Research Effectively
I work with teachers and leaders to turn research into action — building shared language, sustainable routines, and professional learning that actually changes classroom practice.
A Clear Path for Effective Primary Maths Instruction
From classroom practice to school wide implementation these offerings give teachers and leaders the tools they need to teach with purpose support learning and sustain improvement.
The Primary Maths Instruction Framework
For Primary Teachers
This course gives teachers a clear structure for teaching maths that reflects how learning happens. You will learn how to plan lessons that support acquisition fluency and generalisation and how to choose the right instructional moves at the right time. The framework provides practical tools that can be used in any classroom.
Implementing Effective Primary Maths Instruction
For School & Middle Leaders
This course supports school and middle leaders who want clarity in how to lead maths improvement. You will learn how to align curriculum and lesson design with the stages of learning and how to guide teachers through meaningful change. The aim is to help leaders build systems that support high quality maths instruction across the whole school.
Evidence in Action: The Primary Maths Partnership
For School & System Leaders
Evidence in Action is a school partnership that helps teams turn research into daily classroom practice. Through spaced professional learning coaching and practical tools schools build consistent and confident maths instruction. The focus is on creating systems that make improvement last.
About me
After nearly a decade as a high school teacher, I left the profession feeling disillusioned — and opened a café.
It taught me a lot about leadership, communication and building something that works. However, I knew I had unfinished business in education.
I returned as a primary teacher, driven to understand why so many students disengage. That question led me deep into the science of learning and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Now, I support educators to apply evidence-informed strategies that actually work in the classroom. Schools are complex, but we don’t have to figure it out alone
A Bit About My Approach
I bring both a deep understanding of the research and a practical grasp of classroom realities. I don’t just deliver professional learning and walk away — I can model lessons, coach teachers and work alongside school leaders to develop clear, realistic implementation plans. It’s not about doing more — it’s about doing what works, and making it stick.
Testimonials
Here are some kind words that I’ve received from educators that I’ve worked with:
Brendan Lee is a committed educator dedicated to helping teachers across the country have positive impact on student learning. He has a depth of knowledge of the Science of Learning and importantly can translate what that means to classroom practice for teachers.
Patrick Ellis
Education Lead, Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn
Brendan’s presentations were engaging, informative and inspiring! It was great to explore the links between the science of learning and its practical implementation.
Rachael Bryant
Assistant Principal, Holy Saviour School, NSW
Brendan’s level of pedagogical knowledge and understanding of the struggles teachers face in the classroom were excellent. The ideas presented were explained in detail, making it clear how these could be adopted in different settings to suit different cohorts.
Jeneen Clarkson
Teacher, Morwell Central PS, VIC
Informed by the Science of Learning, Brendan’s workshops provided a range of useable teaching approaches to support maths learning from acquisition to fluency in mathematics. The combination of expert presentation and time to work with colleagues was engaging and productive. So many great resources to explore now too! Thanks for providing the direction our school needs in mathematics Brendan.
Liz Williams
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, NSW
Brendan’s engaging presentation enabled all staff to connect with the principles of how learning happens and see how these can be practically applied in the classroom. Our staff were actively engaged in discussions and appreciated the clarity with which evidence based research ideas were presented.
Daniela Lawlor
Deputy Principal, Magill School, SA
Brendan is a very engaging speaker who can relate to all sorts of people & makes his presentation practical, fun & highly beneficial for all.
Emma G
Teacher, Coolangatta State School, QLD
Latest Posts & Podcasts
Check out my latest blog posts and podcast episodes.
When Explicit Instruction Turns Robotic
Explicit instruction is often presented as a clean sequence of steps. In real classrooms, it rarely works that way. When teachers lack clarity about what to do next, fidelity turns into compliance and instruction becomes robotic. This article explores why resources alone are not enough, and why decision making and subject knowledge are the missing links….
Stop Guessing. Measure Your Maths Instruction.
Most maths improvement plans begin with good intentions and weak diagnosis. We assume we know what is happening in classrooms, then choose strategies to fix it. This piece argues that improvement starts somewhere else. Before deciding what to change, leaders need a clear way to describe and measure what is actually happening in maths lessons….
S03E19 – Natalie Wexler on the Knowledge Gap and What Lies Beyond the Science of Reading
In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee sits down with education writer Natalie Wexler to explore why knowledge matters so much for reading comprehension. Drawing on insights from The Knowledge Gap and Beyond the Science of Reading, Natalie unpacks why teaching comprehension as a set of skills often falls short, and how background knowledge, writing, and thoughtful curriculum design make the real difference. The conversation weaves together cognitive…
The Part of Explicit Instruction Most Teachers Get Wrong (and how to fix it tomorrow)
Many teachers believe they are doing guided practice when students sit close by or when the teacher shares the answer at the end. I used to be one of them. This short section shows what real support looks like and the simple check that prevents errors from sinking in….
The Essential Guide to Explicit Instruction in Mathematics
Mathematics learning is built on strong foundations. When students first encounter new concepts, they don’t need guesswork or open-ended exploration. They need clarity. They need structure. They need instruction that actually helps them learn the content the first time. This guide shows exactly how to do that through Show, Support, Step Back — a practical, research-informed framework for teaching in the acquisition stage. You will learn how to model new skills…
S03E18 – Ingrid Sealey on The Hidden Nuance of Great Teaching
In this episode Brendan Lee sits down with Ingrid Sealey from Teach Well to explore what sits beneath truly effective teaching. Ingrid shares practical insights from her work with thousands of teachers across Australia and explains why small deliberate changes can create powerful shifts in student learning. They unpack the role of clarity in instruction, the importance of spaced practice and the thinking behind full participation. Ingrid also talks through…
Contact Info
Get in touch
Get in touch with me to discuss your needs.