In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers podcast, I’m joined by the legendary Craig Barton—maths educator, best-selling author of How I Wish I Taught Maths and Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain, creator of variationtheory.com and tipsforteachers.co.uk, and one of the original voices in education podcasting.
In this conversation, Craig opens up about the highs and lows of teaching, the lessons he’s learned from observing thousands of classrooms, and how he’s navigated public criticism and personal growth. We dive deep into his evolving views on instruction, feedback, and what really moves the needle in student learning. The discussion covers things like:
- Mini whiteboards
- Diagnostic questions
- Intelligent Practice
- Atomisation
- Responsive teaching
We also touch upon his milestone 200th episode of the Mr. Barton Maths podcast and get a sneak peek at his upcoming “Becoming a Better Maths Teacher” tour of Australia with Ollie Lovell in June.
It’s honest, reflective, and packed with insights every teacher can relate to.
Resources mentioned:
- Books by Craig Barton:
- How I Wish I Taught Maths
- Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain
- Tips for Teachers
- Responsive Coaching by Josh Goodrich
- Some of Craig’s Websites:
- mrbartonmaths.com
- diagnosticquestions.com
- variationtheory.com
- tipsforteachers.co.uk
- Podcasts:
- Mr Barton Maths Podcast
You can connect with Craig:
Twitter/X: @mrbartonmaths
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About Craig Barton
Craig Barton loves teaching, doing, speaking and thinking about mathematics. He taught maths in secondary schools for 15 years, and was TES Maths Adviser for 10 years. He is now the Head of Education at Eedi.
Craig is the author of three best-selling books: How I wish I’d taught maths, Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain and Tips for Teachers, the host of the Mr Barton Maths podcast and the Tips for Teachers podcast, and the creator of far too many websites, including eedi, diagnosticquestions, tipsforteachers, mrbartonmaths, variationtheory, and ssddproblems.
Craig has been lucky to teach maths and work with teachers and students worldwide. In 2020, he was appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the Mathematics Education Centre at the University of Loughborough.
His two proudest achievements are convincing Kate to marry him (and stay married), and being the father to our wonderful boys, Isaac and Jacob.
Becoming a Better Maths Teacher: Craig Barton’s Aussie Tour with Ollie Lovell
For the first time ever, the UK’s most celebrated mathematics teacher, podcaster, and author, Craig Barton, is coming to Australia for a nationwide tour. Craig will be joined by Australia’s own Ollie Lovell for an unforgettable day of professional learning designed to transform your teaching practice.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative event! Four dates, four cities:
- Perth: Friday, June 20, 2025
- Melbourne: Monday, June 23, 2025
- Sydney: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- Adelaide: Friday, June 27, 2025
Seats are limited—secure your spot today and take your mathematics teaching to the next level!