Knowledge for Teachers Podcast - Learning with Mr. Lee

Welcome to the Knowledge for Teachers podcast!

In the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, I (Brendan Lee) chat with researchers, teachers and experts about what evidence-informed education is and the nuances involved with actually implementing effective and sustainable school-based education.

I decided to start up this podcast because rather selfishly there are a lot of areas I would like to have more knowledge in and people that I would really like to hear from, so I thought why not start up a podcast so that I can share these conversations with other educators. I’m also really interested in finding out what those active ingredients are in actually getting evidence-informed practice happening in our classrooms.

Listen to the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast here or wherever you listen to your podcasts from.

Catch up on Season 1 HERE

S04E12 – Zero Staff Turnover: The “Secret Sauce” of a High-Performing School

What does it take to achieve zero staff turnover while overhauling your instructional model? Join Brendan Lee as he chats with the team from Trinity Anglican College about going slow to go far, the power of a unified leadership team...

S04E11 – Dr. Haili Hughes on How Teachers Really Get Better

Join Brendan Lee and Dr Haili Hughes as they discuss why AI makes subject expertise more critical than ever, how to move past generic professional development, and the difference between awkward role-play and high-leverage instructional rehearsal.

S04E10 – 6 Common Mistakes Schools Make When Implementing MTSS with Dr. Sarah Brown and Dr. Stephanie Stollar

Are you overwhelming your intervention system instead of fixing core instruction? In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Dr Sarah Brown and Dr Stephanie Stollar break down the most common MTSS mistakes and explain how school leaders can...

S04E09 – Bridging the Knowing Doing Gap with Professor Stuart Kime

Are we stuck in the knowing doing gap when it comes to professional learning? In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers I sit down with Professor Stuart Kime to discuss how we can turn the science of learning into concrete...

S04E08 – Karen Robertson on Why Health Literacy Is the Shocking Missing Link in Student Success

Brendan Lee sits down with Karen Robertson, CEO of Life Ed Australia, to explore the modern youth health crisis and the evolving role of health literacy. From the reality of early screen exposure to moving beyond fear-based lessons, Karen shares...

S04E07 – Unpacking The Morningside Model & Beyond with Karina Stocker and Dr. Russ Fox

Following an absolute flood of listener questions after my interview with the team at Morningside Academy, I sat down with my close friends and 'science-minded' educators, Dr Russ Fox and Karina Stocker. In this episode, we connect the Morningside approach...

S04E06 – Dr. Kent Johnson and Andrew Kieta on the Morningside Model that Guarantees Two Years of Growth in One

In this episode I sit down with Dr Kent Johnson and Andrew Kieta to explore the incredible work happening at Morningside Academy. Famous for guaranteeing that students will make two years of academic progress or get their money back, Morningside...

S04E05 – Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens on Applying the Science of Behaviour and Precision Teaching to Accelerate Learning

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Kimberly Berens about what it really means to teach using the science of learning. They explore fluency, precision teaching, and why observable, measurable learning matters—offering practical insights to help teachers move beyond theory...

S04E04 – Dr Trina Spencer: The Literacy Priority Most Classrooms Are Missing

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Trina Spencer about a massive blind spot in literacy instruction: oral academic language. We explore why spoken language is the true foundation of reading comprehension and why we shouldn't wait for skilled decoding...

S04E03 – Dr. Brian Poncy on Facts on Fire: Why Fluency Is the Foundation of Mathematical Thinking

In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast , I sit down with Dr. Brian Poncy to unpack the science of math fact fluency. We challenge the myth that timed practice causes anxiety and explore how mastering basic tool...

S04E02 – David Didau on Five Things Teachers Should Stop Doing

In this episode, I speak with David Didau about five common classroom patterns that can look effective in the moment but fail to produce lasting learning. We explore why performance is not the same as understanding, how to make retrieval...

S04E01 – From Burnout to Breakthrough with Brad Gaynor

In this episode, Brad Gaynor and I unpack burnout in education, the Leadership Reset framework, and why clarity, boundaries, and systems matter more than quick wellbeing fixes for teachers and school leaders.

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...

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...

S03E17 – From Intervention to Inclusion: Sarah Asome on Making Every Tier Count

In this episode, Brendan Lee interviews Sarah Asome, principal of Bentleigh West Primary School, about implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Sarah explains how her school aligns teaching and interventions to foster student success, backed by data-driven decisions and a...

S03E16 – Kate Jones on Making Retrieval Practice Work in the Classroom

Author and educator Kate Jones joins Brendan Lee to unpack retrieval practice — what it really is, how to make it work across subjects and age groups and why forgetting is part of learning. Packed with stories, strategies and practical...

S03E15 – Anna Stokke on Cutting Through the Noise in Maths Education

“Pretty much every maths program is going to tell you it’s research-based. But that doesn’t mean it actually improves student learning. A big red flag is when you hear something radical that doesn’t make sense—like when I was told standard...

S03E14 – Close Reading Simplified with Christopher Such

In this episode, Brendan Lee sits down with Christopher Such—teacher, author, and expert in reading instruction—to unpack the power of close reading. Chris explains why it doesn’t need to feel intimidating, how to plan lessons that spark genuine discussion, and...

S03E13 – A Learner’s Toolkit for Students and Teachers with Dr. Vicky Leighton and Dr. Terry Byers

How do we turn research into something that works on a Thursday afternoon with Year 9? Dr. Vicky Leighton and Dr. Terry Byers share how they’re embedding the science of learning in real classrooms, building teacher clarity, and reshaping PD...

S03E12 – Daniel Ansari on Number Sense, Fluency and Understanding Math Difficulties

In this episode, Professor Daniel Ansari unpacks the science behind how children learn maths. We explore what number sense really is, why symbolic understanding matters, how to build fluency without anxiety, and what teachers should know about dyscalculia and early...

S03E11 – Know Thy Purpose: Jocelyn Seamer on Transforming 3–6 Literacy

Jocelyn Seamer joins Brendan to unpack what effective literacy instruction looks like in Years 3–6. From ditching levelled texts to linking reading and writing through rich, purposeful units, this episode is full of practical ideas for teachers ready to bring...

S03E10 – Grattan Institute’s Maths Guarantee Report with Amy Haywood & Nick Parkinson

What’s really going on with primary maths in Australia — and what can we do about it? In this episode, I’m joined by Amy Haywood and Nick Parkinson from the Grattan Institute to unpack their groundbreaking Maths Guarantee report. We...

S03E9 – Making sense of the science of reading with Mandy Nayton

Mandy Nayton joins Brendan Lee to unpack the science of reading, effective intervention, and DSF’s new Word Origins spelling program for years 3–6.

S03E08 – Craig Barton on Becoming a Better Maths Teacher

In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee is joined by the legendary Craig Barton—maths educator, best-selling author and one of the original voices in education podcasting. In this conversation, Craig opens up about the highs and lows...

S03E07 – Jeanette Breen on lessons learnt from high-performing schools

In this episode, Jeanette Breen, a Learning Specialist, discusses her recent tour of top UK schools, including Michaela Community School. She shares insights into effective classroom practices and leadership, featuring audio from various educators she encountered, such as Andrew Percival,...

S03E06 – Dr. Carl Hendrick on Five Things Every Teacher Should Do

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Carl Hendrick, a leading voice in education and co-author of What Does It Look Like in the Classroom?, How Learning Happens, and How Teaching Happens. Carl has been instrumental in helping teachers...

S03E05 – The ABCs of Effective Behaviour Management: A Practical Guide for Teachers with Dr. Brandi Simonsen

In this episode, we're focusing on a key element of successful schools: understanding and supporting positive student behaviour. Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Brandi Simonsen, a professor of special education at the University of Connecticut and co-director of the National...

S03E04 – Dr. Matthew Burns on Effective Assessment: Using Data to Drive Reading & Maths Intervention

In this episode, get ready to dive deep into the world of assessments with Dr. Matthew Burns, as we explore the different categories of assessments, their intended purposes, and how they can be used to inform instruction. Dr. Burns, a...

S03E03 – Liana McCurry on Mathematical Practices in High Performing Countries

In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee speaks with Liana McCurry, a passionate advocate for primary school maths education. Fresh from her Churchill Fellowship, Liana shares findings from her research into mathematical practices across six countries. Listeners will...

S03E02 – Shaping the Future: Murat Dizdar on His Vision for NSW Public Education

This episode features a compelling conversation with Murat Dizdar, the head of the New South Wales Department of Education. Murat shares his inspiring journey from being the son of Turkish immigrants to leading Australia’s largest education system. He discusses the...

S03E01 – Nick Hart on Leading with Responsiveness: A School Leader’s Journey

In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Nick Hart takes us on an inspiring journey from his beginnings in sports science to becoming a school leader in Dubai. A respected voice in educational leadership, Nick shares insights from...

S02E23 – Dr. Zach Groshell and Brendan Lee on effective school leadership

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Zach Groshell for the third of their trilogy of conversations together. In their first episode, they unpacked the nuances of teaching effectively. In the second one, they spoke about coaching, culture and...

S02E22 – Dr. Leslie Laud – Implementation Science Meets Writing Instruction: ThinkSRSD’s Journey to Scalability and Impact

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Leslie Laud. She is the founding Director of ThinkSRSD, a writing program built upon Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD). The discussion covers ThinkSRSD's key strategies, including mnemonics and how to apply them across...

S02E21 – Dr. Nathaniel Swain On Prioritising What Matters: A Deep Dive into the Science of Learning

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He returns for the third time and this time it’s to unpack his new book Harnessing the Science of Learning. However, as you will hear, they actually go beyond the...

S02E20 – Dr. Zach Groshell and Brendan Lee on coaching, culture and change

This is the second conversation between Dr. Zach Groshell and Brendan Lee. For those that don’t know, Zach is the host of the Progressively Incorrect Podcast and also the author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit...

S02E19 – Professor Nancy Jordan on Number Sense, Early Numeracy Screeners and Fractions

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Nancy Jordan. She has been at the forefront of all things to do with early numeracy research including looking at screeners and intervention. Many of you come from the science of reading...

S02E18 – Rhonda Filmer on Neurodiversity and the Twice-Exceptional Student

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Rhonda Filmer, a gifted education consultant and teacher, she discusses her journey into the field and the importance of understanding neurodiversity and twice exceptional students. She has recently released a book, “Neurodiversity and...

S02E17 – Brendan Lee and Dr. Zach Groshell on the nuances of teaching effectively

In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee and Dr. Zach Groshell (Host of the Progressively Incorrect podcast) collaborated in the first of a series of episodes together. The theme for this episode was around what are...

S02E16 – Charlotte Peverett on the importance of having high expectations for all students including diverse learners

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Charlotte Peverett, an experienced learning specialist and inclusion outreach coach, who shares her journey into teaching and special education. Charlotte discusses the significance of structures and routines in creating a safe and consistent...

S02E15- Professor Jonathan Sharples on Implementation in Schools

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Professor Jonathan Sharples from the Education Endowment Foundation. He has led the recent update to the EEF’s A School’s Guide to Implementation and in this conversation we unpack the paper. Professor Sharples details...