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.

Some people have mentioned that they’d like to know more about my background story. In this episode of the Human Chapters with Arti Shah, I delve into my own journey. It’s available wherever you listen to your podcasts or on youtube.

Catch up on Season 1 HERE

Listen to the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast here:

Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Spotify

Catch up on Season 1 HERE

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,...