Work with Brendan - Learning with Mr. Lee

Why work with Brendan

After falling down the rabbit hole of educational research, Brendan started to question why the research wasn’t transferring to the classroom. This led him to not only developing his understanding of the science of learning, but also looking into how to deliver professional learning that actually improves what teachers do.

Brendan is now a highly sought-after professional learning provider and educational consultant having presented around the country at conferences, workshops and staff development days such as:

Sharing Best Practice
Science of Teaching and Learning Australia
Teaching Matters Conference – Tasmania
Effective Teaching Conference
Think Forward Educators
White Rose Education Conference
SUMit Dubai
South Coast Network Primary Schools
Sutherland Principals Conference
Macarthur Principal Network
Auburn / Chullora Network – Numeracy Initiative
Hawkesbury and Windsor P.S. Middle Leaders
La Trobe Valley and West Gippsland Networks
NSW Catholic Schools
Sydney Adventist Schools

He serves as a Board member for Ochre Education and has collaborated with organisations like AERO, CIS, the Grattan Institute and Think Forward Educators, as well as with experts including Dr. Simon Breakspear and Dr. Nathaniel Swain. All of this is done with the focus on supporting schools in taking an evidence-informed approach towards implementing evidence-based practice.

Choose your focus area

For each of these areas, Brendan can provide a brief overview that gets to the heart of what teachers need to know or delve into the nuances of what to do and not do. It’s dependent on the needs and time provided. He can also cover a combination of areas. e.g. Primary maths through the instructional hierarchy or Implementing the science of learning and instructional coaching.

Science of learning

Learn about the science of learning and what the implications are for teachers.

Overview

Brendan will go beyond just talking about the cognitive science, but also look at what we need to understand about human behaviour. This includes:

Cognitive load theory
The simple memory model
Motivation
The science of behaviour
Desirable difficulties: retrieval, spaced & interleaved practice

For each principle, he will provide the practical implications for teachers.

Primary Maths

Find out how to teach primary maths in a systematic and structured manner.

Overview

Brendan will highlight the importance of mathematics and debunk some of the myths surrounding it. It will look at:

How mathematics is highly hierarchical
Why we need both conceptual and procedural understanding
The concrete, pictorial and abstract framework
Effective modelling techniques
How to address word problems

Teaching Writing the Right Way

Learn about the importance of explicitly teaching writing and what it looks like in the classroom.

Overview

Brendan will provide an overview of the research and look at:

the Simple View of Writing
the Writing Revolution
Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD)

What does the science of reading look like in the classroom

Get to know what the science of reading is actually about and what it means for teachers.

Overview

Brendan will unpack precisely what teachers need to know about the research including:

The Five Essential Pillars of Reading (from the National Reading Panel, 2000)
the Simple View of Reading
Scarborough’s Reading Rope

He will also go through the key differences between previous ways of teaching reading and a more structured approach.

The Instructional Hierarchy

Discover why the instructional hierarchy is the most important framework for teachers to understand.

Overview

Brendan will describe why he feels the instructional hierarchy is the most important thing for teachers to understand. He will go through each stage of learning:

Acquisition
Fluency
Generalisation
Adaptation
Maintenance

Explicit instruction

Gain insight into the different models of explicit instruction and what it looks like for teachers.

Overview

This covers overviews of:

Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction
Engelmann’s Direct Instruction
Ybarra and Hollingsworth’s Explicit Direct Instruction
Archer and Hughes’ Explicit instruction

Teachers will build their understanding of things like:

checking for understanding
questioning
feedback
retrieval practice
the gradual release of responsibility

Implementing the Science of Learning

It’s one thing to understand the science of learning, it’s another to implement it following the implementation science.

Overview

Brendan can work with school leaders in setting up a positive school culture to enable school improvement. He will go through the research on:

implementation science
change management
effective school leadership
delivering high impact professional learning

He can also help schools set up:

instructional coaching
build an instructional playbook

Implementing a behaviour curriculum

You might have the best sequenced curriculum, but if classrooms aren’t calm and focused, then learning won’t happen. Find out how to create a whole school system for behaviour.

Overview

Brendan will go through what a behaviour curriculum actually is and provide an overview of the research and look at:

Functional behaviour
Building routines
Ensuring fidelity of implementation

Choose your mode of delivery

Keynote Presentation e.g. for a conference or event.
One Day Workshop e.g. pupil free staff development day.
Sequence of learning e.g. a two year plan is put together with a focus for every 6 months.
Instructional Coaching e.g. a combination of lesson demonstrations, observations and coaching sessions.

In-Person

Online

Type of Support

Targeted

This is for schools that are already heading in the right direction or just need an external voice to present to staff. Brendan is able to deliver one-off presentations or workshops that are specific to the schools needs.

Sequential

Choose a focus area and Brendan can provide a sequence of professional learning sessions that focuses on building knowledge, practical advice and supporting small incremental changes in teachers' practice. This can involve modelling and observing lessons.

Strategic

This involves Brendan working with school leaders to strategically plan out how the science of learning will be implemented through professional learning, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.

Contact Brendan

Testimonials

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. Brendan has the ability to inspire and influence those he works with, aligning to the evidence to be as efficient and effective in their teaching. Brendan recognises the importance of leaders in schools and can work closely with them to ensure the conditions are right by critically reflecting on the structures, processes and procedures to embed and sustain long term change. Brendan is dynamic in delivering professional learning, bringing his expertise and passion in an engaging and practical way 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

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

This session was informative and insightful which had me reflecting on how I convey knowledge and skills over to my students. My goal is to include what I have learned in this session in my teaching.

Cindy Jenneke Mountain View Adventist College