Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Jun 26

NEW POST: On how to make any teacher an expert in writing

open.substack.com/pub/rebeccab...

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Jun 18

The highs and lows of TAPPLE. We get great data on our students’ learning but then we need to respond. We taught it, but did they learn it?

From the current episode of #ChalkDust

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Jun 5

NEW POST: Are we setting anxious students up to fail? open.substack.com/pub/rebeccab...

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · May 28

Do you think teachers are oppressed by having expert teaching materials provided to them? Then watch Episode 2 of Chalk Dust and have your assumptions challenged.

chalkdust.media/p/episode-2-...

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · May 24

Oh no! A vibes-based approach is now being proposed for assessing teacher quality (which till now has been referred to as teachING quality.

‘Teacher quality’ redefined to encompass personal traits like reflection, resilience — EducationHQ

‘Teacher quality’ redefined to encompass personal traits like reflection, resilience

The negative narrative around ‘teacher quality’ must change, along with the professional standards, to acknowledge the specific personal traits and attributes that research shows make a great…

educationhq.com

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · May 22

Everyone who teaches a young person should read this. No joke.

open.substack.com/pub/thenoosp...

What the ‘Men Are Falling Behind’ Panic Is Really About

Too often, it’s not about genuinely helping men and boys at all

open.substack.com

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · May 16

Do you have a clip of your classroom practice for us to review on Chalk Dust? We're doing a special episode on classroom entry and start-work routines. DM me or Nathaniel for more info, and feel free to share with a stand-out colleague who excels in this area.

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · May 11

I thought I was first to coin the phrase, “Traditional is the new progressive.” But I’m not. The great Paul Kirschner said it first.

Why progressive education does not serve equity, despite good intentions.

The Paradox of Progressivism in Education - kirschner-ED

One of the most toxic paradoxes in education is what I call the paradox of progressivism. In short, while progressive education (like all education) aims to reduce learning gaps and increase equity,…

www.kirschnered.nl

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · May 8

Tom Bennett is coming to Australia for his 2025 Behaviour in Schools Tour. Last chance to get tickets to the Sydney date!

Tom Bennett Australia 2025 Behaviour in Schools Tour - Tom Bennett Training

What do the best teachers and leaders in the world do to make sure classrooms are safe, calm and dignified places where children flourish? Professor Tom Bennett, OBE is the School Behaviour Advisor…

tombennetttraining.co.uk

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 30

NEW POST: On the myths and truths about how girls learn. Knowledge is (girl) power!

open.substack.com/pub/rebeccab...

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 30

CRP, SEL, UDL. Big on good vibes. Low on outcomes.

If our job is just to make students feel good, then great. If it’s to achieve real equity and life choices, then don’t pin your hopes on these acronyms.

Teaching for equitable outcomes: The missing ingredient open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

Teaching for more equitable outcomes: The missing ingredient

Why equity initiatives can fail and what teachers can do about it.

open.substack.com

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 30

CRP, SEL, UDL. Big on good vibes. Low on outcomes.

If our job is just to make students feel good, then great. If it’s to achieve real equity and life choices, then don’t pin your hopes on these acronyms.

Teaching for equitable outcomes: The missing ingredient open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

Teaching for more equitable outcomes: The missing ingredient

Why equity initiatives can fail and what teachers can do about it.

open.substack.com

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 30

Dr Nathaniel Swain and I are so excited that Brendan Lee has opened his classroom to us in an upcoming episode of #ChalkDust

Here's a sneak peek of his advice to Mathematics teachers. It applies to primary teachers and secondary!

Be notified about the first episode here chalkdust.media

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 25

This post is so helpful for people like me who fear repetition and redundancy in academic writing.

Pat writes such a great blog on academic writing. And this from a writer!

productive redundancy

Ever been told not to repeat yourself in your writing? Or been told that repetition is a complete academic no-no? Well, that’s not entirely true. But before I explain why, I must make a sligh…

patthomson.net

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 24

Natalie Wexler makes a good case for being hyper aware of the claims of research and how they’re framed.

Do Students Who Rely on ChatGPT "Benefit"?

Do Students Who Rely on ChatGPT "Benefit"?

AI has its uses, but it's not a substitute for writing--or learning.

open.substack.com

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 23

NEW POST: Are there links between explicit teaching, classroom management and productive class climates? Find out! (Short answer -- probably).

open.substack.com/pub/rebeccab...

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 10

This group is growing in strength and numbers. It's so great to have a support network of leaders in professional learning, and experts from UNSW like Tony Loughland, Paul Evans and Simon Breakspear to draw on for advice about applying research in schools.

Centre for Research in Schools (CRiS) | UNSW Sydney

Centre for Research in Schools (CRiS) fosters professional learning cultures in K–12 settings, connecting research with practical strategies for impactful growth.

www.unsw.edu.au

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 8

Some very reasonable points about cold calling:

“Why I can't use 'cold call' anymore”https://open.substack.com/pub/daviddidau/p/why-i-cant-use-cold-call-anymore?r=5d1ba&utm_medium=ios

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 3

I'm presenting with my great mate Cassandra Pride at ICGS, hosted by Queenwood, on the myths and truths about how girls learn. Spoiler: girls' brains are no different to boys'. Grab a ticket to hear more nuance from us.

girlsschools.org/28-april-202...

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 2

NEW POST: On following the golden thread, w/ Professor Haili Hughes. A follow up to my analysis of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Haili's experience in the development of the Early Career Framework is a great model for Australia to follow.

Thank you for your generosity, Haili!

Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 1

Academic stress is the top source of personal challenges again this year. This reaffirms the preventative work we are doing at Queenwood with Smart Study!

Infographic: Top issues facing young people

The latest annual Youth Survey by national charity Mission Australia received responses from 17,480 young people (aged 15-19) around the country on issues…

www.teachermagazine.com

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 1

I hear this anecdotal evidence about the links between explicit teaching and student behaviour all the time. This is why I have decided to focus on this area for my PhD study.

www.amazon.com.au/Harnessing-S...

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Apr 1

🎙️ The Chalk Dust Podcast is coming!
Step inside the world’s best classrooms 🎒🌏

Each episode, Dr Nathaniel Swain and I break down real classroom footage to reveal what makes great teaching great ✨🧑‍🏫

Sign up to be notified when the first episode drops!
chalkdust.media/p/sneak-prev...

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Mar 15

What a rejuvenating day at researchED spending time with the best educators in the country. Not least these people!

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Rebecca Birch @rebeccabirch.au · Mar 9

I've officially hit 4K subscribers from 83 countries! I started this Substack about three years ago as a new year's resolution to write every day. There's nothing like an unrealistic goal to kickstart a more modest habit!

rebeccabirch.substack.com/p/on-buildin...

On building moats

How progressive education defends it ivory tower

rebeccabirch.substack.com

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