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Take an Edu-Trip to New York City

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 6d

Here’s a little about my experience with coaching as a new teacher, and some of the Steplab instructional coaching courses happening this winter -online and in person.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/29/t...

When I first started teaching, the best professional development I received came from two people: the math coach at my school and my assigned mentor teacher. It wasn’t perfect. The math coach only …

Explicit and Direct Instruction Systematically Manages Cognitive Load—It’s Not Just Lecturing

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 6d

Explicit and Direct Instruction Systematically Manages Cognitive Load

It’s Not Just Lecturing!

educationrickshaw.com/2025/10/02/e...

I recently presented a two-part series for an organization called POPEY (the Provincial Outreach Program for the Early Years). A B.C.-based organization, they support K–3 educators with research-ba…

Direct Instruction Embodies the Science of Learning

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 6d

Hey folks, free webinar coming up in an hour (1pm Pacific)

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/30/d...

In one of my more popular posts, I argued that we need to do better than just nod politely at Direct Instruction (DI). Cognitive Load Theory is honored through DI’s ruthless efficiency: every word …

S5E04: Marcie Samayoa on NGSS and Explicit Science Instruction

Reposted by Zach Groshell

Ms. Sam @scientistsinthemaking.com · 7d

As a longtime listener, it was surreal to be on the other side of the mic! Thanks @mrzachg.bsky.social for the opportunity to discuss science education and how teachers can balance explicit instruction with NGSS. Check it out below ⬇️

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/28/s...

In this episode, I’m joined by Marcie Samayoa—science teacher, cognitive science enthusiast, and blogger of Scientists in the Making. Marcie shares the origin story behind her innovative classroom …

The Provincial Outreach Program for the Early Years (POPEY) is a British Columbia Ministry of Education and Child Care Provincial Resource Program with an outreach focus.

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 8d

Two fantastic PD sessions available for free on the Popey website, which is evidence of Canada’s growing commitment towards all learners

www.popey.ca/webinars/zac...

Zach Groshell series

www.popey.ca

Direct Instruction Embodies the Science of Learning

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 8d

Free Webinar Opportunity:

Direct Instruction (DI) Embodies the Science of Learning

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/30/d...

In one of my more popular posts, I argued that we need to do better than just nod politely at Direct Instruction (DI). Cognitive Load Theory is honored through DI’s ruthless efficiency: every word …

Take an Edu-Trip to New York City

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 9d

🚨 Announcement 🚨

Join me for the Instructional Coaching Intensive in New York City!

It's a great opportunity to get out and hone your feedback and observation skills.

Supercharged by Steplab, this is the coaching approach schools are waiting for.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/29/t...

When I first started teaching, the best professional development I received came from two people: the math coach at my school and my assigned mentor teacher. It wasn’t perfect. The math coach only …

Steplab Coaching Ambassador Program, North America

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 11d

The feedback I use for coaching educators isn’t just theory—it’s been field-tested in 14,000 Steplab schools. At this point, I’m convinced: it’s a formula for feedback that actually lands, every time.

Learn all about it in this training program:

steplab.co/news/steplab...

Become a certified US/Canada Steplab Instructional Coaching Ambassador with our new pathway to great coaching.

steplab.co

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 17d

The greatest myth of math education is not learning styles, not timed tests, and not productive struggle.

It’s that we should pretend that kids hating math has to do with some mystical mindset and not the quality of instruction.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/20/s...

S5E03: John Mighton on Building Math Confidence, One Problem at a Time

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. John Mighton — mathematician, playwright, best-selling author, and founder of JUMP Math. John shares his insights into one of the most misunderstood concepts in e…

Direct Instruction Motivation, Part 3: Success, Not Struggle

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 22d

Success breeds success. Direct and explicit instruction propels a virtuous cycle. It gets kids on a winning streak.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/16/d...

This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its s…

S5E02: Linda Diamond & Paige Pullen on Connecting Learning, Literacy, and Instruction

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 22d

S5E02: Linda Diamond & Paige Pullen on Connecting Learning, Literacy, and Instruction

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/15/s...

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by two of the most influential voices in literacy education today—Linda Diamond and Paige Pullen. With decades of experience in education, Linda and Paige bring…

S5E02: Linda Diamond & Paige Pullen on Connecting Learning, Literacy, and Instruction

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · 23d

The latest episode of Progressively Incorrect speaks to a missing piece of some districts’ science of reading initiatives: the crucial role of effective instruction and the broader science of learning.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/15/s...

In this powerful premiere episode, I’m joined by two of the most influential voices in literacy education today—Linda Diamond and Paige Pullen. With decades of experience in education, Linda and Pa…

S5E01: Greg Ashman on Explicit Teaching and Inquiry Learning

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Reposted by Zach Groshell

Tom K @gctom.bsky.social · 26d

@gregashman.bsky.social was the first person who I engaged with and challenged me in a way that shattered my pedagogy and I hated him at first for it. Craig Barton has a much better story of leaving behind the inquiry-led drivel. But I’ll always appreciate what Greg Ashman did for me and my students

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Sep 7

Wonderful news: lots of people like this episode, where myths are dispelled and evidence is discussed about explicit instruction.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/02/s...

Welcome to Season 5 of Progressively Incorrect! In this special premiere episode, I’m joined by Greg Ashman, a leading advocate for explicit instruction and one of the most important voices in educ…

S5E01: Greg Ashman on Explicit Teaching and Inquiry Learning

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Sep 7

Wonderful news: lots of people like this episode, where myths are dispelled and evidence is discussed about explicit instruction.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/02/s...

Welcome to Season 5 of Progressively Incorrect! In this special premiere episode, I’m joined by Greg Ashman, a leading advocate for explicit instruction and one of the most important voices in educ…

The Truth About Lesson Planning

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Sep 7

This post is about how I plan lessons from scratch, what we get right and wrong about lesson planning, and the great paradox of lesson planning:

In a perfect world, it wouldn’t even exist!

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/06/t...

The first truth about lesson planning is a paradox: in a perfect world, it wouldn’t even exist. Designing curriculum and instruction is its own science, and a difficult one at that. When well-desig…

S5E01: Greg Ashman on Explicit Teaching and Inquiry Learning

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Sep 2

Season 5 is here! 🎉

Episode 1 is an absolute firestarter 🔥 - Greg Ashman joins me to unpack recent attempts to villainize “step-by-step instruction." We dive into productive failure, teacher prep, and the ideological divides in education.

educationrickshaw.com/2025/09/02/s...

Welcome to Season 5 of Progressively Incorrect! In this special premiere episode, I’m joined by Greg Ashman, a leading advocate for explicit instruction and one of the most important voices in educ…

Just Tell Them: BTEL with Zach Groshell PhD

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 17

Lovely interview with host, Robyn Young, about the importance of evidence-based teaching, cognitive science, and how to avoid common instructional myths.

open.spotify.com/episode/1ijC...

Behind the Educator's Lens · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 10

Somewhere amid the cajoling for a 5:1 ratio of praise to reprimand, and the countless attempts to gamify and incentivize student achievement, there is a path towards using praise in conjunction with Direct and Explicit Instruction to move kids forward

educationrickshaw.com/2025/08/08/d...

Direct Instruction Motivation Part 2: Productive Praise

This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its s…

S4E39: Shawn Datchuk on Teaching Sentence Construction with Precision

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 10

I’ve done many writing episodes this season, including the very popular Writing Revolution episode. Great to end this season talking with a researcher- who has always been one foot in the classroom - about what research implies for writing instruction!

educationrickshaw.com/2025/08/10/s...

In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Dr. Shawn Datchuk, a leading researcher who’s helped shape how we think about sentence construction for struggling learners. Drawing from t…

Direct Instruction Motivation Part 2: Productive Praise

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Reposted by Zach Groshell

Josh Fisher @textsavvy.org · Aug 8

"And students like Micah learn the wrong lesson: that surface-level activity earns the same praise as newfound competence."

Spot on.

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 8

Here is the highly awaited Part 2 of my series on motivation within Direct and Explicit Instruction.

This one is all about praise and acknowledgement.

Engelmann makes an appearance, as does poor Micah's hot glued "robot."

educationrickshaw.com/2025/08/08/d...

This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its s…

Direct Instruction Motivation Part 2: Productive Praise

1 1 3

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 8

Here is the highly awaited Part 2 of my series on motivation within Direct and Explicit Instruction.

This one is all about praise and acknowledgement.

Engelmann makes an appearance, as does poor Micah's hot glued "robot."

educationrickshaw.com/2025/08/08/d...

This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its s…

Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 8

Over 100 reviews!

a.co/d/4ZNX4IK

Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching [Groshell, Zach] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching

a.co

Knowledge Is Back—But Only If We Teach It Well

Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 8

My latest blog on knowledge and explicit instruction

educationrickshaw.com/2025/08/08/k...

I recently joined Dylan Wiliam and Patrice Bain on the Knowledge Matters Podcast to talk about retrieval practice, mini whiteboards, and the kinds of instructional moves that actually help students…

Steplab Coaching Ambassador Program, North America

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Zach Groshell @mrzachg.bsky.social · Aug 2

As a school leader, you’re largely unable to locate a teacher on a rubric with accuracy, but you are perfectly positioned to create an effective PD program and a culture of feedback.

Join our new cohort for once a month online training 👇👇👇

steplab.co/news/steplab...

Become a certified US/Canada Steplab Instructional Coaching Ambassador with our new pathway to great coaching.

steplab.co