Asking Questions and Checking Understanding

In this episode, Anna is joined by Tom Sherrington, education consultant, author of Rosenshine’s Principles in Action, co-author of the Teaching Walkthrough series, and a former teacher and school leader with over 30 years of experience. Tom shares how Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction became a foundational framework for his own practice and why they remain one of the most useful entry points into evidence-based teaching.

They explore where the principles came from, why they matter, and what they actually look like in real classrooms, with a focus on sequencing and modelling, effective questioning, review, and structured practice. This practical, research-informed conversation offers clear, concrete guidance for educators at all levels who want to align their teaching with how learning works.

This episode is also available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke

SHORT COURSE 

La Trobe Short Course:  Evidence-informed Mathematics Teaching – An Introduction https://shortcourses.latrobe.edu.au/evidence-informed-mathematics-teaching

PRINCIPLES OF INSTRUCTION RESOURCE

Principles of Instruction: Research-based Strategies That All Teachers Should Know by Barak Rosenshine: https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/Rosenshine.pdf

TOM SHERRINGTON WEBSITE
https://teacherhead.com/

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:22] Introduction and listing the 10 principles
[00:04:19] Who was Barak Rosenshine?
[00:04:45] From 17 evidence-based instructional procedures to 10 principles
[00:08:18] What research backs Rosenshine’s principles?
[00:14:54] UK teachers’ familiarity with Rosehnshine’s principles
[00:14:08] Pace of adopting Rosenshine’s principles in other countries
[00:18:07] The more practice the better: Rosenshine’s on practice
[00:23:06] What does aiming for an 80% success rate mean?
[00:27:09] Importance of checking for understanding
[00:28:39] Checking for understanding and good questioning
[00:32:55] Understanding the forms of guided practice
[00:34:33] Teaching between desks
[00:38:54] Principle 1 & 10 – The reviewing stages
[00:43:51] When to review before teaching your lesson
[00:45:11] Presenting new materials and small practice steps  
[00:49:47] Principle 4 – Providing models
[00:51:34] Principle 8 – Provide scaffolds for difficult tasks
[00:54:59] Do these principles apply to any subject?
[00:57:40] Can we get 80% success in classrooms with a wide range of learning levels?

RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES 

The power of explicit instruction with Anita Archer
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-93dcw-19a3530

Educational leadership:  Improving math and literacy with Scott Hill
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vpzf8-16d0c17

Reclaiming leaning time to boost literacy and numeracy with Ross Fox
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bpy4n-188c9c5

Exploring evidence for equitable education with Nidhi Sacheva and Jim Hewitt

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-fjdnt-1685615

Evidence-based teaching strategies with Paul Kirschner
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zgw6i-13b33df

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-64-transcript

MUSIC

Intro & Outro: Funk Jazz Big Band -  ColorFilmMusic

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