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Is Direct Instruction a Dirty Word? Explicit Teaching, Cognitive Load, and the "Third Way" with Zach Groshell Should the teacher lead, or should kids discover? Zach Groshell, former classroom teacher, math interventionist, instructional coach, and author of Just Tell Them, argues there's a third way: let the science of learning drive the decisions. Teach new material explicitly, then gradually hand over the reins until students can do it on their own. We talk about what that looks like in real classrooms. We cover why so much of what passes for engagement overloads working memory, how school-wide systems make classroom management possible, and what explicit instruction means for homework, grouping, ed tech, projects, and early math. In this episode: What explicit instruction is, and why Zach calls it "rocket fuel for learning" The myth of the "boring," teacher-led lesson, and the third way between lecture and discovery Gradual release in practice: modeling, mini whiteboards, and pulling small groups Why classroom management starts with school-wide systems, plus Doug Lemov's "What to Do" cycle Compliance vs. engagement: "Everybody is on page 138" How to lead from the classroom when you don't have top-down support Cognitive load: working memory as a bottleneck, and why some projects teach less than they look like they do Cramming, forgetting, and formative assessment as information the teacher actually uses Homework as practice, and as a safety net for parents Intervention, walk-to-math, mixed-ability classrooms, and gifted kids as "unpaid tutors" Ed tech that designs around the science of learning (Khan Academy, 2 Hour Learning) Making application tasks worth the time, and why every teacher designing their own curriculum creates "hot and shiny garbage" Early math: should kids start with blocks or with numbers? Where schools are headed: micro-schools, school choice, and AI tutoring

What does it take to redesign school so students find meaning in their learning—and teachers have the time and support to make it happen? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Katie Martin, author of Learner-Centered Innovation and Co-CEO of Learner-Centered Collaborative. Katie shares lessons from her work as a teacher, administrator, and member of the AltSchool team, along with what she's learning from helping public school systems rethink education. We explore personalized learning, the challenges of changing school systems, and how AI could create more room for teachers to coach, connect, and support students. Throughout our conversation, Katie returns to a central idea: start with a clear vision for learners, then choose the tools and structures that help bring it to life. What you'll take away Devices alone don't create engagement. Katie reflects on early one-to-one technology initiatives and what students said they missed: connection with their teachers. Personalized learning requires thoughtful design. AltSchool's experience offers lessons about student goals, feedback, meaningful projects, and the workload involved in adopting new approaches. Lasting change starts with the community. Students, educators, families, and leaders help define success and shape the changes their schools need. A learner profile is a starting point. Bringing that vision to life means rethinking schedules, assessment, teacher collaboration, and learning experiences. Look for early signs of progress. Katie describes improvements in engagement, attendance, and belonging that can precede gains in academic achievement. Make student learning visible. Celebrations of learning give students a chance to share their growth—and help teachers see the impact of their work. Episode chapters 00:00 — Meet Katie Martin 00:44 — What early technology rollouts missed 03:37 — Lessons from AltSchool's personalized learning model 06:22 — The same mission, a different approach to change 07:37 — Why school districts matter 08:40 — Building a shared vision with the community 11:50 — Four pressures driving schools to rethink their approach 13:00 — Relevance, engagement, and staying the course 15:02 — How celebrations of learning shift mindsets 16:23 — AI's role in freeing teachers to coach and connect A question to bring to your team What would change in your school if every student regularly shared what they learned, why it mattered, and how they grew? Watch the full episode on YouTube. Subscribe to Next Gen Schools, share this conversation with a colleague, and leave a comment with one idea you'd like to try in your school.

What does school look like from the perspective of a student who decided "the traditional way" wasn't working? Kate from "Austin Scholar" joins A.J. to discuss her journey from a traditional high school to a self-directed learning model. They dive deep into how AI is changing the landscape for students, the importance of "mastery-based" progress, and why the most important skill for the next generation is learning how to learn. Key Highlights: The Pivot: Why Kate decided to leave the traditional path to pursue a self-directed education. Mastery vs. Seat Time: The difference between "doing school" and actually mastering a subject. AI as a Tutor: How ALPHA uses AI tools to level up learning and bridge gaps that a single teacher in a room of 30 cannot. Student Agency: Moving away from being a "passive recipient" of info to an "active architect" of a curriculum. The Future of Work: Why being an "expert generalist" is the new competitive advantage. Resources Mentioned: Austin Scholar's Substack: austinscholar.substack.com ALPHA School: https://alpha.school/ Texas Sports Academy: https://sportsacademy.school/ Alpha Life Skills: https://alpha.school/lifeskills-workshops/ Alpha Results: https://alpha.school/the-program/#learnanewwordtoday

Ira David Socol is an educator, former police officer, and author of "Designed to Fail". In this first episode of Next Gen Schools we explore how our current version of "schooling" was designed, and if we need a new version (hint: we most likely do, but not how you think). Designed to Fail: A History of Education in the United States by Ira David Socol: https://www.amazon.com/Designed-Fail-History-Education-United/dp/B0DLSVSHR6  Showlinks can be found: http://ajjuliani.com/iradavidsocol More episodes can be found: http://nextgenschools.com/