Teacher Insights from Catalyst

Transforming the Science of Learning with Rebecca Birch & Dr Nathaniel Swain

In this rich and highly practical conversation, I sit down with Dr Nathaniel Swain and Rebecca Birch - two of Australia’s leading voices in evidence‑based teaching - to explore how the science of learning can transform teaching and learning in secondary schools, with a deep dive into writing instruction.
Nathaniel and Rebecca unpack how learning really works, why attention matters so much, how explicit instruction supports all students (including high achievers), and what high‑impact writing instruction looks like in secondary classrooms.
Whether you're a secondary teacher, school leader, instructional coach, or anyone curious about the science of learning, this episode is full of practical insights you’ll want to take straight back to the classroom.

Beyond the Science of Reading: A Conversation with Natalie Wexler

Today, I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Natalie Wexler, an acclaimed education writer and thought leader whose work has shaped conversations around literacy, cognitive science, and equity in education. Natalie is the author of Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning and The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—And How to Fix It. She also co-authored The Writing Revolution and The Writing Revolution 2.0.
Natalie’s insights have reached audiences across the U.S. and beyond, and she continues to share her expertise through her Substack newsletter Minding the Gap and as host of the Knowledge Matters Podcast.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why Natalie wrote Beyond the Science of Reading as a follow-up to The Knowledge Gap
The critical role of writing in learning- Why writing reinforces reading comprehension, boosts memory, and encourages deeper thinking—and why it’s often overlooked.
Practical advice for teachers

Implementing HITP with St Mary’s War Memorial Primary School

In this episode St Mary’s War Memorial Primary School’s (West Wyalong) assistant principal, Nickey Harland, and classroom teachers, Bree Taylor and Carlie Iverach chat about High Impact Teaching Practices (HITP).
Nickey will unpack for us:
Insights from HITP implementation and how to keep momentum.
How to embed HITP in daily school life, both inside and outside the classroom.
Coaching and Supporting Others
The implementation of three Direct Instruction programs - Connecting Maths Concepts, Spelling Mastery and Reading Mastery, including how this change was communicated with parents
Bree and Carlie individually discuss how they implement HITP throughout their day and what this looks like, providing plenty of actionable examples that can be applied to your classroom. You’ll also hear how this sounds in their classroom, with snippets from their lessons.

How Learning Happens with Dr Carl Hendrick

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Carl Hendrick—educator, researcher, and co-author of How Learning Happens, How Teaching Happens, and Instructional Illusions. Carl shares his insights on the evolving educational landscape in Australia, the science of learning, and the myths that often mislead teachers and schools.
We explore key ideas from his books, including the “Engagement Illusion,” the importance of prior knowledge, and what is ‘learning’. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or education enthusiast, this episode will challenge your assumptions and offer practical strategies for improving learning outcomes.
What You’ll Learn
Carl’s thoughts of the Catalyst program and educational innovation in Australia
How to support autonomy in learners
The role of prior knowledge in effective teaching
Why popular practices like “discovery learning” may harm learning outcomes
How strong teacher-student relationships impact learning
The difference between engagement and deep understanding
Where technology and AI fit into modern classrooms
How to foster creativity while maintaining cognitive rigor
Featured Books
How Learning Happens – Carl Hendrick & Paul Kirschner How Learning Happens: Seminal Works in Educational Psychology and What
How Teaching Happens – Carl Hendrick, Paul Kirschner & Jim Heal How Teaching Happens: Seminal Works in Teaching and Teacher Effectiven
Instructional Illusions – by Paul Kirschner (Author), Carl Hendrick (Author), Jim Heal (Author) Instructional Illusions | Hachette Learning
Links & Resources
Carl Hendrick’s Substack:The Learning Dispatch | Carl Hendrick | Substack
Learn more about the Catalyst program: Catalyst - Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn

Transforming Teaching Through Catalyst with St Patrick's Primary School

Episode Overview
In this episode, we sit down with staff from St Patrick’s Primary School Bega, a school that has embraced the Catalyst initiative to transform teaching and learning. From instructional programs to leadership strategies, we explore how this school has aligned its practices to create a knowledge-rich, student-centered environment.
School-Wide Impact
Catalyst Learnings
How Catalyst has influenced school-wide practices.
Implementation of instructional programs: Reading Mastery, Spelling Mastery, InitialLit, and CMC supplemented with units developed in partnership with Ochre.
Emphasis on a knowledge-rich curriculum: Teaching deeper, not broader, while meeting outcomes.
Curriculum beyond DI Programs
School Routines & Behaviour
Creating Consistency
Aligning expectations around routines and behaviour.
Tools and strategies: Behaveability (Ian Luscombe), scripted routines
Teaching Practice
Teachers share their experiences and reflections on Catalyst’s impact.

Leading HITP from the classroom with Zoe Cawdron & Lauren Maher

In this episode, CECG teachers Zoe Cawdron and Lauren Maher unpack the impact of Catalyst on their teaching practice, discussing:
Implementing effective classroom routines, attention signals, and engagement norms
Leading from the classroom through their Sharing Best Practice vocabulary presentation
Using assessment data to tailor instruction, support struggling readers, and extend learning opportunities
This episode offers practical strategies for educators seeking to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes through evidence-informed approaches.

High Impact Instruction Conversations with Dr Greg Ashman

In this episode, Dr Greg Ashman talks about:
Clarendon College’s consistent record of high academic achievement
The role of homework and study methods in supporting student success
Insights into Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction
How Cognitive Load Theory can inform classroom practice
'Differentiation or Differentiated Instruction’
His PhD research in Instructional Design
Inquiry Learning
Greg is Deputy Principal at Ballarat Clarendon College in Victoria, and the author of three books, including The Power of Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction. He also writes a popular Substack newsletter, Filling the Pail. This conversation offers practical insights for educators keen to apply evidence-informed strategies and deepen their understanding of how students learn best.

Harnessing the Science of Learning with Dr Nathaniel Swain

In this episode, Dr Nathaniel Swain talks about:
Today's educational landscape
His classroom experiences and how teachers can leverage the Science of Learning fundamentals for success
How educators can strike the right balance between direct instruction and inquiry-based learning in a way that aligns with cognitive science
What makes feedback effective for learning, and some of the common mistakes teachers make when giving feedback
His new book Harnessing the Science of Learning
His charity Think forward Educators
This is a fascinating listen for both those well-versed in the Science of Learning and those eager to learn more

Reflections on Catalyst with Ross Fox

In this episode I chat with Ross Fox, director of Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn, about his reflections on Catalyst from the last 4 years. After 8 years with CECG, he is stepping away from the role of Director to explore other opportunities. In our episode today we hear about Ross’ reflections about Catalyst, including its effectiveness, implementation and vision. We hear about:
His greatest achievement in the Catalyst space
Where he would like to see Catalyst in 5 years time
What he hopes for the future of HITP
What's next for him on the horizon
The use of time to be as effective and efficient as possible in schools

Implementing, Scaling & Embedding Catalyst with Erin White and Lisa Buckland

In this episode we learn about how the leadership team at St Mary Mackillop Catholic College in Canberra successfully implemented the components of Catalyst and scaled up for a two-campus school with over 2000 students. Erin White and Lisa Buckland share with us their insights about how they started their Catalyst journey and the importance of this work in the Secondary context, discussing what worked well and some of the challenges they faced along the way. We learn about where they prioritised, invested their time, supports and resources and how they keep momentum with over 200 staff. Everything shared has relevance for all school contexts, making this an interesting episode for all.