The Power of Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction

Greg Ashman grew up in the UK. In 1997, after studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge, he began training as a teacher at the Institute of Education in London. He went on to teach in three London comprehensive schools and took on roles including Head of Science, Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. In 2010, he moved to Ballarat, Australia, with his young family. Since then, he has worked as Head of Mathematics at Ballarat Clarendon College. During this time, he has developed an interest in education research and is currently undertaking a PhD in Instructional Design, as well as taking on the role of Deputy Principal at Clarendon.

This book includes many positive characteristics but some key claims rest on weak scholarship and are unfounded. Primarily this relates to the promotion of direct instruction (explicit instruction) as if the evidence base was robust and conclusive, which it is not. Also, the book is flawed because it promotes direct instruction as if that is all a teacher needs in their repertoire of approaches.

• Chapter 1: On the shoulders of giantsChapter 2: Direct and explicitChapter 3: Bottom up or top downChapter 4: What kind of monster treats all children the sameChapter 5: Thinking outside the boxChapter 6: Halfway up a ladderChapter 7: The giant shrugs