In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee is joined by the legendary Craig Barton—maths educator, best-selling author of How I Wish I Taught Maths and Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain, creator of variationtheory.com and tipsforteachers.co.uk, and one of the original voices in education podcasting.
In this conversation, Craig opens up about the highs and lows of teaching, the lessons he’s learned from observing thousands of classrooms, and how he’s navigated public criticism and personal growth. They dive deep into his evolving views on instruction, feedback, and what really moves the needle in student learning. The discussion covers things like:
- Mini whiteboards
- Diagnostic questions
- Intelligent Practice
- Atomisation
- Responsive teaching
We also touch upon his milestone 200th episode of the Mr. Barton Maths podcast and get a sneak peek at his upcoming "Becoming a Better Maths Teacher" tour of Australia with Ollie Lovell in June.
It’s honest, reflective, and packed with insights every teacher can relate to.
Resources mentioned:
-
Books by Craig Barton:
- How I Wish I Taught Maths
- Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain
- Tips for Teachers
- Responsive Coaching by Josh Goodrich
-
Some of Craig's Websites:
- mrbartonmaths.com
- diagnosticquestions.com
- variationtheory.com
- tipsforteachers.co.uk
-
Podcasts:
- Mr Barton Maths Podcast
Twitter/X: @mrbartonmaths
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