Cognitorium — Dr Nathaniel Swain

dr swain’s cognitorium

A BLOG ABOUT teaching, Teachers, Learners, and learning.

The Cognitorium is a place which holds the learning experience as sacred. Journey with me as I put the science of learning into practice, honouring the experiences, motivations, and curiosities of my students—young and old.

From Falling Behind to Moving Ahead: A Case for Explicit, Inclusive Instruction

From Falling Behind to Moving Ahead: A Case for Explicit, Inclusive Instruction

Nathaniel Swain12 May 2025explicit instruction, harnessing the science of learning, learning difficultiesComment

Chalk Dust Episode 1: From CfU to CfQ

Chalk Dust Episode 1: From CfU to CfQ

Nathaniel Swain4 May 2025Comment

Making teachers’ lives easier: Reframing efficiency part 1

Making teachers’ lives easier: Reframing efficiency part 1

CollaborationNathaniel Swain2 April 2025Efficiency, Time, Focused, Intentional Comments

Is 'Questioning the Author' older than we think?

Is 'Questioning the Author' older than we think?

ReflectionNathaniel Swain17 March 2025Comprehension, Questioning the author, Complex text, reading Comments

Recent talks from Dr Nathaniel Swain

Recent talks from Dr Nathaniel Swain

Nathaniel Swain15 March 2025Comment

Some models are useful

Some models are useful

Nathaniel Swain15 October 2024 Comments

Reducing rotations: Part 1

Reducing rotations: Part 1

ReflectionNathaniel Swain19 September 2024whole class, rotations, small group, differentiation Comments

How To: Paired fluency reading

How To: Paired fluency reading

Nathaniel Swain24 July 2024 Comments

The classroom: A canvas for thought - Not a work of art

The classroom: A canvas for thought - Not a work of art

Nathaniel Swain17 July 2024 Comments

Your questions answered #1 - Decodables, student goals and secondary

Your questions answered #1 - Decodables, student goals and secondary

Your Questions AnsweredNathaniel Swain4 July 2024explicit teaching, explicit instruction, phonics, decodables, student goals, agency, secondary, science of learningComment

Whole class teaching is not one size fits all

Whole class teaching is not one size fits all

Research, How ToNathaniel Swain27 June 2024Explicit Direct Instruction, explicit teaching, adaptive teaching, differentiation, whole class Comments

What does learning sound like?

What does learning sound like?

Reflection, ResearchNathaniel Swain20 June 2024Explicit Direct Instruction, explicit teaching, technique, silence, acoustics, open plan Comments

Teaching technique: Awkward to artful

Teaching technique: Awkward to artful

ReflectionNathaniel Swain13 June 2024Explicit Direct Instruction, explicit teaching, explicit instruction, technique, teacher preparationComment

Inquiry learning - Not whether, but when

Inquiry learning - Not whether, but when

ReflectionNathaniel Swain5 June 2024inquiry, Explicit Direct Instruction, explicit teaching, explicit instruction Comments

Ask me a question!

Ask me a question!

Pick my brain any time!

ForumNathaniel Swain1 January 2024faq, discussion forum Comments

Reading comprehension but not as you know it: Diving into knowledge-rich curricula

Reading comprehension but not as you know it: Diving into knowledge-rich curricula

PresentationDr Nathaniel Swain29 April 2023Science of Reading, Spelling, Reading, Writing, Read2Learn, Write2LearnComment

Inverting the Legacies of Balanced Literacy: Teaching reading and writing the right way up

Inverting the Legacies of Balanced Literacy: Teaching reading and writing the right way up

PresentationDr Nathaniel Swain15 October 2022Science of Reading, Spelling, Reading, Writing, Read2Learn, Write2LearnComment

Don’t reinvent the wheel! Write2Learn resources

Don’t reinvent the wheel! Write2Learn resources

How To, CurriculumDr Nathaniel Swain11 September 2022science of writing, sentences, run ons, story grammar, narrative, clause structure, editing, Write2LearnComment

Teaching literacy the right way up; Inverting the balanced literacy playbook

Teaching literacy the right way up; Inverting the balanced literacy playbook

Curriculum, How ToDr Nathaniel Swain31 August 2022Science of Reading, science of writing, balanced literacy, planning Comments

Supporting students with paragraph writing

Supporting students with paragraph writing

WebinarDr Nathaniel Swain26 August 2022paragraphs, The Writing Revolution, science of writing, Write2LearnComment