Posts in Media
How Knowledge Powers Comprehension and Reading Success
How Knowledge Powers Comprehension and Reading Success

Nelson Primary Video, November 12, 2025, with Nathaniel Swain

Join Dr Nathaniel Swain for a focused session that spotlights the importance of building and reinforcing rich content knowledge for reading comprehension success. This practical and engaging session will guide teachers and leaders through a discussion of the situation model of comprehension, and demonstrate how knowledge and vocabulary underpins much of the comprehension processes we use want students to master.

Participants will explore how to build and utilise logical and coherent sequences of content-rich texts drawing on evidence and research. By the end of this session, participants will:

1. Understand the critical role of background knowledge and vocabulary in successful comprehension.

2. Recognise how content-rich text sequences can support the situation model of comprehension.

3. Identify practical ways to design and teach with content-rich sequences of text that strengthen students’ reading outcomes.

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The science of learning: debunking the myths and misconceptions
The science of learning: debunking the myths and misconceptions

Victorian Academy of Teaching and Learning, November 11, 2025, with KEndra Parker

In this first episode of a 2-part podcast, Academy Leadership Excellence Division Director, Kendra Parker is joined by Dr. Nathaniel Swain, a teacher, instructional coach and author of Harnessing the Science of Learning. Together, they delve into the evidence around the science of learning, by exploring some of the myths and misconceptions currently circulating about this approach.

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Improvement with Dr Nathaniel Swain
Improvement with Dr Nathaniel Swain

Teacher Takeaway Podcast, Season 5, Episode 31, November 8, 2025, with James Gray, Aaron Johnston and Rebecca West

This episode explores how schools can drive effective, sustainable improvement by applying key principles from the science of learning.

Key points covered

  • Why a clear, school-wide vision for improvement matters and how to build it.

  • The importance of aligning curriculum, pedagogy, and routines across classrooms.

  • How cognitive science (e.g., cognitive load, retrieval, spacing) can strengthen teaching and learning.

  • Practical strategies schools can adopt to embed evidence-informed practice.

  • Common implementation challenges and how leaders can support teachers through change.

  • Examples of how schools have successfully used science-of-learning approaches to lift student outcomes.

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Why Prose Reading Matters More than Ever
Why Prose Reading Matters More than Ever

Nelson Primary Video, November 6, 2025, with Nathaniel Swain

Join Dr Nathaniel Swain for a focused session that explores the critical role of reading prose texts—such as fiction and non-fiction chapter books—in developing deep comprehension, inferential thinking, and knowledge acquisition. By the end of this session, participants will:

1. Understand why prose texts are crucial for fluency and exposure to complex language.

2. Identify how reading prose contributes to comprehension, vocabulary, and deep reading.

3. Take away practical strategies for embedding prose reading into everyday classroom practice.

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Webinar | The benefits of spaced retrieval and practice
Webinar | The benefits of spaced retrieval and practice

ELSA, Applying the Science of Reading in your classroom Webinar Series, 6 August 2025, with Dr Nathaniel Swain

Dr. Swain explores how spaced retrieval can enhance decoding and reading fluency over time. He presents evidence showing that regularly revisiting previously taught letter-sound relationships, high-frequency words, and decoding strategies boosts long-term retention and reduces forgetting. Attendees are guided through how to embed brief checking for understanding routines like choral response, mini-whiteboards, and cold calls, and how these can be incorporated into your daily reading instruction, ensuring students consolidate early reading skills effectively.

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Reducing student cognitive load to allow for greater focus on new learning
Reducing student cognitive load to allow for greater focus on new learning

ELSA, Applying the Science of Reading in your classroom Webinar Series, 23 June 2025, with Dr Nathaniel Swain

In this webinar, Dr. Nathaniel Swain outlines how cognitive load theory can directly inform reading instruction. He explains the importance of automating decoding skills to free up working memory for comprehension and new content. Key strategies include explicit instruction in phonics, repeated practice with decodable texts, and minimizing unnecessary classroom distractions.

Dr. Swain also demonstrates how reducing split attention and simplifying your instructional routines supports novice readers in mastering foundational skills more efficiently.

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The Key Components of Systematic Synthetic Phonics
The Key Components of Systematic Synthetic Phonics

ELSA, Applying the Science of Reading in your classroom Webinar Series, with Dr Nathaniel Swain

This webinar will explores the essential components of systematic synthetic phonics. Key areas of focus include the importance of phonemic awareness, developing code knowledge, and mastering the blending and segmenting of increasingly complex words—from short vowels to more advanced patterns involving consonant clusters and longer vowel combinations.

Additionally, the session explores strategies for teaching irregular high-frequency words effectively. Dr Swain highlights the value of clear teaching routines, a well-structured scope and sequence, opportunities to respond, and regular checks for understanding to ensure all learners are supported.

This webinar is the first in a series of four, 'Applying the Science of Reading in your classroom.'

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Applying the Science of Reading in your classroom
Applying the Science of Reading in your classroom

4 Part Webinar Series, May to August, 2025, by ELSA

Join teacher, author, instructional coach and researcher, Dr Nathaniel Swain at a series of free webinars discussing the application of the science of reading in Australian primary classrooms.

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Study tips to combat the 'forgetting curve'
Study tips to combat the 'forgetting curve'

School Shorts, Season 1, Episode 7, April 7, 2025, with Melissa Chan Green

The Forgetting Curve is a useful tool in understanding how best to try and remember all the learning that goes on at school - or anywhere for that matter!

Nathaniel Swain is a teacher, researcher and coach of great techniques to help children learn. In this episode he shares the importance of regular review instead of cramming for exams.

The discussion also touches on strategies for supporting young learners, the role of cultural context in education, and the need for personalised learning approaches. This episode will be useful for people of all ages who want to remember things!

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Dr Swain and the Brain
Dr Swain and the Brain

The Community Connection Podcast, February 6, 2025, with Nathaniel Provencio and co-host Dr. Eric Worcester

In this episode of The Community Connection, we sit down with Dr. Nathaniel Swain, author of Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Help Kickstart Your School Improvement. Dr. Swain, a leading expert in learning sciences, shares insights on bridging research and practice to enhance teaching and student outcomes. We explore key strategies from his book, real-world success stories, and how educators can apply cognitive science to transform their classrooms. Don’t miss this engaging conversation on the power of evidence-based teaching!

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How to Guarantee you are using a Deep Knowledge Curriculum
How to Guarantee you are using a Deep Knowledge Curriculum

Have a Life Teaching Podcast, February 4, 2025, with John Schembari

In some schools, curriculum is prescribed. In other places, teachers put together their own learning materials.

In either case, how do we know that what we are providing students, in terms of materials and content, will promote learning acquisition, extend thinking, and foster creativity? How do we know that it aligns with the science of learning?

In this episode, my guest Nathanial Swain, professor of teaching at La Trobe University and author of the book "Harnassing the Science of Learning", discuss the elements that should be in any knowledge rich curriculum.

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Prioritising What Matters: A Deep Dive into the Science of Learning
Prioritising What Matters: A Deep Dive into the Science of Learning

Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, Season 2, Episode 21, November 17, 2024, with Brendan Lee

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He returns for the third time and this time it’s to unpack his new book Harnessing the Science of Learning. However, as you will hear, they actually go beyond the book and dig into some of the critical considerations that schools and teachers need to be making. They explore how to make teaching and learning the top priority in your school, reclaiming valuable instructional time often lost to distractions. They also unpack the essential elements of effective literacy and numeracy instruction, going beyond the surface level to understand the importance of a knowledge-rich curriculum, explicit teaching techniques, and structured implementation processes.

They look at why teaching should be “Fun in the service of learning, not in spite of Learning” and some of the common barriers that school leaders face when initiating change.

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Nathaniel Swain, Steven Capp, and Katie Roberts-Hull on Harnessing the Science of Learning
Nathaniel Swain, Steven Capp, and Katie Roberts-Hull on Harnessing the Science of Learning

Progressively Incorrect, Season 4, Episode 10, November 17, 2024, with Zach Groshell, PhD

This episode is a conversation between me and three amazing educators who are making inroads to bring the science of learning to schools across Australia. Most excitingly, we are all contributing authors to the book, Harnessing the Science of Learning by Nathaniel Swain, who, of course, is on the show today and has been on the show before.

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Bonus: Harnessing the Science of Learning
Bonus: Harnessing the Science of Learning

Melissa and Lori Love Literacy Podcast, Bonus Episode, November 5, 2024, with Melissa and Lori

The science of learning is what research says about how our brains learn. 
In this episode, Nathaniel Swain discusses the science of learning, emphasizing its connection with the science of reading. 

 He shares:

  • key mindset shifts for teachers

  • the significance of coherent curriculum planning

  • practical strategies like using mini whiteboards and advanced organizers to enhance student engagement and understanding

He also highlights the need for responsive whole-class instruction and the importance of closing learning gaps early in students' educational journeys.

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Media, PodcastNathaniel Swainlisten, science of learning, podcast, 2024Comment