***Plugs***

1. Craig Barton is coming to Australia in June 2025. Click here to book your place!
2. Check out Craig’s brand new 90-minute online CPD series, including two on Atomisation and a free workshop, here

Links from Kris

1. Sign up for the Unstoppable Learning newsletter
2. Visit the Unstoppable Learning website
3. Fill out the form for a chance to win a free copy of Kris’ book
4. Case study… coming soon!

Episode details

This is the first in what I hope will be a new series of episodes focusing on Atomisation and its potential impact on student learning. What is Atomisation, I hear you ask? Well, I define it as breaking routines down into their smallest constituent parts (atoms) that can be assessed or taught separately from the routine itself. 

Atomisation has been a recurring theme on this podcast over the years, predominantly when Kris Boulton comes on the show. Longtime listeners may know that Kris has been writing a book to combine all his ideas on Atomisation, influenced by the work of Englemann and colleagues on Direct Instruction. With the book, Unstoppable Learning, and its supporting resources nearing completion, he has been working with a maths department to implement those ideas in the classroom, gathering feedback on what works and what doesn’t. I jumped at the chance to join the journey and interview Kris and Lee Wheeler, one of the teachers who is trying his ideas.

Now, if you are approaching this episode as an Atomisation novice—or it has been a while since you have considered it—you might want to do some prework. Episode #190 with Kris is a good place to start. I will try my best to define any terms we use in this episode, but if you find yourself getting lost, listening to that episode will help.  

Episode summary

In this episode of the Mr Barton Maths podcast, Craig Barton welcomes Lee Wheeler and Chris Bolton to discuss their experiences and insights into maths education. Lee shares his journey as a teacher in an underprivileged school, emphasising the importance of understanding the relationship between struggle and learning. Chris discusses his long journey in writing a book on Unstoppable Learning and the significance of supporting teachers in implementing new strategies. The conversation delves into the concept of atomization in teaching, the challenges of breaking down complex concepts, and the role of expectations in student success. Both guests highlight the need for evidence-based professional development and the importance of collaboration among teachers to enhance learning outcomes. In this conversation, Kris Boulton and Craig Barton explore various teaching methodologies, focusing on the importance of distinguishing between specific and general facts, the role of categorical atoms and transformations in teaching, and the process of atomization in mathematics education. They discuss the significance of ensuring every student achieves success, the challenges of implementing these strategies, and share concrete examples from the classroom, particularly in teaching bearings. The dialogue emphasises the need for effective pedagogical approaches that foster understanding and confidence in students. In this conversation, Craig Barton, Kris Boulton, and Lee Wheeler explore the intricacies of teaching mathematics, focusing on the importance of understanding concepts like bearings, the planning of instructional sequences, and the role of feedback in teaching. They discuss the significance of categorising mathematical concepts, engaging in academic debates among teachers, and the balance between lesson creation and preparation. The conversation also touches on the potential of AI in education and the value of teacher collaboration in enhancing teaching practices.

Takeaways:

• Lee Wheeler is a dedicated maths teacher with a focus on underprivileged students.
• The importance of understanding the relationship between struggle and learning in education.
• Chris Bolton’s journey in writing a book on Unstoppable Learning has been long but fruitful.
• Teachers need support and resources to effectively implement new teaching strategies.
• Atomization can significantly improve student understanding and engagement in maths.
• The role of expectations in teaching can influence student success.
• Professional development should be grounded in meaningful research and evidence.
• Collaboration among teachers can enhance the implementation of new methods.
• The challenges of breaking down complex concepts into teachable atoms.
• Hope should not be a strategy in teaching; clear expectations and planning are essential. Specific facts are limited to retrieval practice.
• Generalizable facts allow for broader application and understanding.
• Categorical atoms help in organizing mathematical concepts.
• Transformations illustrate how inputs change to outputs.
• Initial instruction should be brief and focused.
• Aim for 100% success in student understanding.
• Atomization requires careful selection of examples.
• Every atom must be mathematically valuable.
• Overcoming objections to atomization is crucial for implementation.
• Concrete examples enhance teaching effectiveness. Understanding bearings requires clarity on what constitutes a bearing.
• Planning instructional sequences should start with non-examples to clarify concepts.
• Feedback from classroom experiences is crucial for refining teaching methods.
• Categorizing mathematical concepts helps in structuring lessons effectively.
• Engaging in academic debates among teachers fosters professional growth.
• Transformations in teaching can simplify complex concepts for students.
• Balancing lesson creation with preparation enhances teaching effectiveness.
• Collaboration among teachers leads to better instructional strategies.
• AI has potential in education but requires careful implementation.
• Teachers should be involved in the intellectual pursuit of teaching methodologies.

Video

My usual plugs

• Check out my brand new 90-minute online CPD series here
• You can help support the podcast (and get an interactive transcript of this episode) via my Patreon page at patreon.com/mrbartonmaths
• If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of the show, then please visit this page
• You can sign up for my free Tips for Teachers newsletter and my free Eedi newsletter
• My books are “Tips for Teachers“, “Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain” and “How I wish I’d taught maths”