From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Today we're focusing on a thought leader and classroom AP Psychology teacher, remarkable educators! Here's something I've believed for most of my 24 years in education: if you don't have a student's attention, you just can't teach that student. Blake Harvard is the AP Psychology teacher behind The Effortful Educator. Blake says attention isn't a “nice to have.” It's a necessary component of learning, and it's exactly where we lose kids the most. This show with Blake will change how you think about every lesson you design.
In these ten minutes, Blake unpacks how students actually learn — the power of a quick pre-test, why piling a “fun” complex activity on top of complex content backfires, and the two strategies with more than a century of research behind them: retrieval practice and spaced practice. My favorite line? “You're not going to prepare for a game by watching practice.” That one will stick with you — and it might just change how your students study tonight.
Sponsor. Today's show is sponsored by EF Explore America and their STEM Tours. Lead your students on a STEM tour to places on the cutting edge of innovation to show them how STEM thinking often shows up where you least expect it. Imagine your students coding robots with MassRobotics at MIT, exploring marine ecosystems in Florida's coral reefs, or even sitting down to talk with a former spy in Washington DC. If you want to inspire your students and give them a fresh perspective on the power of STEM, visit efexploreamerica.com/STEM.
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About Blake Harvard
Blake Harvard is a full time teacher in Alabama. He is in his 20th year of teaching and currently teaches AP Psychology. He has a particular affinity for reading research into cognitive psychology for implementation in his classroom to improve student outcomes. He began writing about how he implements these research findings on his website (www.effortfuleducator.com) 9 years ago. Blake recently released his first book, Do I Have Your Attention? Understanding Memory Constraints and Maximizing Learning. It focuses on memory processing and learning strategies that over a century of research indicates improve learning in the classroom.
Blake has worked with numerous organizations like ISTE, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the US Department of Education and has also presented to numerous faculties across the world about memory and learning.
Connect with Blake: Website | X (@effortfuleduktr) | Bluesky (@blakeharvard.bsky.social) | Facebook (The Effortful Educator) | Instagram (@blake_harvard) | LinkedIn
Other Shows for Teachers Who Want to Teach How Students Learn
- Cool Cat Teacher Talk — S5E3, “Do I Have Your Attention?“ Blake joined this radio/TV/YouTube show alongside reading expert Mary Ehrenworth.
- Executive Function Strategies K-3 Teachers Can Use Today with Dr. Sarah Oberle
- Brain Friendly Reading Strategies That Actually Work with Malia Hollowell
- Brain First, AI Second: Teaching Writing in the AI Era with Philip Seyfried
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Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored episode and blog post. EF Explore America has compensated me to share information about their STEM Tours. However, all opinions expressed are my own. I have personally reviewed these resources and only recommend tools I believe offer genuine value to classroom teachers. My endorsement is limited to the educational products and services discussed in this episode. This post also contains affiliate links; if you choose to buy a book through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The sponsor has no impact on the editorial content of this show.
The post How Students Actually Learn: Memory & Attention appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!
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