Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching

Zach offers both new and experienced teachers clear explanations and examples of the most relevant research on explicit instruction. New teachers will find his insights invaluable, especially when seeking "permission" to move away, without guilt, from methods they instinctively know are ineffective. For experienced teachers, Zach provides deeper explanations and practical tips to enhance their effectiveness. True to his approach, Zach includes examples and non-examples that bring his points into sharp focus. It's easy to read a teaching book and think, "That's what I do." But when you recognize yourself in a non-example, you're faced with a moment of honest reflection.

Humans are (almost) unique amongst animal sorts that they are capable of communicating what they have learnt to others who haven't yet learnt it. You could say, explaining is the epitome of what makes us human. And to either neglect or even deny this, denies our uniqueness as species and hampers our teaching and learning. The specific instructional techniques discussed in this book make use of these principles of cognitive and evolutionary psychology.