Episodios

  • S03E15 - Anna Stokke on on Cutting Through the Noise in Maths Education

    S03E15 - Anna Stokke on on Cutting Through the Noise in Maths Education
    Sep 13 2025

    In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, I sit down with Dr. Anna Stokke—mathematician, professor, and host of the Chalk and Talk podcast—to unpack what really works in maths education. Anna shares her journey from academic research to advocacy, and why she’s become such a strong voice for evidence-informed teaching.

    We explore how to separate genuine research from marketing spin, why fluency is about much more than speed, and the dangers of relying on “engagement” as a proxy for learning. Anna also highlights simple, practical strategies—like cover-copy-compare and spaced retrieval—that help students build the confidence they need to tackle more complex maths.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to cut through the noise and focus on what truly improves student outcomes, this conversation is packed with insights you can take straight back to your classroom.

    Resources mentioned:

    • Wise Math (advocacy group)
    • Archimedes Math School
    • JUMP Math (Canadian maths program)
    • Singapore Primary Math Program
    • ResearchEd (conference, where Anna presented)
    • Chalk and Talk (Anna Stokke’s podcast)

    You can connect with Anna:

    Twitter/X: @rastokke

    Linkedin

    Website: https://www.annastokke.com/

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

    About

    Dr. Anna Stokke is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Winnipeg. She is a recipient of a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, which is Canada's most prestigious award for teaching excellence and educational leadership at the post-secondary level. She is co-founder and President of the non-profit organization Archimedes Math Schools, which delivers after-school math classes for children. She hosts the popular math education podcast Chalk & Talk, where she discusses evidence-informed math teaching with leading education experts.

    2025 Australian School Improvement Summit

    The 2025 Australian School Improvement Summit is coming to Sydney on Wednesday 29 October — a one-day event bringing together system leaders, researchers, principals, and expert practitioners to focus on what works in schools, and how to make it happen at scale.

    Hear from leading voices like Natalie Wexler (The Knowledge Gap), curriculum expert Dr Ben Jensen, and school leaders Lisa Holt (Rosebud Secondary College), Manisha Gazula (Marsden Road Public School), and Dr Greg Ashman (Ballarat Clarendon College).

    If you’re a school leader or educator committed to improving outcomes for every student — and believe in doing fewer things, better — this is an event not to miss.

    Special offer for listeners: 20% off full-price tickets with code LearnWithLee. Check out the full program and register here: https://shorturl.at/Ku9v4

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    1 h y 14 m
  • S03E14 - Close Reading Simplified with Christopher Such

    S03E14 - Close Reading Simplified with Christopher Such
    Aug 23 2025

    In this episode, Brendan Lee is joined once again by Christopher Such—teacher, author, and one of the most practical voices in reading instruction. His new book, Primary Reading Simplified, takes the research on how children learn to read and shows us what it actually looks like in the classroom.

    This conversation zooms in on one of the trickiest areas for teachers: close reading. Chris explains why it doesn’t need to feel intimidating, how to plan lessons that spark genuine discussion, and the misconceptions that often trip schools up. He also shares three simple reading lesson structures that can bring clarity and balance to your literacy block, along with practical tips for asking purposeful questions that help students think more deeply about texts.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to make close reading purposeful, achievable, and enjoyable, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to make it work.

    Resources mentioned:

    • Primary Reading Simplified (Christopher Such’s latest book)
    • The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading (Christopher Such’s earlier book)
    • Bringing Words to Life by Beck, McKeown, and Kucan
    • Scarborough’s Reading Rope
    • The Reading Comprehension Blueprint by Nancy Hennessy
    • The Writing Revolution by Judith Hochman and Natalie Wexler
    • Reading Reconsidered by Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs, and Erica Woolway
    • The EEF (Education Endowment Foundation) Guidance Report on Improving Literacy
    • Timothy Shanahan
    • Timothy Rasinski
    • Aidan Chambers

    You can connect with Chris:

    Twitter: @Suchmo83

    Linkedin

    Website: https://primarycolour.home.blog/

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

    About Chris

    Christopher Such is a primary teacher, school leader, and author based in the UK, best known for his ability to make the science of reading accessible and practical for classroom teachers. His first book, The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading, has become a go-to resource for educators wanting to bridge research and practice. His latest book, Primary Reading Simplified, builds on that work—offering clear, classroom-ready structures for teaching reading beyond phonics, including fluency, extended reading, and close reading.

    Drawing on years of experience teaching across primary year levels and working with schools around the world, Chris is passionate about helping teachers cut through the noise and focus on what truly helps children become confident, capable readers.
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    1 h y 28 m
  • S03E13 - A Learner’s Toolkit for Students and Teachers with Dr. Vicky Leighton and Dr. Terry Byers

    S03E13 - A Learner’s Toolkit for Students and Teachers with Dr. Vicky Leighton and Dr. Terry Byers
    Aug 2 2025

    In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Vicky Leighton and Dr. Terry Byers from Churchie (Anglican Church Grammar School) and they share how they’re bringing the science of learning to life in real classrooms for both students and teachers.

    We dive into their work on A Learner’s Toolkit, explore why teacher clarity matters more than ever and unpack a groundbreaking PD model that’s personal, contextual, and actually sticks. Plus, Terry brings the analogies including a surprisingly fitting comparison between cows and the science of learning!

    Whether you’re leading change across a school or just trying to sharpen your practice, this episode is full of insight, laughter and plenty to think about.

    Resources mentioned:

    • A Learner’s Toolkit (ALT) – for students and teachers
    • TRIM Framework
    • Sarah Cottinghat
    • Dr. Tom Perry
    • John Dunlosky
    • John Hattie
    • The impact of a preparatory science of learning intervention in secondary schools contexts in Australia
    • Research into practice: from blueprint to jigsaw

    ResearchEd - A Matter of Translation

    Friday, 5 September 2025

    Anglican Church Grammar School

    Keynote Speakers

    • Dr Carl Hendricks (Live from the UK)
    • Professor Daniel Willingham (Live from the USA)
    • Professor Tanya Serry (in person)

    Brendan Lee will also be presenting!

    You can connect with Vicky:

    Twitter: @victorialynne99

    Linkedin

    Website: alearnerstoolkit.com.au

    Youtube

    You can connect with Terry:

    Twitter: @tezzabyers

    Linkedin

    Website: alearnerstoolkit.com.au

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
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    1 h y 33 m
  • S03E12 - Daniel Ansari on Number Sense, Fluency and Understanding Math Difficulties

    S03E12 - Daniel Ansari on Number Sense, Fluency and Understanding Math Difficulties
    Jul 12 2025

    What do young children really need to understand about numbers? And why do some students struggle so much with maths—even from the very beginning?

    In this insightful episode, I’m joined by Professor Daniel Ansari, a leading cognitive neuroscientist whose work has shaped how we understand early mathematical development. We explore what number sense actually is, why symbolic understanding is so important and how to build arithmetic fluency without creating anxiety.

    Daniel also unpacks key ideas around subitising, dyscalculia and the role of spatial reasoning in maths success. If you teach in the early years or support students who find maths difficult, this episode is packed with practical insights you can take straight into your classroom.

    Tune in for an evidence-based conversation that will empower you to better support every child's mathematical journey, fostering confidence, fluency and a genuine love for maths!

    Resources mentioned:

    • The Maths Guarantee (Grattan Institute report)
    • The Maths Guarantee: A guide for principals (Grattan Institute)
    • Assisting Students Struggling with Math (a guide from the Institute of Education Sciences)
    • McNeil, N. M., Jordan, N. C., Viegut, A. A., & Ansari, D. (2025). What the science of learning teaches us about arithmetic fluency. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 26(1), 10-57.
    • Times Tables Rock Stars
    • Stanislas Dehaene's Number Sense
    • Chalk and Talk podcast (by Anna Stokke)

    You can connect with Daniel:

    Twitter: @NumCogLab

    Linkedin

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

    About Professor Daniel Ansari

    Daniel Ansari is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience & Learning at Western University. Ansari and his team in the Numerical Cognition Laboratory explore how children develop numerical and mathematical skills and why some children struggle to acquire mathematical skills and knowledge. Ansari and his team are committed to bridging between the Science of Learning and K-12 Classrooms. Ansari is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research (CIFAR).

    🎯 Struggling to know whether to model again or move on? You’re not alone — and this course is for you.

    Effective Primary Maths Teaching is my live, two-day online course designed to help you stop second-guessing and start teaching with clarity and purpose.

    Across two highly practical days, I’ll walk you through: ✅ When and why to use explicit instruction, word problems, fluency tasks, and more ✅ How to align your teaching with student readiness ✅ The nuts and bolts of effective daily reviews, worked examples, and fluency practice ✅ A practical framework to help you teach responsively — not reactively

    Everything’s grounded in the science of learning, backed by real classroom examples, and designed so you can take action straight away. You’ll leave with a workbook, an action plan, and the confidence to use it all on Monday.

    🗓️ Dates: Day 1 – Monday 4 August 2025 (9am–3pm AET) Day 2 – Monday 1 September 2025 (9am–3pm AET) 🖥️ Live online (with recordings) | 🧠 10 hours total | 💲 $299

    Whether you’re a teacher wanting clarity or a leader building consistency, this is the course people tell me they wish they’d done years ago.

    ▶️ Register now: events.humanitix.com/effective-primary-maths-teaching

    The last one sold out — don’t miss out.
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    1 h y 22 m
  • S03E11 - Know Thy Purpose: Jocelyn Seamer on Transforming 3–6 Literacy

    S03E11 - Know Thy Purpose: Jocelyn Seamer on Transforming 3–6 Literacy
    Jun 21 2025
    In this episode, I’m joined by Jocelyn Seamer—educational consultant, author, and leading voice in structured literacy—to unpack what effective literacy instruction really looks like in the upper primary years. We dive into how to move beyond levelled texts and strategy-heavy comprehension lessons, and instead build a literacy block grounded in rich texts, explicit instruction, and purposeful writing. Jocelyn shares practical advice on everything from planning with backward design, to teaching spelling through morphology, to managing cognitive load with the “stretchy band” analogy. Whether you’re trying to make sense of guided reading, support struggling readers, or link reading and writing more effectively, this episode is packed with clarity and actionable ideas. Key topics include: Replacing levelled texts with rich, age-appropriate readingDesigning integrated, text-based units that link reading and writingExplicit vocabulary and background knowledge instructionThe role of syntax, spelling, and morphology in building strong writersResponsive teaching and avoiding the “dress rehearsal” trap in assessments A must-listen for any Year 3–6 teacher ready to teach literacy with more clarity, purpose, and impact. Resources mentioned: Reading Reconsidered – Doug LemovFive Plagues of the Developing Reader – from Reading ReconsideredThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. LewisVelveteen Rabbit – Margery WilliamsRose Meets Mr. Wintergarten – Bob GrahamThe Lost Thing – Shaun TanBringing Words to Life – Beck, McKeown & KucanQuestioning the Author – Beck, McKeown & SandoraDIBELS and Acadience – normed reading screenersMotif – free assessmentsKenn Apel’s morphology assessmentsJared Cooney Horvath You can connect with Jocelyn: Linkedin Facebook: @JocelynSeamerEducation Youtube: @JocelynSeamerEducation Podcast: The Structured Literacy Podcast Website: www.jocelynseamereducation.com/ You can connect with Brendan: Twitter: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast About Jocelyn Seamer is a former teacher, tutor and school leader who has experienced, first-hand, the transformative power of evidence-based practice in literacy instruction. She has led teams to grow and develop school policy and practice to reflect the vast body of evidence that makes up the Science of Reading. Through her own classroom practice and leadership roles in schools, Jocelyn has developed a strong understanding of how you can take simple, yet effective action to get every child on the road to literacy proficiency in the first years of school. Jocelyn feels a very personal responsibility to provide opportunities for classroom teachers to have access to the information and training they need to change children's lives and looks forward to helping you achieve great things in your teaching practice. Read more on Jocelyn Seamer Education. 🎯 Struggling to know whether to model again or move on? You’re not alone — and this course is for you. Effective Primary Maths Teaching is my live, two-day online course designed to help you stop second-guessing and start teaching with clarity and purpose. Across two highly practical days, I’ll walk you through: ✅ When and why to use explicit instruction, word problems, fluency tasks, and more ✅ How to align your teaching with student readiness ✅ The nuts and bolts of effective daily reviews, worked examples, and fluency practice ✅ A practical framework to help you teach responsively — not reactively Everything’s grounded in the science of learning, backed by real classroom examples, and designed so you can take action straight away. You’ll leave with a workbook, an action plan, and the confidence to use it all on Monday. 🗓️ Dates: Day 1 – Monday 4 August 2025 (9am–3pm AET) Day 2 – Monday 1 September 2025 (9am–3pm AET) 🖥️ Live online (with recordings) | 🧠 10 hours total | 💲 $299 Whether you’re a teacher wanting clarity or a leader building consistency, this is the course people tell me they wish they’d done years ago. ▶️ Register now: events.humanitix.com/effective-primary-maths-teaching The last one sold out — don’t miss out.
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    1 h y 21 m
  • S03E10 - Grattan Institute’s Maths Guarantee Report with Amy Haywood & Nick Parkinson

    S03E10 - Grattan Institute’s Maths Guarantee Report with Amy Haywood & Nick Parkinson
    Jun 7 2025
    In this episode of the Knowledge for Teachers podcast, I speak with Amy Haywood and Nick Parkinson, co-authors of the Grattan Institute’s Maths Guarantee report. We unpack what they describe as Australia’s “national problem” with maths underperformance — from the equity gaps to the urgent need for high-quality curriculum materials and teacher support. Amy and Nick share key findings from their research, including a national teacher survey and international case studies, as well as practical insights from some of Australia’s most effective schools. We dive deep into what explicit instruction really looks like, the power of fluency, and how the instructional hierarchy can help teachers better sequence their maths lessons. Whether you're a school leader, instructional coach, or passionate teacher, this conversation will leave you with clarity, evidence, and next steps to improve maths teaching in your school. Resources mentioned: The Maths Guarantee (Grattan Institute report)The Maths Guarantee: A guide for principals (Grattan Institute)Teach Like a Champion – Doug LemovTeaching Primary Mathematics – George BookerEddie WuCraig BartonOchre EducationPR1ME InternationalEAST materialsMaths OlympiadTimes Tables Rock StarsJames Dobson - From Research to Reality: A Primary Maths Resource Toolkit The schools they visited for case studies were: Wattle Grove Primary, a government school in suburban Perth Bentleigh West Primary, a government school in suburban Melbourne Ballarat Clarendon College, an independent school in regional Victoria St Bernard’s Primary, a Catholic school in Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast Charlestown South Public, a government school in Newcastle, NSW The Entrance Public, a government school on the NSW central coast Budgewoi Public, a government school also on the NSW central coast The final three schools are part of the Explicit and Systematic Teaching (EAST) network, a grassroots network which exists to champion explicit teaching in NSW government schools You can connect with Amy: Twitter/X: @Amy_L_Haywood You can connect with Nick: Twitter/X: @NickJParkinson You can connect with Brendan: Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net About Amy Haywood Amy Haywood is the Deputy Program Director of Grattan’s Education Program. Amy has a background as an educator and brings this practical experience to her work as an education policy researcher. She is the co-author of several Grattan reports, including Ending the lesson lottery: How to improve curriculum planning in schools, The Reading Guarantee: How to give every child the best chance of success, Spreading success: Why Australia should trial multi-school organisations, and The Maths Guarantee: How to boost students’ learning in primary schools. Amy taught English in secondary schools for five years. During this time, she presented at statewide teaching conferences and wrote several study guides for Macmillan Education. Before joining Grattan, Amy worked as a manager in Deloitte Access Economics’ Education Policy team, where she led schooling projects focused on system design, workforce reform, and teaching practice. Amy has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Teaching from the University of Melbourne. As part of her postgraduate degree, she studied international education policy while on exchange at the University of Oulo in Finland. She is a registered teacher. Nick Parkinson Nick is a Senior Associate in Grattan’s Education Program, where he has co-authored reports on whole-school curriculum, multi-school organisation, and primary maths. He also contributed to reports on catch-up tutoring and early reading. Through this research, Nick has conducted case studies of nearly 30 leading schools and analysed more than 5,000 teacher survey results. Nick holds a Master of Teaching from the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Before studying teaching, Nick completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Languages at the University of Melbourne. He is a 2022 Westpac Future Leader. Before joining Grattan, Nick worked as a consultant at Nous Group where he contributed to projects on school culture, student assessment, and occupational safety. Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast 🎯 Struggling to know whether to model again or move on? You’re not alone — and this course is for you. Effective Primary Maths Teaching is my live, two-day online course designed to help you stop second-guessing and start teaching with clarity and purpose. Across two highly practical days, I’ll walk you through: ✅ When and why to use explicit instruction, word problems, fluency tasks, and more ✅ How to align your teaching with student readiness ✅ The nuts and bolts of effective daily reviews, worked examples, and fluency practice ✅ A practical framework to help you teach responsively — not ...
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    1 h y 38 m
  • S03E9 - Making sense of the science of reading with Mandy Nayton

    S03E9 - Making sense of the science of reading with Mandy Nayton
    May 24 2025

    In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee sits down with Mandy Nayton — CEO of the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation and president of AUSPELD — for a deep and timely conversation about how students really learn to read.

    Mandy draws on decades of experience to unpack what the science of reading actually is (and what it isn’t), why explicit instruction matters, and how effective intervention can change the trajectory for struggling students.

    They explore key frameworks like the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and the Cognitive Foundations Framework — and dig into DSF’s new Word Origins program, designed to transform how spelling is taught in Years 3–6 by building deep morphological and etymological knowledge.

    Whether you're just starting to explore structured literacy or you're leading change in your school, this conversation is packed with insight, clarity, and practical takeaways.

    🎧 Listen now and explore how teacher knowledge is the most powerful tool we have to improve literacy outcomes.

    Resources mentioned:

    Word Origins

    Literacy Frameworks & Models

    • Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer)
    • Scarborough’s Reading Rope
    • Cognitive Foundations Framework (Hoover & Tunmer)
    • Dehaene’s Four Pillars of Learning

    Instructional & Program Resources

    • DSF’s Word Origins Program
    • Direct Instruction Phonics Manual

    Others

    • Kathy Rastle
    • National Reading Panel (2000)
    • Reid Lyon
    • John Hattie

    You can connect with Mandy:

    Twitter/X: @mandynayton

    Facebook: @dyslexiaspeld

    Linkedin

    Website: https://dsf.net.au/

    You can connect with Brendan:

    Twitter: @learnwithmrlee

    Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

    Website: learnwithlee.net

    Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

    https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
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    1 h y 23 m
  • S03E08 - Craig Barton on Becoming a Better Maths Teacher

    S03E08 - Craig Barton on Becoming a Better Maths Teacher
    May 10 2025
    In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers podcast, Brendan Lee is joined by the legendary Craig Barton—maths educator, best-selling author of How I Wish I Taught Maths and Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain, creator of variationtheory.com and tipsforteachers.co.uk, and one of the original voices in education podcasting. In this conversation, Craig opens up about the highs and lows of teaching, the lessons he’s learned from observing thousands of classrooms, and how he’s navigated public criticism and personal growth. They dive deep into his evolving views on instruction, feedback, and what really moves the needle in student learning. The discussion covers things like: Mini whiteboardsDiagnostic questionsIntelligent PracticeAtomisationResponsive teaching We also touch upon his milestone 200th episode of the Mr. Barton Maths podcast and get a sneak peek at his upcoming "Becoming a Better Maths Teacher" tour of Australia with Ollie Lovell in June. It’s honest, reflective, and packed with insights every teacher can relate to. Resources mentioned: Books by Craig Barton: How I Wish I Taught Maths Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain Tips for Teachers Responsive Coaching by Josh Goodrich Some of Craig's Websites: mrbartonmaths.com diagnosticquestions.com variationtheory.com tipsforteachers.co.uk Podcasts: Mr Barton Maths Podcast You can connect with Craig: Twitter/X: @mrbartonmaths Linkedin You can connect with Brendan: Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee Facebook: @learningwithmrlee Website: learnwithlee.net Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast About Craig Barton Craig Barton loves teaching, doing, speaking and thinking about mathematics. He taught maths in secondary schools for 15 years, and was TES Maths Adviser for 10 years. He is now the Head of Education at Eedi. Craig is the author of three best-selling books: How I wish I’d taught maths, Reflect, Expect, Check, Explain and Tips for Teachers, the host of the Mr Barton Maths podcast and the Tips for Teachers podcast, and the creator of far too many websites, including eedi, diagnosticquestions, tipsforteachers, mrbartonmaths, variationtheory, and ssddproblems. Craig has been lucky to teach maths and work with teachers and students worldwide. In 2020, he was appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the Mathematics Education Centre at the University of Loughborough. His two proudest achievements are convincing Kate to marry him (and stay married), and being the father to our wonderful boys, Isaac and Jacob. Becoming a Better Maths Teacher: Craig Barton’s Aussie Tour with Ollie Lovell For the first time ever, the UK’s most celebrated mathematics teacher, podcaster, and author, Craig Barton, is coming to Australia for a nationwide tour. Craig will be joined by Australia’s own Ollie Lovell for an unforgettable day of professional learning designed to transform your teaching practice. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative event! Four dates, four cities: Perth: Friday, June 20, 2025 Melbourne: Monday, June 23, 2025 Sydney: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Adelaide: Friday, June 27, 2025 Seats are limited—secure your spot today and take your mathematics teaching to the next level!
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    1 h y 48 m