From Research to Recess: The Science Behind Great Teaching

Deedee Wills and Hilary Statum
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Join educators Hillary Statum and Deedee Wills on From Research to Recess: The Science Behind Great Teaching. This podcast breaks down educational research into real-life strategies for K-2 classrooms. From the science of reading to classroom management and occasional book studies, we make teaching tips practical, doable, and just what busy teachers need. Grab your coffee and tune in!

  1. Sep 13

    The Science of Reading Is Growing But Are Classrooms Keeping Up?

    The science of reading has become a major part of the education conversation—but knowing what the research says and putting it into practice are two very different things. This conversation explores how the science of reading has evolved over the last decade, why evidence-based legislation and curriculum don't automatically lead to better classroom instruction, and where educators still need more support. From intervention programs that fall short to products marketed as “evidence-based,” the discussion looks at the very real gap between research and day-to-day teaching. Most importantly, it considers what it takes to translate research into practical strategies teachers can actually use without asking them to become curriculum designers themselves. Episode Highlight Knowing the science of reading isn't enough. The bigger challenge is translating that research into effective, sustainable classroom practices—and giving teachers the support they need to make that happen. Show Highlights How the science of reading has grown in public awareness and education policy since 2015Why districts may still use materials that don't align with evidence-based reading instructionWhere intervention programs and marketed “evidence-based” solutions can fall shortWhy teachers need practical implementation support—not simply more information about the researchHow better translation between research and classroom practice can create more realistic expectations and stronger instructionEpisode Chapters 00:00 — Introduction to the science of reading conversation01:47 — Growth and legislation around the science of reading04:05 — Gaps in intervention programs and evidence-based practices06:04 — Challenges implementing the science of reading in classrooms07:58 — The role of ed tech and marketing in education10:00 — Teacher support and burnout related to reading instruction12:05 — Why translating research takes time14:10 — Systemic support and realistic expectations16:01 — Conclusion and future conversations RESEARCH ARTICLE: We Need an “Engineering of Reading”: Why the “Science of Reading” May Not Be Enough WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

  2. Sep 6

    What's It Like Being a Teacher in American Today

    Hilary brings a report to the table, and the numbers are rough. 77% of teachers say their job is frequently stressful. 68% say it's overwhelming. 70% say their school is understaffed. And 52% say they would not tell a young person starting out today to become a teacher. Deedee and Hilary talk through why these teacher stress statistics feel more true than ever right now. They cover the pandemic's lingering effects on student behavior, why parental involvement numbers are so low, and how cell phones and chronic absenteeism are showing up in classrooms today. Then Hilary tells the story behind the data. A full time classroom teacher for almost 20 years, she describes a specific school year, not long after the pandemic, when she came home crying every day and her husband asked her to stop teaching. She moved to part time and things leveled out. It's a real look at teacher burnout signs from someone who has been in the classroom long enough to know the difference between a hard week and a hard year. If you have ever asked yourself why teachers are quitting or wondered whether your own stress is normal, this episode is validation, not just data. Sound bites: "77% of teachers say that their job is frequently stressful""Only fifteen percent of teachers say they're satisfied with their pay""The longer you've taught, maybe it starts to wear on you""You're not alone in your feelings" HIGHLIGHTS: 00:01 Introduction 00:21 Hilary introduces the report on teacher stress today 01:27 The core stats: 77% stressed, 52% would not recommend teaching 02:22 Eight in ten teachers say the pandemic's impact is still negative 06:29 Parental involvement numbers and why they matter 08:01 Absenteeism, anxiety, and cell phone distraction in the classroom 12:46 Only 15% of teachers are satisfied with their pay 13:23 Fulfillment and enjoyment: newer teachers vs. veteran teachers 14:29 No time in the day for grading, planning, and emails 15:52 Hilary's story: crying every day and moving to part time 18:19 Final thoughts: you are not alone RESEARCH ARTICLE: What’s It Like To Be a Teacher in America Today? WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

  3. Aug 23

    Teaching Better Sentences with Lessons from The Writing Revolution

    Strong writing starts at the sentence level, and even our youngest writers can begin building the skills they’ll eventually need for paragraphs and longer compositions. This conversation explores practical ways K–2 teachers can make sentence instruction explicit, meaningful, and easy to weave into routines they’re already using. From The Writing Revolution and sentence-level instruction to picture-supported paragraph development, the discussion focuses on helping children understand how sentences work before asking them to tackle more complex writing. You’ll hear practical ideas for incorporating writing into dictation, decodable text work, science, social studies, and other parts of the school day. The conversation also explores the role of grammar vocabulary with young learners. Do kindergartners need to know terms like noun and verb, or does that terminology add unnecessary cognitive load? The discussion highlights why teachers need a strong understanding of sentence structure while considering how grammatical language can be introduced to children in context. One of the biggest takeaways is that paragraph writing doesn't have to begin with a traditional paragraph. For young writers, pictures can provide a concrete anchor for developing multiple sentences around one idea. As children become more proficient, those sentences can naturally develop into the paragraphs they'll encounter in later grades. Build sentences into routines you already have. Sentence writing can become part of dictation, decodable reading follow-up, science, social studies, and other content rather than always being treated as a separate subject. Use pictures as a bridge to paragraph writing. A picture can anchor one idea while students write multiple related sentences about it. A series of pictures and pages can help young writers organize events before they're ready for more traditional paragraph structures. Teach students to recognize how sentences work. Comparing complete sentences and fragments, fixing run-ons, unscrambling sentences, and exploring statements, questions, exclamations, and commands gives children hands-on experience with sentence structure. Turn index cards into an easy sentence-building activity. Students can write one word on each card, trade their scrambled sentences with classmates, and reconstruct them. The activity can be extended by asking students to transform statements into questions, combine sentences, or separate combined sentences. Strengthen sentences before rushing into paragraphs. Oral rehearsal, explicit sentence instruction, conjunctions such as because, but, and so, and collaborative sentence construction can help children develop the foundation they need before moving into more complex writing. The goal isn't simply to get children to write more. It's to help them understand how sentences are constructed, give them plenty of opportunities to practice, and gradually help them connect those sentences into organized ideas. With simple materials and intentional instruction, sentence work can become a natural part of the K–2 classroom. RESEARCH: Grammar and The Writing Revolution WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

  4. Aug 16

    Where Does Writing Fit Into the Science of Reading?

    Writing deserves a much bigger role in the science ofreading conversation. Reading and writing are deeply connected, which means writing instruction shouldn’t be separated from phonics, decoding, and other earlyliteracy skills. For K–2 teachers, connecting encoding and decoding gives students more opportunities to strengthen sound-symbol relationships while showing teachers what they truly understand. From kindergarten writing throughfirst and second grade, drawing, labeling, spelling, sentence dictation, and written responses to decodable texts can all become meaningful parts of daily literacy instruction. Explore practical ways to connect reading and writing, strengthen phonics instruction, and use student writing and spelling assessment to guide your next instructional steps. Episode Highlight Writing may be the “forgotten twin” of reading, but itbelongs alongside reading throughout science of reading instruction. When students practice decoding words and then encoding words using the phonics patterns they’re learning, they strengthen the connection between sounds andprint. Just as importantly, their writing gives teachers valuable information for planning whole-group and small-group literacy instruction. 5 Show Highlights •             Start kindergarten writing before every letter and sound is mastered. Young children don’t need to wait until they can write conventional sentences. Pre-writingexperiences such as drawing, labeling, scribbling, letter attempts, and embedded spelling help students learn to communicate meaning. •             Teach encoding and decoding side by side during phonics instruction. If students are learning to decode CVC words or another phonics pattern, give them opportunities to encode words using those same sound-symbol relationships. •             Use sentence dictation to connect phonics, spelling, handwriting, and writing. Dictation can move from letters and sounds to words and eventually complete sentences. This creates opportunities for explicit writing instruction whilestudents practice spelling, letter formation, and sentence structure. Rather than treating these as isolated skills, teachers can connect them within daily literacy instruction. •             Use decodable texts as writing prompts. After students read a decodable text, ask them to write about something that happened in the text. A simple written response connects reading comprehension, decoding, and encoding while giving students familiar language and content to draw from. •             Turn spelling assessment into information for your next instructional lesson. A traditional weekly spelling test may show whether students can spell this week’s words, but it doesn’t necessarily show whether a phonics pattern has become automatic. Because spelling patterns can take four to six weeks to internalize, spelling checks can revisit previously taught skills and help teachers determine what students need next. Nonsense words can also reveal whether students are transferring their phonics knowledge to unfamiliar words instead of relying on visual memory.  RESEARCH ARTICLE: How Does Writing Fit Into the ‘Science of Reading’?  WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

  5. Aug 9

    First Days of School: Building Connection Before Curriculum to Support Student Behavior

    Hilary Statum and Deedee Wills explore how intentional classroom setup can support social-emotional learning from the very first day of school. From arranging classroom spaces to building meaningful routines, they share practical ways teachers can create an environment where young learners feel comfortable, connected, and ready to participate. The conversation looks at circle time, morning meetings, calm-down and sensory spaces, teacher proximity, play-based learning, and student-led activities—all with an emphasis on helping primary students develop relationships and self-regulation. A supportive classroom environment is about much more than where the desks and tables go. Thoughtful spaces and predictable routines can help children feel safe, build relationships, regulate their emotions, and become active members of their classroom community. Create classroom routines with SEL in mind. Establishing intentional routines at the beginning of the year can give young learners the consistency they need while supporting social-emotional development. Use circle time to build community. Sitting together creates opportunities for students to participate on a more equal level, connect with classmates, and strengthen their sense of belonging. Think about proximity when arranging your classroom. Where teachers and students sit, gather, work, and move can influence student comfort and engagement. Even the language teachers use around classroom spaces can help children develop spatial awareness. Make morning meetings and closing circles meaningful. Morning meetings can strengthen relationships and self-regulation, while closing circles give students opportunities to reflect, celebrate successes, and think about their goals. Give students spaces and experiences that support social skills. Calm-down corners, sensory spaces, books, play-based learning, and student-led activities can all provide opportunities to practice emotional regulation, communication, and relationship building. RESEARCH ARTICLE: Beginning the School Year With SEL An elementary classroom’s layout and routines that begin on day one can help start the year with a focus on social and emotional learning. WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

  6. Aug 3

    The Science Behind Effective Classroom Design

    In this episode, Hilary and Deedee explore the science of classroom design, sharing research-based insights on how lighting, color, natural elements, and layout impact student performance and well-being. Key topics Impact of natural lighting on learningColor choices and visual clutterUse of plants and natural elementsSeating arrangements and flexibilityData walls and student privacyAcoustic considerations in classroom designTemperature and air quality effectsRepresentation and inclusivity in decorLearning zones and activity areasChapters 00:00 The Importance of Classroom Design 06:01 Lighting and Its Impact on Learning 12:07 Ventilation, Air Quality, and Classroom Environment 18:01 Visual Clarity and Student Engagement 21:49 Incorporating Nature and Personalization in ClassroomsArticle Source: https://www.edutopia.org/article/the-science-of-classroom-design/ WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

  7. Jul 19

    Ten Ways to Build Community in Your Kindergarten Classroom

    This episode covers ten practical ways to build a strong, connected classroom from the very first day. Whether you're new to teaching or just want to strengthen the community you already have, these ideas focus on trust, familiarity, and belonging for every student and family. In this episode: Partnering with families from day one Making a classroom video tour to connect with families Photographing students and families to build recognition and trust Using name tags and activities to reflect student interests Building routines that support emotional safety and reduce cognitive load Setting up calm down corners with sensory tools and self-regulation strategies Reaching families through parent courses and culturally responsive practices Celebrating individual identities and stories to build belonging Using curiosity and wonder walls to extend learning beyond the lesson plan Positive communication, shared moments, and intentional kindness Timestamps: 00:00 – Why community matters in kindergarten 00:43 – Partnering with families from day one 01:03 – Communicating trust through small gestures 01:41 – Recording classroom tours for families 02:11 – Using photos of students and their family members 03:24 – Recognizing faces and building familiarity 04:01 – Simplifying recognition with printed photos 05:30 – Connecting with families through parent English and literacy classes 06:25 – Helping every child feel known and valued 07:02 – Sharing students' interests through name tags and activities 08:02 – Creating a classroom environment where students feel safe 11:23 – Building routines and calming strategies for emotional regulation 12:52 – Designing effective calm down corners with sensory tools 14:11 – Establishing clear procedures and classroom jobs 15:41 – Developing positive classroom management and expectations 16:31 – Making learning joyful with moments of fun and celebration 16:49 – Sharing classroom moments with families through photos 17:45 – Following children's curiosity for rich unplanned lessons 18:49 – Creating a wonder wall to capture student questions 19:03 – Why ongoing communication and community-building never really stop Resources & Links: NWEA: Building Community in the Classroom Liana Wokis Goldstein — Self-Regulation Strategies WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/ Building community in kindergarten comes down to intentional relationships, routines, and moments of joy, backed by real family partnerships. Even a few of these ideas can make your classroom feel like a safe, welcoming home for your students.

  8. Jul 12

    Embracing Play-Based Learning with Purpose and Balance

    Play-based learning isn't just fun. It's one of the most effective ways to build skills in early childhood, and in this episode, Deedee Wills and Hilary Statum break down how to make it work in a real classroom. They focus on guided play as the middle ground between free exploration and direct instruction, and share practical ways to weave it into your day without losing academic rigor. Key Takeaways: Research shows play-based learning builds mathematical and spatial skills more effectively than traditional direct instruction alone.Guided play balances child-led exploration with intentional teaching so students stay engaged and retain more.Simple activities work: mixing colors to introduce primary colors, using natural materials for early math concepts.Starting the day with guided play can improve student focus, motivation, and classroom community.Short play-based activities after direct instruction help reinforce skills without taking over your schedule.Direct instruction still matters. Guided play complements it, not replaces it.Observing what kids are naturally drawn to gives you useful information for designing better activities.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to play-based learning and its effectiveness02:07 - How play supports social-emotional growth03:36 - Guided play as the middle ground between free play and direct instruction04:05 - Play-based activities for teaching primary colors and early math skills05:45 - Setting up guided play with intention07:29 - Balancing direct instruction and guided play across the day08:38 - Why long stretches of direct instruction work against you09:25 - Building motivation through choice and exploration10:20 - Using guided play to improve focus and classroom relationships12:14 - When and how to step in during guided play13:27 - Aligning play with curriculum goals14:42 - Hands-on activities like shadow tracing and fluency practice15:35 - Making learning engaging across grade levels16:10 - Understanding children's natural drive to play and explore SOURCE: https://www.edutopia.org/article/young-kids-power-play-based-learning/ WHERE YOU CAN FIND US: Hilary Statum: ⁠⁠⁠https://pencilstopigtails.com/⁠⁠⁠ Deedee Wills: ⁠⁠⁠https://mrswillskindergarten.com/

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Join educators Hillary Statum and Deedee Wills on From Research to Recess: The Science Behind Great Teaching. This podcast breaks down educational research into real-life strategies for K-2 classrooms. From the science of reading to classroom management and occasional book studies, we make teaching tips practical, doable, and just what busy teachers need. Grab your coffee and tune in!

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