Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching

by Zach Groshell

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2024

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Zach’s “Progressively Incorrect” podcast, and I generally share his views on teaching and learning. I have always found him to be humorous and insightful. This book is INCREDIBLY short and contains extremely basic suggestions and information. I regret purchasing it.

[Alison Rini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative, well-organized, and quick read! So many simple to implement suggestions that will absolutely level-up my school. Highly recommend as a book study for any school looking for a jolt of actionable inspiration.

[Erin Bergin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great tool for educators who are sick of the trope of “educators as unprofessional” or “education must be pure entertainment”.

[Andi Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every teacher, every preservice teacher should read this book!

[Douglas Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of the negative comments on this book have to do with length. From the start, the author noted that this was an introduction into this topic and sites MANY other books and articles for further reading. What more to people want? Teachers are the worst audience sometimes!

Anyway, this book is full of usable way to design explanations, lessons, and other classroom techniques to help students learn. Each method is based off of what science tells us about learning.

Other detractors have attacked this work as being anti-inquiry learning. Clearly, the author reasons (many times) that inquiry design is useful, but shouldn’t be the way students learn. That inquiry models can be used for students to show their leaning.

Lots of good stuff here. Would recommend for both veteran and new teachers.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource for those starting their work as teachers, or for those who constantly embrace the next fad, only to be surprised that it still doesn't lead to the outcomes they wanted. Zach provides an accessible selection of direct didactic methods, allowing you to pick and choose those that match your style. As Zach rightly begins, modern teaching has fallen prey to the idea that engagement (which many just use as a synonym for fun or doing something, anything, even if it's ultimately busy work) is the primary goal, but this is incorrect - our primary goal is to educate. The focus must be on delivering a robust curriculum in a clear, accessible and replicable way and using some of these strategies will probably help you, if you haven't been using them already.

[Jean Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I hope that, the next time you find yourself ‘facilitating’ a class of students who have ‘productively struggled’ far past their limits, and the devil on your shoulder keeps whispering, ‘They’ll only learn it if they discover it for themselves,’ you will give the devil a flick and just freaking tell them” (98)..Many of us learned that explicit instruction/direct instruction is a terrible thing to do to kids. But it turns out that was inaccurate information. Not only does it have a place in education, for many things it is the most efficient way for students to learn material (and avoid cognitive overload). This short book explains how to do it well. Dr. Groshell also hosts two excellent education podcasts, The Direct Instruction Podcast and Progressively Incorrect.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to be a teacher to learn from this book. I'm a mother of small minds, who has wondered what the most effective way to teach and communicate with my children may be. Zach Groshell gives lots of tools and examples (backed by research) on how to effectively engage with children. While he focuses mostly on the classroom settings the key principles are easily adapted to everyday life lessons as well as how to engage in a teaching/mentoring relationship in the workplace. I thoroughly enjoyed this quick, but impactful read!

[Rachel Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a few hours while taking notes so not a long read. After following the author on twitter and listening to some podcasts he participated in, I realized that direct instruction is a little different, and more involved, than I previously thought. I gleaned some good ideas and recognized some pitfalls that often entrap me. Now, if the snow will stay away so we can actually have school on a regular basis, I will be able to try more of his ideas in the classroom.

[Monica Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the author did a great job of explaining the benefits of direct modeling for kids, especially in a time where “exploratory learning” is so leaned on. I think some of the foundations for a strong learning culture were a bit redundant, but agreed that these must be in place to have a strong culture where you can directly model skills for kids. A good book to read especially if you are hesitant ab the benefits of directly modeling in the classroom

[Ernest Kincaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great, short read. Succinct and explicit, appropriately enough. As others have said, this book gives me something to do right now, today, in my classroom, that I know will make an impact. As a special education teacher I already knew this and I already teach like this, so this was affirmation and inspiration wrapped up in a small package. One I could read in a couple weekends to help me get through my first semester teaching middle schoolers. ¡Phew!

[Samuel Sadler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Groshell warns against trying "interesting" or "student-engagement" methods of teaching which make the teacher look dynamic but don't actually ensure learning. Often, you just need to explain clearly what you want to teach. He offers various methods of explanation.
Very helpful book on a practical level. Writing is a bit lackluster.

[Beth Hawks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know a teacher who is going into their first year this fall, give them this book by Zach Groshell to read over the summer. It's straightforward, practical, and evidence-based. At 97 pages, it's long enough to say what it needs to but short enough to not be intimidating.

[Gregory Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best teacher prep/instructional coaching books that I’ve ever read. It is short and concise without sacrificing quality research-based facts. I loved it.

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simple but necessary. I wish that curriculum designers would heed Groshell’s advice so individual teachers don’t have to build all of these things into their lessons themselves.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for college of education preparation classes and current educators.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this 20 years ago.

[Ryan Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

great, easy read. practical, applicable, and should be a read for educators, coaches, and anyone teaching kids.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found some useful gems in here. This book is quick and to the point, which I appreciate.

[Nisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific concrete strategies

[Kristen Iworsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any teacher.

[Sarathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book underscores the importance of direct instructions for novice students, which no longer seems to be the norm in formal educational settings. The simplicity and directness of this book makes it easy to understand. Recently implemented some of the teaching strategies from this book in my classrooms and I have already seen some changes!