Amazingly, our data shows that, on average, students speak for just 7 seconds per hour of instruction time. Why is this, despite decades of research showing that students need to speak to learn?

The answer is complex. In this interview, Jamie discusses why student talk matters for learning outcomes and equitability. And he shares how TeachFX was created to empower teachers to focus on both student talk — and the specific teaching practices — that can dramatically change both teaching and learning.

I am incredibly excited to announce today that we’ve brought $10M of new investment into TeachFX. Today, the TeachFX app is real -- doing everything I’d hoped it would back in 2016, and more, using cutting-edge voice AI we’ve developed that analyzes teaching practices such as levels of questioning, use of wait time 1 and 2, and uptake of student contributions.

We’re now in the hands of over 8,500 teachers across every state in the country. Our partnerships with schools and districts are expanding rapidly -- 9x growth in the last year alone. And in our partner districts, license utilization of the TeachFX app is over 100%.

Educators spend more than 40 hours per year analyzing assessment data. Even though there’s no evidence that doing so changes learning outcomes.

What does change learning outcomes, and learning equity, according to decades of research, is student talk. More specifically, teaching practices that facilitate student engagement in meaningful, equitable, academic conversations.

How can we help teachers foster these kinds of meaningful classroom conversations?

To change who does the learning, we have to increase student talk and change who does the talking in our classrooms…and that requires a change in how we teach.

When the Detroit Public Schools Community Districtʼs Office of Science – and hundreds of science teachers – set out to create change for their students, they set their focus on racial disparities endemic to science classrooms and across the curricular spectrum. 

That led to a focus on student talk in science classrooms – and partnering with TeachFX. 

When TNTP endeavored to determine what works to help teachers improve, their study found nearly no clear patterns. Except one…

Teachers who receive objective feedback and regular coaching show the most consistent improvements in teaching practice.

The feedback teachers receive is too often not perceived to be objective.

Affirming the way we work at TeachFX, the TNTP study finds that teachers need feedback that they trust to be accurate, objective, and a realistic picture of their teaching practice.

Feedback is one of the most powerful influences on teaching and learning. Yet, creating a culture of feedback and reflection is still surprisingly rare, as is data proving its power.

In his entire teaching career, our CEO and founder, Jamie Poskin, was never observed in the classroom. He didn’t once receive feedback from another educator on his teaching practice.

That’s why, in our most recent Office Hours, our own Jamie Poskin and Daniel Bauer of Better Leaders Better Schools facilitated a conversation with educators from around the nation exploring creating a culture of feedback and reflection. Read on for what we learned together…

TeachFX Office Hours | The Power of Reflection and Feedback to Drive Instructional Leadership

Featuring Daniel Bauer, Chief Ruckus Maker of Better Leaders Better Schools and Jamie Poskin, CEO and co-founder of TeachFX — and k12 leaders from around the nation

As we all grapple with yesterday’s horrific atrocity in Uvalde, Texas, we are grieving the loss of life, especially that so many young lives were cut short.

We send our condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and to every member of the community who is now experiencing unspeakable grief.

TeachFX Office Hours | Dr. Amanda Conley discusses a first-year principal’s perspective on evolving as an instructional leader, how principals can provide compassionate and candid feedback that helps teachers advance their instructional practices, and how partnering with TeachFX has helped Amanda and her teachers with personalized PL and the objective feedback provided via the TeachFX app.

Why is it so difficult for schools to make positive change? Education historian Larry Cuban finds that few school reform efforts over the past century have had much effect on what teachers do and how students experience school. Through our partnerships, TeachFX takes a different approach.