Season Two, Episode 3: Getting nitty gritty with it

Summary

In this special episode of Chalk Dust, Nathaniel Swain and Rebecca Birch sit down with Adam Boxer to explore the thinking behind Carousel Teaching’s new video library. Rather than simply showcasing polished classroom clips, Adam explains how the platform is designed to pair tightly curated footage with explicit professional learning, commentary, and guidance so teachers understand not just what works, but why. The conversation focuses on one deceptively small but powerful domain of classroom craft: behaviour, transitions, and teacher presence.

Using clips from Adam’s own classroom and from colleagues Abby and Jack, the episode examines how teachers can prevent disruption before it starts through eye contact, body positioning, clear instructions, visible scanning, and carefully calibrated countdowns. Adam argues that strong classroom culture is not built through friendliness or vague notions of “relationships” alone, but through clear routines, consistent expectations, and precise, replicable moves. Across the discussion, the hosts reflect on what makes video-based professional learning useful: the chance to see normal classrooms, normal friction, and the specific choices that make lessons run smoothly.

Mentioned resources and explainers

Carousel Learning

Carousel Learning is Adam Boxer’s retrieval practice platform for students. It is designed to support retrieval and checking for understanding through structured classroom routines and digital tools.

Carousel Teaching

Carousel Teaching is the professional learning platform attached to Carousel Learning. It combines video exemplars, commentary, quizzes, and courses on specific aspects of classroom practice such as questioning, mini whiteboards, lesson starts, and behaviour management.

Turnaround school

Adam explains that the Totteridge Academy (more here), where the videos were filmed, is not a selective or “startup” school built from scratch with ideal conditions. It is a turnaround school: a previously low-performing school that has significantly improved. This matters because the strategies shown are intended to feel achievable in ordinary school contexts.

Be seen looking

A technique Adam links to Teach Like a Champion. It is not enough for a teacher to scan the room; students need to know they are being scanned. Visible attention helps prevent disruption before it begins.