Table Of ContentPraise for How to Explain Absolutely
Anything to Absolutely Anyone
Andy Tharby’s How to Explain Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone tackles a
fundamental aspect of teaching that has been taken for granted by far too many
for far too long. The book not only enquires into explanation, but also ventures
further and deeper – offering a wise and compelling exploration of curriculum,
knowledge, memory, human psychology, and much more.
In age an of superficial media and bombastic TED Talks, Tharby brings evidence
and intelligence to bear in order to reveal, in intricate detail, what makes for pow-
erful teacher explanations. I’d happily recommend this book to absolutely every
teacher.
Alex Quigley, Senior Associate, Education Endowment Foundation
and author of Closing the Vocabulary Gap
In Explain Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone, Andy Tharby skilfully explores
the importance of high-quality explanation and offers teachers clear guidance on
what they can do better in order to achieve it.
By starting with the significance of subject knowledge and teacher credibility,
Andy opens up various frameworks for consideration before going on to suggest
effective classroom strategies to put into practice. He has filled this practical,
evidence-informed book with a range of clear illustrations and examples, and does
not shy away from difficult questions surrounding teaching and learning.
Explain Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone will be of great value to all teach-
ers of all subjects.
Dr Brian Marsh, Principal Lecturer in Science Education,
School of Education, University of Brighton
In this excellent and beautifully written book, Andy Tharby addresses the topic of
how teachers across all subjects of the curriculum can develop their capacity to
explain with clarity, precision, flair and agility.
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Rooted in research, Andy’s captivating and persuasive arguments are bolstered by
his practical experience and carefully considered reflections (as a learner as well
as a teacher) as he explores the importance of subject knowledge and debates the
key principles underpinning effective explanations. He then goes on to outline
practical tips and guidance, helpfully punctuated with specific examples, for mas-
tering the art yourself.
Andy cleverly presents his ideas by using the very strategies he suggests, helping
us to understand the significance of clear and compelling explanation. And he
does so in such a clear and compelling way!
Jill Berry, leadership consultant and former head teacher
How to Explain Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone fills a considerable gap –
as while the importance of explanation has long been recognised, nowhere has its
role, application and impact been so clearly articulated as in this book.
In his beautifully crafted prose, Andy Tharby hones in on the significance of a
teacher conveying the purpose of their subject and shares important ideas which
will inform current conversations around the curriculum.
All great books provide new insights into old dilemmas, and How to Explain
Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone does exactly that. It is both scholarly and
accessible, and should be essential reading for all involved in education. I shall be
referring to it on a daily basis.
Mary Myatt, education adviser, writer and author of
Curriculum: Gallimaufry to Coherence
If you’re like me, you may already think you are pretty deft at explaining tricky
concepts with clarity, and even with a bit of panache. Upon reading this wonderful
book, however, you realise that you still have a great deal more to learn about the
science and craft of explanation, as Andy Tharby shares all there is to know on the
subject.
Offering well-researched, practical guidance on how to plan and execute sharper
explanations, How to Explain Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone should be
required reading for all teachers. A simply superb read.
Phil Stock, Deputy Head Teacher, Greenshaw High School
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In How to Explain Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone, Andy Tharby guides
teachers to the point of peak performance: offering clear guidance on how they
can boost the credibility of their subject knowledge in order to support pupils’
long-term learning.
When it’s done well, a curriculum can unlock a world of opportunity – for both the
pupils and the teacher – but only when delivered by those teachers who bring the
content to life. Tharby delves into what lies beneath the surface of subject knowl-
edge and reveals a set of complicated building blocks, such as the use of modelling
and the application of concrete examples, which combine to form great classroom
teaching.
How to Explain Absolutely Anything to Absolutely Anyone arrives at the perfect time
for the teaching profession and is full of super strategies to use in your own pro-
fessional development.
Ross Morrison McGill @TeacherToolkit – the UK’s most followed educator on
Twitter, who writes at TeacherToolkit.co.uk
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First published by
Crown House Publishing Limited
Crown Buildings, Bancyfelin, Carmarthen, Wales, SA33 5ND, UK
www.crownhouse.co.uk
and
Crown House Publishing Company LLC
PO Box 2223, Williston, VT 05495, USA
www.crownhousepublishing.com
© Andy Tharby, 2018
The right of Andy Tharby to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted
by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Illustrations © Jason Ramasami, 2018
The right of Jason Ramasami to be identified as the illustrator of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published 2018.
Quotes from Ofsted and Department for Education documents used in this publication have
been approved under an Open Government Licence. Please see: http://www.nationalarchives.
gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/.
Pages 27 and 116–117, extracts from Class Teaching blog have been used with
permission of Shaun Allison. Pages 47–49, contribution © Fran Haynes, 2019.
Page 70, example from Jason Ramasami has been used with permission.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under current legislation no part of this work may be
photocopied, stored in a retrieval system, published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast,
transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior permission
of the copyright owners. Enquiries should be addressed to Crown House Publishing.
Crown House Publishing has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for
external or third-party websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any
content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue entry for this book is available from the British Library.
Print ISBN 978-178583367-0
Mobi ISBN 978-178583389-2
ePub ISBN 978-178583390-8
ePDF ISBN 978-178583391-5
LCCN 2018957152
Printed and bound in the UK by
TJ International, Padstow, Cornwall
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To my son, George,
and to every other young person who just wants to know more.
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Acknowledgements
This book is the result of many years of teaching, reading and conversation. I am
especially grateful to Fran Haynes, Tod Brennan, Chris Runeckles and Shaun
Allison, who have all, with humour and patience, taken the time over the last year
to extend and question my thinking on a daily basis.
I thank everyone at Crown House for the meticulous effort you put in to every book
you publish. I am so grateful that you agreed to publish this one. A huge thank you
to my partner in crime Jason Ramasami whose illustrations create an energy and
clarity that I could never achieve in plain words.
Thanks too to Mum and Dad for all the encouragement, not to mention all the
school holiday babysitting that allowed me the time and space to write. And finally
to Donna, who not only allowed me to break my promise that I would never write
another book, but supported me unfailingly throughout the process.
iv
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Contents
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................ iv
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 1: Subject knowledge ....................................................................................................... 11
Chapter 2: Credibility and clarity .................................................................................................. 29
Chapter 3: Explanation design ....................................................................................................... 51
Chapter 4: Concepts, examples and misconceptions ........................................................ 75
Chapter 5: Metaphor and analogy ............................................................................................... 97
Chapter 6: Storytelling .................................................................................................................... 115
Chapter 7: Elaboration .................................................................................................................... 135
Conclusion: Getting better at explaining ............................................................................... 155
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................... 167
v
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