
“Tom vs. Time”
In our last blog we explored what is probably the most controversial topic in math education… Explicit vs. Inquiry-Based Instruction.
Now let’s take a deeper look at Why ALL Learners Need Explicit Instruction.
A few years ago I was sick with the flu for a few days and watched the entire series “Tom vs. Time” in a day.
There was a scene when Tom Brady was getting direct instruction on how to better throw a football.
Imagine – Tom Brady, already considered the Greatest Of All Time, being shown how to throw a football!
As if he didn’t already know, right?
Yet the direct instruction, modeling, and instant feedback allowed him to make the slightest improvements that somehow made all the difference. This to me was a clear example of explicit instruction in action.
On the flip side, imagine if this was all Tom Brady did – practice how to throw a football! What if he never played in the big game?! What a loss that would be (figuratively and literally).
And so it goes with explicit and inquiry-based instruction – it is not an either/or, it is a BOTH/AND.
There is a place for direct instruction and modeling of skills and practices in order to improve our abilities, and there is a place to explore, inquire and discover, which we then integrate into a larger playing field.
And so it goes for math instruction – students need explicit instruction in certain essential skills and strategies, particularly at the beginning, as well as the opportunity to explore, problem solve, and apply what they learn.
Defining Explicit Instruction
The definition of “explicit” is “stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt” or “to make clear”. Meanwhile its opposite – “implicit” – means “to imply but not clearly state”.
Sometimes this is what happens – we provide exploratory learning situations, then we leave it to chance that students will discover what they need to learn. Maybe many will, but many do not. Explicit instruction is about being clear and ensuring that all students learn the skills they need, then develop those skills to their highest, optimal potential.
The Importance of Effective Methods
There is one important caveat to explicit instruction though: in order to be effective, it must use the best methods. Explicit instruction with ineffective methods will not produce the outcomes we want.
I think much of the negative connotation for explicit instruction is that the meaning of the word “explicit” is combined with the meaning of other words; it is assumed that being explicit also means to be rote, procedural, meaningless, unengaging, and frankly boring. So let’s tease these words out and develop a more accurate description of the type of instruction we want.
Try substituting the word “clear” for explicit, and “unclear” for non-explicit, and see how that changes the conversation. I don’t know about you, but I want conceptual, strategic, effective instruction that is clear to all students.
Alas, there are many words we may use to describe the instruction we want: explicit, effective, multisensory, sequential, cumulative, and more. So let’s use multiple methods of instruction, but let’s always be clear and not leave learning essential skills to chance.
Explicit Instruction and Universal Design for Learning
If you’d like to learn more about Explicit Instruction, I highly recommend this Explicit Instruction & Universal Design for Learning blog by K.C. Knudson from Novak Education. The author tells the story of his son developing an interest in learning about cars – what we might consider an interest-based inquiry project or project-based learning. But then in order to accelerate his learning, his son went searching for some help from a mechanic – for some explicit instruction.
The author writes:
When we want to learn something new effectively and efficiently, we seek out explicit instruction. It is a critical part of our learning process, coupled with exploration, trial and error, self-study, and reflection. There is a great deal of evidence that explicit instruction accelerates learning. The Australian Educational Research Organisation (AREO) provides a great resource linked to the research. According to AERO, “Explicit instruction involves breaking down what students need to learn into smaller learning outcomes and modeling each step so that students can see what is expected of them. Providing explicit instruction limits the mental effort for students allowing them to process new information more effectively.”
He goes on to say:
Dataworks Educational Research notes that “explicit direct instruction (EDI) activates 18 of the top 30 influences on student achievement as measured by Hattie.” Instruction that is explicit involves direct explanation. Concepts are clearly explained, and skills are clearly demonstrated, without ambiguity or vagueness. Throughout the lesson, the teacher uses concise, specific, and objective-oriented language. This is a critical component of teacher clarity, which Hattie found to have a .75 effect size. Page 14 of HIGH IMPACT TEACHING STRATEGIES, Excellence in Teaching and Learning provides an excellent overview of explicit instruction.
In that report, the authors state:
“Effective teachers use explicit teaching to provide instruction, demonstrate concepts and build student knowledge and skills. In explicit teaching practice, teachers show students what to do and how to do it, and create opportunities in lessons for students to demonstrate understanding and apply the learning.”
If you are interested in learning more about explicit instruction, I encourage you to dig in to the substantial research and the resources around how to use it effectively.
Here’s to better math learning for all!
Becky
The Mathemagical™ Structured Numeracy: K-2 Curriculum is designed to provide explicit instruction as well as opportunities for inquiry and exploration, ensuring students develop essential math skills while fostering curiosity.
Introducing the Mathemagical™ Structured Numeracy Curriculum

This curriculum leverages research-based methods to deliver instruction that is clear, engaging, and effective—leaving no room for confusion.
It’s not about rote learning or meaningless repetition; it’s about helping students build a strong foundation in numeracy while making math both accessible and enjoyable.
Here’s what makes Mathemagical™ unique:
- Clarity Through Explicit Instruction: Students are directly taught essential math skills in a clear, systematic way.
- Engagement Through Exploration: Hands-on learning activities allow students to explore and apply what they’ve learned.
- Proven Strategies That Work: Multisensory, systematic instruction using the best visuals ensures no student is left behind.
The result? A comprehensive framework for math instruction that equips educators and empowers students.
Mathemagical™ creates math-confident kids:
Mathemagicians who have strong number sense, know math facts, and confidently apply numeracy in their daily lives.