The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast

190: Why so many teachers are leaving, and why others stay. May 13, 2022

Teachers are leaving the classroom in larger numbers than ever, and many are breaking contracts mid-year just to get out. What can school leaders do to stop this? What makes one school lose teachers in the double digits, while others manage to hold on to almost everyone? In this episode, we'll hear the stories of four teachers who left their jobs in the past year. Then we'll hear the words of hundreds of teachers who stayed, and what administrators in those schools did differently.

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Thanks to Listenwise and Spinndle for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 12: Model EVERYTHING. Apr 24, 2022

There are so many things we ask our students to do in school that they would do so much better if we just modeled it for them. While modeling is already probably a strategy you're using to teach some concepts, you probably could be using it a whole lot more, and getting more from your students as a result.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Stash101 for sponsoring this episode.

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189: Eight Principles for Supporting Students with ADHD Apr 21, 2022

Many teachers don't know enough to effectively meet the needs of students with ADHD. In this episode, we'll take a look at 8 principles you can apply to your teaching that can help these students thrive.

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Thanks to Listenwise and Read&Write by Texthelp for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 11: Replace general praise with something specific. Apr 10, 2022

When we say something generic like "good job," it might make a student feel good, but that's about it. What has a lot more impact is specific praise given to individual people.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Stash101 for sponsoring this episode.

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188: Uncovering Your Implicit Biases: An Exercise for Teachers Apr 03, 2022

An essential first step toward becoming an anti-racist educator is uncovering your own implicit biases—attitudes and beliefs about certain groups of people you may not even realize you have. In this episode, Hedreich Nichols walks us through an 8-question exercise to help us start to do this work on ourselves.

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Thanks to Listenwise and Read&Write by Texthelp for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 10: Use music to buffer "silent" activities. Mar 27, 2022

True silence is almost impossible to achieve in the classroom, and extraneous noises can be distracting. Adding background music creates a sanctuary where sustained concentration is more likely to happen.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Stash101 for sponsoring this episode.

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187: Contrasting Cases: A Simple Strategy for Deep Understanding Mar 20, 2022

This activity can be plugged into any lesson when you want students to go beyond surface traits and consider deeper connecting principles. My guest Sarah Levine shows us how it works. -------------------

Thanks to Listenwise and Read&Write by Texthelp for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 9: Use an antiseptic bounce to prevent off-task behavior. Mar 13, 2022

When you see early signs of off-task behavior, you might think your only choices are to ignore it or address it directly. The antiseptic bounce gives you a third option.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Stash101 for sponsoring this episode.

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186: Using Gallery Walks for Peer Feedback Feb 27, 2022

Peer feedback can be an incredible tool for student growth IF students are trained in how to do it well. In this episode, English teacher Marcus Luther shares how he prepares students for gallery walks, where they give insightful, affirming feedback to each other's writing. With a heavy emphasis on modeling and seting clear norms, Luther's approach is one teachers can follow to help students give higher quality feedback in any class.

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Thanks to Fearless Schools and Read&Write by Texthelp or sponsoring this episode.

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185: How Teachers Can Support Arab-American Students Feb 15, 2022

Even when they appear to be navigating school successfully, Arab-American students aren't thriving like they could. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sawsan Jabar about how teachers can change that. -------------------

Thanks to Fearless Schools and Google's Applied Digital Skills for sponsoring this episode.

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184: Lessons that Build Students' Media and News Literacy Jan 30, 2022

Our students can access information on any topic in seconds, so we need to build their media and news literacy. In this episode, I talk with Common Sense Education's Kelly Mendoza about their Digital Citizenship curriculum, with a special focus on the media and news literacy component, walking through three sample lessons you can try in your own classroom.

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Thanks to Fearless Schools and Google's Applied Digital Skills for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 8: Don't take anything personally. Jan 23, 2022

So many things don't go our way throughout the school day, and if we can learn how to take a step back, to depersonalize these situations, we'll be able to respond rather than react.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode.

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183: Six Tech Tools to Try in 2022 Jan 18, 2022

This year's picks include a video conferencing platform that feels more like a physical space, a database of books where the main characters are black girls, a career exploration platform, math lessons that students will actually care about, a device that combines tech with hands-on play, and a collection of art experiments.

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Learn more about the Teacher's Guide to Tech at teachersguidetotech.com.

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Thanks to Fearless Schools and Google's Applied Digital Skills for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 7: Stop popcorn reading. Jan 10, 2022

Popcorn or "round-robin" reading has been around forever, even though it's not supported by research and can actually slow down students' reading progress. Learn more about why you should stop doing it and what strategies to put in its place.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode.

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182: Eight Ways to Grow Students' Vocabulary Dec 12, 2021

Building a robust vocabulary is an essential part of any education. Students will learn new words in our classes no matter what, but if we're deliberate about giving them regular instructional opportunities to learn them, they'll learn so many more. In this episode, Dr. Angela Peery shares eight specific strategies you can use to build your students' vocabulary in any subject area and at any grade level.

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Thanks to fastIEP and Google's Applied Digital Skills for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 6: Try a tiered activity for simple differentiation. Dec 06, 2021

If you want to do more differentiation, but you feel overwhelmed by the idea of creating lots of individual lessons, try creating a tiered activity. This simple differentiation strategy gives students an appropriate level of challenge without a lot of prep on your part.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode.

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181: Teachers are being silenced. What can be done about it? Nov 27, 2021

How is the anti-CRT movement harming and silencing teachers, what damage will it ultimately do to students, and what can be done to fight it?

For a more complete overview of this topic, be sure to check out EdTrust's podcast seriesEdTrusted: The Critical Race Theory Craze That’s Sweeping the Nation.

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Thanks to CommonLit and Brain Power Academy for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 5: Use huddles to communicate during group work. Nov 07, 2021

When students are working in groups, and we need to get their attention, shouting over the noise certainly gets the job done, but huddles work so much better.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Floop for sponsoring this episode.

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180: Make Units More Inspiring with Vision Boards Oct 31, 2021

Planning instructional units can be less than exciting when all you have to deal with is words and more words. Creating a vision board at the beginning of a unit can generate fresh enthusiasm and help you focus on what truly matters. In this episode, teachers Amanda Cardenas and Marie Morris share how vision boards work in their classrooms.

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Thanks to CommonLit and fastIEP for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 4: Hold off on most feedback until AFTER a task is done. Oct 24, 2021

When we see students making a mistake, we may be tempted to stop them and offer a correction. It might be best to resist that temptation, at least for a little while.

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Microsoft Reading Progress in Teams for sponsoring this episode.

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179: Teachers are barely hanging on. Here's what they need. Oct 20, 2021

Teachers are saying this is the worst school year ever. In this episode, I'll explore the reasons why, offer some solutions, and also share a few other loosely related thoughts that may or may not help.

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Thanks to CommonLit and Brain Power Academy for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 3: Distract the Distractor Oct 10, 2021

This subtle little teaching move stops off-task behavior in a class session and gets things back on track without drama!

You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Reading Progress in Teams for sponsoring this episode.

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178: Street Data: A Pathway Toward Equitable, Anti-Racist Schools Oct 04, 2021

Many well-intended efforts to make schools more equitable often fail because we're trying to make them work inside a system that's a terrible fit for them. What's been missing is a whole-school approach that creates a path forward that is radically different from what we've done before. In this episode, I talk with the authors of the book Street Data—Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan—about their ground-up approach to school transformation, one that lets go of the fixation on text scores and centers marginalized voices instead.

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Thanks to CommonLit and ISTE for sponsoring this episode.

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Find Shane and Jamila online at shanesafir.com and jamiladugan.com.

EduTip 2: Don't yell at another teacher's class. Sep 26, 2021

When you come in and rescue another teacher from a misbehaving class, you think you're being helpful, when really, you're just disempowering them. Try another approach! You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Reading Progress in Teams for sponsoring this episode.

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177: How to Find, Read, and Use Academic Research Sep 20, 2021

You want to know that your instructional decisions are supported by research, but you're not exactly sure where to find that research or how to read it correctly. In this episode, educational psychologist Kripa Sundar gives me a mini-course in how to dig up high-quality research, how to read and interpret it, and what we need to keep in mind about how academic research works.

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Thanks to simpleshow and ISTE for sponsoring this episode.

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EduTip 1: Don't make them read and listen at the same time. Sep 12, 2021

Welcome to EduTips, a side project of the Cult of Pedagogy podcast where I share one quick tidbit of educational research, teaching ideas, classroom management strategies, or sometimes just a quick story. This first EduTip is DON'T MAKE THEM READ AND LISTEN AT THE SAME TIME. This is a mistake I see so many teachers, speakers, and other presenters make, and it's so easy to fix! You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips.

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Thanks to Reading Progress in Teams for sponsoring this episode.

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176: Suicide Prevention: What Teachers Can Do Sep 06, 2021

What factors are most likely to contribute to suicide in young people, and how can teachers recognize the signs? In this episode I talk with Anne Moss Rogers, mental health and suicide prevention speaker, about how teachers can help to prevent suicide in adolescents and children.

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Thanks to Listenwise and ISTE for sponsoring this episode.

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175: Introducing the HyperRubric Aug 22, 2021

Most rubrics only tell students where they are right now, but a HyperRubric marks their progress as they go, then points them to tools that can help them improve. In this episode, I talk with ELA teachers Tyler Rablin and Jeff Frieden about how they developed this new format and how it works.

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Thanks to Listenwise and ISTE for sponsoring this episode.

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174: Why You Should Bring Podcasts Into Your Classroom Aug 08, 2021

There's a good chance you're already sold on the value of podcasts. But have you brought this incredible medium into your classroom in a substantial or consistent way? The goal of this episode is to convince you to do just that. My guests—Lindsay Patterson, Marshall Escamilla, and Monica Brady-Myerov—are three major figures in the educational podcast world. We'll be talking about the research behind listening as a learning modality, why podcasts make outstanding curricular resources, and the top four places you can find podcasts that are ideal for classroom use.

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Thanks to Listenwise and Scholastic Scope for sponsoring this episode.

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Looking for high-impact PD that won't take a lot of time? Check out my mini-course, 4 Laws of Learning, and use the code LISTENER at checkout to take $5 off the course tuition.

173: How ELA and Special Ed Collaboration Can Produce Great Student Writing Jul 25, 2021

Writing is one of the most challenging academic tasks we ask of our students, and it can be especially difficult for students with learning differences. In this episode, special educator Sarah Riggs Johnson shares 11 key ingredients for optimizing the partnership between ELA teachers and learning specialists so that students with learning differences can become excellent writers.

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Thanks to Listenwise and Scholastic Scope for sponsoring this episode.

172: The Importance of Maslow's Fourth Tier Jul 11, 2021

What we call "attention-seeking behavior" is a sign of a deficit need. In this episode, my guest Connie Hamilton shares specific strategies we can use to help students meet their esteem needs—the fourth tier of Maslow's Hierarchy—in healthy, productive ways.

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Thanks to Today by Studyo and Scholastic Scope for sponsoring this episode.

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Learn more about my mini-course, Four Laws of Learning, at cultofpedagogy.com/laws. Remember to use the code LISTENER at checkout to get $5 off course tuition!

171: Does Your School Need a Literacy Check-up? Jun 14, 2021

Literacy is arguably the most valuable asset we develop in our students, but many classrooms are missing some of the most effective literacy practices. In this episode, author and educator Angela Peery shares a set of tools any PK-12 teacher can use to evaluate what you're doing right, what you're missing, and how you can fill the gaps.

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Thanks to Today by Studyo and Scholastic Scope for sponsoring this episode.

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The check-up tools we discuss in this episode come from Peery's book (co-authored with Tracy Shiel), What to Look for in Literacy: A Leader's Guide to High Quality Instruction*.

*affiliate link

170: No More Easy Button: A Suggested Approach to Post-Pandemic Teaching May 16, 2021

Now that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel of Covid-19, we have an opportunity for a fresh start in schools, and we can't waste it. Let’s take the wisdom we've gained over the last year and use it. Let's not go back to the way things used to be.

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Thanks to Today by Studyo and Parlay for sponsoring this episode.

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169: Revolution School: When "Reimagining School" Actually Happens May 02, 2021

Revolution School is a fantastic new high school in Philadelphia where students co-create their education around experiential learning, community partnerships, and personal development. In this episode I learn about how Revolution works from Henry Fairfax, Head of School, Jane Shore, Head of Research and Innovation, and Master Educator Mike Pardee.

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Thanks to Today by Studyo and Parlay for sponsoring this episode.

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Learn more about Revolution School at revolutionschool.org

168: Mistake Analysis Apr 18, 2021

Wrong answers can be an incredible tool for learning and critical thinking. In this episode, Thinking Like a Lawyer author Colin Seale teaches us four easy ways to add mistake analysis into our regular teaching practices. This is a strategy that works in any content area and at any grade level!

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Thanks to Hāpara and TGR EDU: Explore for sponsoring this episode.

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Mistake Analysis is just one of the many strategies in Seale's book, Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students*.

*affiliate link

167: How to Co-Construct Success Criteria with Students Apr 05, 2021

When we include students in the process of defining quality work, they are more likely to rise to those standards. In this episode, educator Starr Sackstein explains how she co-constructs success criteria with her students.

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Thanks to Hāpara and TGR EDU: Explore for sponsoring this episode!

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Looking for high-impact PD that won't take a lot of time? Check out my mini-course, 4 Laws of Learning, and use the code LISTENER at checkout to take $5 off the course tuition.

166: UDL as a Key to Equity Mar 22, 2021

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that rejects one-size-fits-all teaching by offering students options for how to engage, what materials to use, and how to demonstrate learning, and it's a solid way to offer a more equitable education to all of our students. My guests Katie Novak and Mirko Chardin help us understand how it works and walk us through a sample lesson that's gotten the full UDL treatment.

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Thanks so much to Hāpara and Kiddom for sponsoring this episode!

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Get your copy of the 2021 Teacher's Guide to Tech at teachersguidetotech.com, and remember to use the code LISTENER at checkout for 10 percent off.

165: Setting Up Mastery-Based Grading in Your Classroom Mar 07, 2021

It's a terrible feeling when you know some of your students didn't really learn the content, but you move them on anyway. Mastery-based grading solves that problem by requiring students to actually master key concepts before progressing to the next stage. In this episode, Kareem Farah of the Modern Classrooms Project shows us how it's done.

This is the third and final episode of a three-part series that has taught us how to run a blended, self-paced, mastery-based model that works beautifully for remote, hybrid, or in-person learning. The first two episodes are 144, Making Great Screencast Videos, and 158, How to Create a Self-Paced Classroom.

Join tens of thousands of other teachers who are learning how to implement the Modern Classrooms model by signing up for their free course (affiliate link).

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Thanks so much to Hāpara and Kiddom for sponsoring this episode!

164: The Elegance of the Gray Area Feb 22, 2021

An argument for spending more time practicing subtlety and nuance and complication in our thinking.

This episode is sponsored by Kialo Edu and Kiddom.

163: It's Time to Give Classroom Jobs Another Try Feb 07, 2021

These fresh ideas for student jobs will invigorate your classroom and get you and your students excited about school again—even if you teach remotely. My guest Thom Gibson shows us how he does it.

This episode is sponsored by Kialo Edu and Kiddom.

Check out the 2021 edition of the Teacher's Guide to Tech at teachersguidetotech.com and use the code LISTENER to get 10 percent off the new guide!

163: It's Time to Give Classroom Jobs Another Try Feb 07, 2021

These fresh ideas for student jobs will invigorate your classroom and get you and your students excited about school again—even if you teach remotely. My guest Thom Gibson shows us how he does it.

This episode is sponsored by Kialo Edu and Kiddom.

Check out the 2021 edition of the Teacher's Guide to Tech at teachersguidetotech.com and use the code LISTENER to get 10 percent off the new guide!

162: Up-Down-Both-Why: A Funds of Feeling Approach to Literature Jan 24, 2021

Students often struggle to make meaningful connections to literature and put those connections into words. The Up-Down-Both-Why technique, which starts with how the text makes a student feel, gets much better results. My guest, Sarah Levine, explains how it works.

This episode is sponsored by Kialo Edu and National Geographic Education.

And check out the Teacher's Guide to Tech 2021 at teachersguidetotech.com, and use the code LISTENER at checkout to get 10 percent off!

161: Six Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2021 Jan 11, 2021

The yearly roundup of tools includes an audio feedback tool, sites to combat racism and media bias, and an app that lets you Google things in mid-air.

This episode is sponsored by Kialo Edu and National Geographic Education.

160: Fire Up Your Students with a Campaign Unit Dec 06, 2020

Whether it's real or fictional, putting students to work on a campaign for a cause is a powerful way to get them writing persuasively. In this episode, U.K.-based teacher Jane Currell walks us through the process.

Follow Jane Currell on Twitter at @JaneCurrell and read more of her work at passion4pedadogy.com.

This episode is sponsored by Listenwise and National Geographic Education.

Learn more about my mini-course, 4 Laws of Learning and How to Obey Them, at cultofpedagogy.com/laws.

159: Connecting Students in a Disconnected World Nov 23, 2020

Breakout rooms, collaborative projects, games—whatever we do, it's crucial that we do something to get our students talking to each other. In this episode, I'm giving you a huge list of ideas teachers have shared with me for getting students to interact better, both in-person and remotely.

This episode is sponsored by Listenwise and National Geographic Education.

Check out my new mini-course, Four Laws of Learning, and use the code LISTENER at checkout to take $5 off course tuition.

158: How to Create a Self-Paced Classroom Nov 08, 2020

In a self-paced classroom, each student is met where they are, is given an appropriate level of challenge, and grows at a steady pace throughout the school year. In this episode, Kareem Farah of the Modern Classrooms Project teaches us how to get started.

Learn about Modern Classrooms' free course on creating a self-paced classroom at cultofpedagogy.com/modern *

*affiliate link

157: What's Possible with Green Screens in the Classroom Oct 25, 2020

Green screen technology allows students to create videos where they travel just about anywhere, virtually. This simple, affordable method offers so many possibilities for deep learning and creativity across all grade levels and subject areas, even in remote learning situations. I was never all that enthusiastic about green screens, but now I'm a believer! In this episode, I talk with teacher educator Justine Bruyère about the why and the how of doing green screen projects with your students.

156: Subversion: An Essential Tool of the Master Teacher Oct 12, 2020

Sometimes, to do right by their students, good teachers have to break the rules. In this episode, I talk with Melinda Anderson, author of Becoming a Teacher, about the times when doing the right thing means bucking the system.

Get the book, Becoming a Teacher (Amazon Affiliate link)

Follow Melinda Anderson on Twitter: @mdawriter

155: How to Teach When Everyone's Scattered Sep 30, 2020

Some of your students are in school. Others are at home. Some days they might switch. Your students are all over the place, and you're supposed to be teaching them all. Welcome to 2020, baby. In this episode, I'll share six principles for making this situation work as best as you can, curated from teachers who are also figuring it out.

154: Hexagonal Thinking: A Colorful Tool for Discussion Sep 12, 2020

If you've been looking for a fresh approach for getting students to think outside the box and collaborate with each other, this may be just what you need. Hexagonal Thinking is a simple discussion strategy that can be used in lots of different subjects, in most grade levels, and it can be done in person or online. In this episode, Betsy Potash teaches us how to do it.

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Find more from Betsy Potash at Spark Creativity.

Get your free hexagonal thinking digital toolkit here.

153: Four Laws of Learning Sep 01, 2020

Teaching is complex. It's dynamic. Every day we learn about new tools, strategies, and programs, and it's easy to lose our way. When you start to feel like you're in a teaching tailspin, these four research-based laws of learning will put you back on track.

Want to learn more? Check out my new mini-course, Four Laws of Learning, which goes more in-depth on these laws and includes supplementary materials to help you really dig in and apply these laws in your own teaching. Use the code LISTENER at checkout to take $5 off your tuition!

152: Creating Moments of Genuine Connection Online Aug 17, 2020

One of the most important things we need to accomplish as we move forward into the school year is building relationships with our students. But if you're teaching online, that task will be more challenging than ever. In this episode I talk with Dave Stuart Jr. about his strategy of creating Moments of Genuine Connection and how we can do that while teaching remotely.

Get Dave's free mini-course: 10 Tips for Staying Motivated When Teaching in Times of Uncertainty

See all of Dave's online courses** at cultofpedagogy.com/dave

**I am an affiliate for Dave Stuart Jr.'s online courses. This means I receive a commission for any purchases made through my links.

151: Historically Responsive Literacy: An Equity-Centered Approach to Curriculum Aug 02, 2020

Despite many attempts at improvement, school is still not working for many of our students, especially students of color. My guest, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, believes the answer could be in rethinking our curriculum. In this episode we discuss her Historically Responsive Literacy framework, which is based on the work of 19th century Black Literary Societies and focuses equally on four areas: identity, skills, intellect, and criticality.

Learn more about the framework in Gholdy's book, Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy (affiliate link)

Find Gholdy Muhammad on Twitter at @GholdyM

150: A Few Creative Ways to Use Student Blogs Jul 19, 2020

Since blogs first showed up on the internet, they have really evolved as a genre, and they're a smart choice for a robust, long-term assignment. In this episode I'll share six different kinds of blogs students can write, along with advice on assessment, technology, and ways students can take their blogs beyond school.

149: Nine Ways Online Teaching Should Be Different from Face-to-Face Jul 05, 2020

Chances are you're going to be doing at least some online teaching in the upcoming school year. What shifts do we need to make in our face-to-face teaching practices to make the most of online learning? In this episode I talk to instructional technology coach Melanie Kitchen about nine ways online teaching should be different from in-person teaching, plus a few ways it should be exactly the same.

Find Melanie on Twitter at @MelKitchenEDU or on her website, creativecuriosity.org.

To get a weekly email about Cult of Pedagogy's latest posts, podcasts, courses, and products, sign up at cultofpedagogy.com/subscribe.

148: Backward Design: The Basics Jun 22, 2020

Are we planning with clear, measurable, meaningful learning goals to guide us, or are we just keeping students busy? Backward design helps us make sure we're doing the first thing. In this episode, I'm giving you an overview of how this approach to lesson planning works.

147: Why White Students Need Multicultural and Social Justice Education Jun 07, 2020

Some educators wonder if multicultural and social justice education are relevant if most of your students are white. The answer is yes. In fact, they may be even more relevant for white students. In this episode, Dr. Sheldon Eakins talks with me about the reasons white students need this kind of education and what, specifically, we can teach them.

Follow Dr. Eakins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheldoneakins

Find Dr. Eakins' podcast, the Leading Equity Podcast, here: https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/podcast

More resources available at the Leading Equity Center.

146: Reopening School: What it Might Look Like May 24, 2020

Some thoughts on what post-COVID instruction might look like when schools reopen. (Spoiler alert: None are as good as face-to-face, a few aren't too bad.) Plus my attempt at a pep talk.

145: Flash Feedback: More Meaningful Feedback in Less Time May 10, 2020

We all want to give more high-quality feedback to students, but there's never enough time. In this episode I talk to Matthew Johnson, author of the book Flash Feedback, about three strategies he uses to get high-impact feedback to students much, much faster.

144: Making Great Screencast Videos Apr 26, 2020

If you are moving some of your direct instruction to video, whether it's by necessity or by choice, knowing how to create a good screencast is essential. In this episode, blended learning mentor Kareem Farah gives us advice on how to make screencasts that students will actually watch.

143: To Teach Social-Emotional Learning, Start with Yourself Apr 12, 2020

While most teachers recognize the value of social-emotional learning, many struggle to fit it into their curriculum. But one of the most powerful ways to teach SEL is through modeling the competencies ourselves every day, which doesn't require any extra time or materials. In this episode, second-grade teacher Wendy Turner shares her process for modeling her own social-emotional growth and weaving that seamlessly into regular instruction.

142: Distance Learning: A Collection of Resources for Teachers Mar 30, 2020

A general overview of the nuts and bolts of distance learning, including general tips, advice on tech, and troubleshooting some common problems.

141: Getting Rid of "I Don't Know" in Your Classroom Mar 15, 2020

How often do you hear "I don't know" in your classroom? For some students, this phrase becomes a crutch that stops them from learning. In this episode, I talk with author Connie Hamilton about how we can teach students to use more specific phrases that will keep them engaged instead of taking a pass.

140: Nine Ways to be More Inclusive of Diverse Students Mar 01, 2020

Although well-intended, some of our efforts to include students from diverse backgrounds can make them feel anything but welcome. In this episode, my guest Hedreich Nichols shares nine tips that will help you improve your practice and avoid some of the faux pas that come with teaching students who look, think, or opine differently than you.

139: How to Create a Project Based Learning Lesson Feb 17, 2020

If you've been wanting to try Project Based Learning but have been unsure about exactly how to do it, this is the episode for you. PBL expert Jenny Pieratt takes us step-by-step through the planning of an 8-week PBL unit.

138: Making Cooperative Learning Work Better Feb 04, 2020

If cooperative learning hasn't really worked for you in the past, don't lose hope. In this episode we'll explore tons of solutions to four of the most common problems with cooperative learning.

137: How Afterschool Staff Can Take Your Class to the Next Level Jan 19, 2020

How connected are you to the afterschool staff in your school? If you're like a lot of teachers, it's probably not much. In this episode I talk with educator Eva Jo Meyers about her work in afterschool programs, and she shares seven ways school-day teachers can build more powerful partnerships with afterschool teachers.

136: Six Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2020 Jan 07, 2020

It's a new year and it's a great time to try out a few new tech tools. Here's my annual round-up of apps and sites I think are worth a look, plus two more extra just for the heck of it. The 2020 Teacher's Guide to Tech is now available at https://teachersguidetotech.com/guide/

135: The Time I Made a Fart Sound During a Test Nov 24, 2019

Just a little story for you; the title says it all.

134: Repairing Harm: A Better Alternative to Punishment Nov 10, 2019

Detentions and suspensions don't really change behavior. What's much more effective is having students work to repair the harm done by their actions. In this episode, I talk with Brad Weinstein and Nathan Maynard, authors of Hacking School Discipline, about this restorative justice practice that is a powerful alternative to traditional punishment.

133: How One Makerspace is Meeting Students' Social-Emotional Needs Oct 27, 2019

Our students need more social-emotional support than ever before, and schools are coming up with creative ways to meet that need. In this episode, I interview Dan Ryder, whose high school makerspace serves as a stigma-free space for students to solve problems they have inside or outside the classroom.

132: How to Spot Dyslexia, and What to Do Next Oct 13, 2019

Students with special needs are spending more and more time in mainstream classrooms, so all teachers need to learn how to support them well. In this episode, special educator Lisa Brooks helps us learn to identify students who may have dyslexia. She then shares ways we can do a better job of supporting students with this learning difference that's far more common than you might think.

131: How World Language Teaching Has Evolved Sep 29, 2019

French class doesn't look the same as it did when you were in school. In this episode, veteran French teacher Rebecca Blouwolff walks me through six key shifts that have changed world language instruction for the better.

130: Tips for Starting a Podcast Sep 15, 2019

Producing your own podcast is easier than you might think. In this episode, I share the tools and processes I use to produce my own podcast, plus some general advice to help you get started.

129: Let's Make Better Slideshows Sep 03, 2019

A lot of you are out there giving lectures, presentations, and workshops, and your slideshows need work. These seven tips will help.

128: When You Get Nothing But Crickets Aug 19, 2019

You ask your group a question, and you get nothing back. What's up with that? In this episode, we'll talk about some of the reasons your students (or audience members) aren't participating the way you want them to, and some new things you can try to get a better response.

127: A Few Ideas for Dealing with Late Work Aug 04, 2019

The problem of late work never seems to go away. In this episode, I share eight smart solutions teachers use to manage it with their students.

126: Student-Created Graphic Novels Jul 21, 2019

Graphic novels are wonderful for reading, but when students use the graphic novel form for their own writing, incredible stories can emerge. In this episode, I talk with English teacher Shveta Miller about how she teaches this process to her students, and why this particular genre allows students to share some of their most important stories.

125: Think Twice Before Doing Another Historical Simulation Jul 07, 2019

Historical simulations can be a powerful teaching tool that fully immerses students in an experience, but when it comes to traumatic or violent periods, like slavery, there really isn't a good way to do them. My guest Hasan Kwame Jeffries talks with me about why teachers should avoid these kinds of simulations, and what to do instead.

124: A Closer Look at Open Educational Resources Jun 23, 2019

OERs have gotten really good over the last few years, but in order to steer clear of the crap, you have to know where to look. In this episode, I interview curriculum evangelist Karen Vaites about where teachers can go to find outstanding materials—from single-use resources to full-year curricula—that are 100% free.

123: Four Research-Based Strategies All Teachers Should Be Using Jun 09, 2019

Cognitive scientists are learning more all the time about what strategies really work to help people learn, but teachers don't always know how to apply that knowledge in the classroom. In this episode, I talk with Pooja Agarwal and Patrice Bain, authors of the new book Powerful Teaching, about the four research-based teaching "power tools" that can be used in any classroom to boost student learning.

122: A Simple Trick for Success with One-Pagers May 26, 2019

A one-pager is a highly engaging, visual tool that allows students to synthesize learning, but some kids don't think they're creative enough to make them. My guest, Betsy Potash, host of the Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast, shares her simple solution to this problem, along with a step-by-step plan for using one-pagers in your classroom.

121: Is that Higher-Order Task Really Higher Order? May 12, 2019

Ask any group of teachers if their goal is to simply have students regurgitate facts, and every one of them will say no. Despite that, it keeps happening. In this episode, we'll look at two of the most common errors teachers make when planning lessons for higher-order thinking, and some ideas for what to do instead.

120: How One District Learned to Talk About Race Apr 28, 2019

When you've done lots of diversity training, but something is still missing, it might be that people still aren't comfortable having honest conversations about race. In this episode, I talk with Glenn Singleton, creator of the Courageous Conversations About Race online course, and David Watkins, Director of Equity and Diversity for Broward County, Florida, where the course has already helped over 300 teachers get more comfortable having these conversations.

119: "We're a Family" and Other School Norms that Can Cause Burnout Apr 14, 2019

Is it a reflection of a warm school culture, or a subtle way to get teachers to volunteer more time? If you suspect it's the latter, it's time to push back. In this episode, I talk with Angela Watson, author of the new book Fewer Things Better, about three popular school norms that can ultimately lead to teacher burnout, plus some specific ways teachers can push back on those messages.

118: To Boost Learning, Just Add Movement Mar 31, 2019

Physical movement makes learning stick better. In this episode, we'll explore six different ways to add more movement to your classroom.

117: Five Ways to Improve Your Rubrics Mar 17, 2019

If you use rubrics, this episode is for you. I talk with administrator Mark Wise about five guidelines that can help make your rubrics more effective.

116: Mastery Learning with Khan Academy Mar 03, 2019

In this episode, I talk with Khan Academy's founder, Sal Khan, about the platform's new mastery learning feature, which allows learners to get personalized practice, filling much needed skill gaps and advancing at their own pace. And it's all completely free.

115: Time to Take a Look at Your Dress Code Feb 17, 2019

Many dress codes unfairly target students in certain populations, doing more harm than good. Is your dress code due for an upgrade? In this episode, equity writer Coshandra Dillard helps us learn what to look for when revising dress code policy, and high school principal Marcus Campbell shares his experiences in changing his own school's dress code.

114: Let's Give Our Teaching Language a Makeover Feb 03, 2019

To master this craft, we need to choose our words carefully. This mini-makeover shows how revising our language in four common classroom scenarios can send a completely different message.

113: Global School Play Day: One Day. Nothing But Play. Jan 20, 2019

Could your school stop its normal routine for a full day and devote it entirely to unstructured play? That's what thousands of schools all over the world do every February for the Global School Play Day. In this episode I talk to GSPD founders Eric Saibel, Tim Bedley, and Scott Bedley about why play is so important for people of all ages.

112: Six Tech Tools to Try in 2019 Jan 06, 2019

This year's collection includes a discussion monitor, a tool that analyzes writing, a virtual reality tour maker, and my favorite new game.

111: Teaching Note-Taking with Stations Dec 16, 2018

Quality note-taking is a powerful learning tool, but to do it well, students need to be taught how to do it. In this episode, I talk with instructional coach Peg Grafwallner and chemistry teacher Abby Felten about a fantastic station-rotation lesson they developed to help Abby's students learn to take better notes.

110: Ten Ways Educators Can Take Action in Pursuit of Equity Dec 02, 2018

Awareness of educational inequity is important, but we also need to take action. In this episode, professor and activist Pedro Noguera shares ten specific things educators can do to pursue equity in schools.

109: Get Students Talking with Ongoing Conversations Nov 18, 2018

High school English teacher Jeff Frieden shares his Ongoing Conversations strategy, a simple, effective way to get students to have rich, one-on-one conversations about what they're learning—and get to know each other a little better in the process.

108: To Learn, Students Need to DO Something Nov 04, 2018

In too many classrooms, we're expecting students to learn material without asking them to do much of anything with it. Why is this a problem? Where did it come from? And what can we do to fix it?

107: The Best Ways to Use Leveled Texts Oct 21, 2018

There's a lot of confusion about how to use leveled texts in the classroom. In this episode, I interview literacy expert Jen Serravallo about the mistakes teachers and administrators make with leveled texts and which practices Serravallo has found to be most effective.

107: The Best Ways to Use Leveled Texts Oct 21, 2018

There's a lot of confusion about how to use leveled texts in the classroom. In this episode, I interview literacy expert Jen Serravallo about the mistakes teachers and administrators make with leveled texts and which practices Serravallo has found to be most effective.

107: The Best Ways to Use Leveled Texts Oct 21, 2018

There's a lot of confusion about how to use leveled texts in the classroom. In this episode, I interview literacy expert Jen Serravallo about the mistakes teachers and administrators make with leveled texts and which practices Serravallo has found to be most effective.

106: The Danger of Teacher Nostalgia Oct 07, 2018

When we blame our teaching problems on the collective inferiority of a generation, we only make things worse. In this episode, we explore the problem of teacher nostalgia, why we give into it, and how we can stop it.

105: Voice of Witness: Bring the Power of Oral History to Your Classroom Sep 23, 2018

Voice of Witness is an organization that curates oral histories, stories told by people whose voices are rarely heard: Migrant workers. Refugees. Prisoners. Factory workers in developing countries. Undocumented Americans. Their stories, in their voices. In this episode, I talk with Voice of Witness education program director Cliff Mayotte about the books and free classroom materials that can help you bring the power of oral history to your classroom

104: What the Research Says About Note-Taking Sep 09, 2018

In classrooms all over the world, students take notes every day. What does academic research tell us about the best ways to use note-taking in our classrooms? In this episode, I'll share 8 important take-aways.

103: Deeper Class Discussions with the TQE Method Aug 26, 2018

Want your students to have rich, complex discussions about the texts they read? In this episode, high school English teacher Marisa Thompson shares a method she calls TQE, which requires almost no prep or grading and leads to the kinds of classroom discussions you thought only happened in college.

102: A Look Inside a Teacher Fellowship Program Aug 12, 2018

Imagine a professional development scenario where you are given funding, choice, and time to collaborate with others in your specialty area who energize and inspire you. That's the basic gist of a teacher fellowship program, and in today's episode, we're looking at how one of these programs work. My guests are Megan Roberts and Ashraya Gupta from Math for America, a fellowship program for exceptional teachers of math and science.

101: A Step-by-Step Plan for Teaching Narrative Writing Jul 29, 2018

The ability to tell a good story is one of the things that makes human beings extraordinary. Here's the process I used to teach my own students how to do it.

100: Lessons in Personhood Jul 22, 2018

To mark the milestone of 100 episodes, I'm sharing one of my favorite posts, Lessons in Personhood: 10 Ways to Truly Lead in Your Classroom. Thank you to everyone who has appeared as a guest on this podcast, and to everyone who has listened, reviewed, and recommended it. I have lots more to come!

99: Quality-Check Your Tech: 6 Strategies Jul 15, 2018

Is your tech tool doing the work you think it is? Or could it actually be widening the same gaps you're trying to close? In this episode we explore the problems that can arise when a tool isn't carefully scrutinized, then look at seven strategies educators can use to deeply assess a tool for its impact. My guest is Rupa Chandra Gupta, who is the founder of the ed tech company Sown to Grow.

98: Improving the Way We Teach About Slavery Jun 17, 2018

American Slavery is a difficult topic to teach, and for decades, we haven't been doing a very good job of teaching it. In this episode, I interview history professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries about the Teaching Hard History framework, a free set of resources aimed at giving our students a more comprehensive look at how slavery started, its fundamental role in our country's history, and how it continues to impact our society today.

97: The Principal's Pet: A Cautionary Tale Jun 03, 2018

No one likes it when an administrator plays favorites. But what if the favorite is you? In this episode, I share a story about one of the most difficult periods of my teaching years, and some advice to help teachers and administrators avoid a similar situation.

96: What's the Point of a Makerspace? May 20, 2018

If you're like me, you've been a little slow to warm up to the idea of makerspaces in the classroom. In this episode, John Spencer helps me understand what a makerspace is, how it can add value to any classroom, and what steps teachers can take to start and manage a makerspace of their own.

95: Twelve Ways Teachers Can Build Their Emotional Resilience May 06, 2018

To do this work and stick with it long enough to get good at it, you need a level of emotional resilience most other jobs will never require. In this episode, my guest Elena Aguilar shares 12 habits teachers can develop that will build the resilience they need.

94: How accurate are your grades? Apr 22, 2018

Grades impact everything from college admissions to whether students get to go on certain field trips. With so much at stake, how can we make sure our grades measure what matters?

93: Eight Things I Know for Sure About Middle School Kids Apr 08, 2018

Middle school students are a special breed, and I was lucky to teach them for years. In this episode, I'll share my own advice about what makes them tick, and how to work with those qualities, not against them.

92: Frickin' Packets Mar 27, 2018

Are your worksheets contributing to meaningful learning, or just keeping students busy?

91: Twelve Ways to Upgrade Your Classroom Design Mar 18, 2018

Money and space are nice, but they are NOT prerequisites for learning-friendly design. In this interview with learning space expert Bob Dillon, we explore tons of simple things teachers can do to make their classrooms better places for students to learn.

90: OMG Becky. PD is Getting SO MUCH BETTER. Mar 04, 2018

The sit-and-get, one-size-fits-all model is disappearing. Taking its place are these 9 alternative models for teacher professional development.

90: OMG Becky. PD has gotten SO MUCH BETTER. Mar 04, 2018

The sit-and-get, one-size-fits-all model is disappearing. Taking its place are these 9 alternative models for teacher professional development.

89: Restorative Justice in School: An Overview Feb 18, 2018

With its focus on building relationships and repairing harm, rather than simply punishing students for misbehavior, restorative justice is being adopted by more schools every year. In this episode, RJ practitioner Victor Small, Jr., helps me understand the basics of restorative practices and how interested schools can get started.

88: Are you a curator or a dumper? Feb 04, 2018

You have so much good stuff to share, but to get anyone to actually look at it, you need to give it some polish. In this episode, we look at why the brain prefers good curation, some school-related situations when good curation skills would come in handy, a set of curation guidelines to follow, and a short list of tech tools that can help you curate digitally.

87: Moving from Feedback to Feedforward Jan 21, 2018

Traditional feedback looks back on a past that can't be changed, and that's one reason it isn't always well-received. But when we shift to a practice called feedforward, where our focus is on the future, we can have a much more powerful and positive impact on our students, peers, and other people in our lives. In this episode, I interview Joe Hirsch, author of The Feedback Fix, about how the feedforward approach works.

86: Six Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2018 Jan 07, 2018

One of them is super trendy. One takes you into the past. Three can be used in a dozen different ways. And one you're going to want to try right away. Come listen.

85: The Magic of Validation Dec 18, 2017

In schools, where our work demands constant interaction with other people, conflicts are always waiting to happen. By practicing validation with our students, their parents, our co-workers and administrators, you'll find that some of your most difficult conversations get a whole lot easier. In this episode, I'll share three simple steps to practice validation in any conversations.

84: How to Stop Killing the Love of Reading w/Pernille Ripp Dec 03, 2017

In an effort to boost test scores and close gaps, too many schools are using more reading "activities and programs" and cutting back on time for actual reading. In this episode, teacher and author Pernille Ripp tells me about how she completely changed her approach to reading instruction to help students become life-long readers, and how other teachers can do the same.

83: What is an Innovation Class? Nov 19, 2017

Most of us recognize that schools need to change to meet the demands of the information age, but we don't have many models to follow for making that change happen. In this episode, I interview Don Wettrick, who launched an innovation elective in his high school six years ago. He tells me how the program works, why all schools need an innovation class, and how you can start one in your school.

82: Making School a Safe Place for LGBTQ Students Nov 05, 2017

Discrimination and harassment are still a daily reality for many LGBTQ students. In this episode, I share 9 specific things teachers can do to help these students feel safer and more accepted in the classroom and within the wider school culture.

81: The Great and Powerful Graphic Organizer Oct 22, 2017

Graphic organizers can pack a strong instructional punch if you know how to use them. In this episode I review the research on why graphic organizers work so well, list 10 creative classroom uses for them, and offer a few tips so you can implement them effectively.

80: When Students Won't Stop Talking Oct 08, 2017

One thing they don't teach in our education courses is just how freaking much students talk, and how hard it can be to quiet them down. To tackle this problem I went to Michael Linsin, the creator of Smart Classroom Management. In this episode, we look at the reasons students talk when they shouldn't and what you can do about it.

79: Retrieval Practice: The Most Powerful Learning Strategy You're Not Using Sep 24, 2017

The research is clear: Retrieval practice is one of the most powerful ways to learn. In this episode, I talk to Pooja Agarwal about what retrieval practice is and how teachers can start incorporating it into their teaching tomorrow.

78: Four Misconceptions About Culturally Responsive Teaching Sep 10, 2017

Some teachers think they're practicing culturally responsive teaching, when in fact, they're kind of not. In this episode, I interview Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, to identify and correct four common misconceptions teachers have about how to best help our diverse students thrive in school.

77: What Teachers Want Administrators to Know Sep 05, 2017

After years of hearing teachers' stories, I have reached the conclusion that there is one element that makes the difference in whether the teachers in any given school will lean toward positive and productive or desperate and crushed: That element is the administrator. In this letter, I share the things teachers wish administrators would do to help them become the best teachers they can be.

76: When Your School is Short on Tech Aug 27, 2017

From work-arounds to fundraising to Wi-Fi on the bus, this episode explores 11 creative ways schools are addressing the digital divide.

75: Making the Most of a 90-Minute Block Class Aug 13, 2017

Whether you're brand-new to block scheduling or you've been doing it for years, this episode will have you handling those 90 minutes like a boss.

74: How to Deal with Student Grammar Errors Jul 30, 2017

Teaching grammar in isolation is not only ineffective, it can actually make student writing worse. So when students make mistakes, what should teachers do? In this episode, I outline a simple system for teaching grammar within the context of meaningful writing.

73: How One Teacher Started an Urban Gardening Revolution Jul 16, 2017

You thought you knew project-based learning? You haven't seen anything yet. In this episode, I interview Stephen Ritz, a Bronx teacher who has spent the last decade developing an incredible school-based gardening project called the Green Bronx Machine, which feeds the local community, builds student knowledge in multiple content areas, and creates strong cooperative bonds with local businesses and other stakeholders. Every teacher who has ever thought they didn't have the resources to give their students an outstanding education needs to listen to this.

72: What is an educator mastermind, and why should you join one? Jul 02, 2017

Educators, especially those in leadership roles, spend far too much time in isolation. An educator mastermind gives us a group of peers to help us problem-solve, set goals, and support each other in the incredibly challenging work we do. In this episode, I interview Daniel Bauer of the Better Leaders, Better Schools podcast about the educator masterminds he facilitates, and how you can start your own.

71: Why It's So Hard for Teachers to Take Care of Themselves Jun 19, 2017

Why is it that so many teachers have a hard time taking good care of themselves? In this episode, I interview teacher productivity expert Angela Watson about the reasons we struggle to make time for self-care and four specific things we can do to change that.

70: How HyperDocs Can Transform Your Teaching Jun 11, 2017

By using HyperDocs, digital lesson plans that pull together all of a lesson's resources into one place, teachers can make room for more interactive, personalized, and student-directed learning. In this episode, I interview Lisa Highfill, Kelly Hilton, and Sarah Landis, authors of The HyperDoc Handbook.

69: Three Surprising Reasons Students Don't Get into Top Colleges May 21, 2017

For many students, getting into a highly competitive college drives most decisions about where to spend their time and energy. But what if some of these decisions actually hurt their chances of getting in? My guest Shirag Shemmassian, who helps students get admitted to highly selective colleges, shares the three mistakes students make when trying to make themselves stand out in the application process, and what they should be doing instead.

68: Twelve Ways to Support English Learners in the Mainstream Classroom May 07, 2017

So many teachers have English language learners in class, but the teachers have no training in how to support them. In this episode, I gather tips from three ESL teachers for the most effective ways regular classroom teachers can support these students.

67: What to Do on Lame Duck School Days Apr 23, 2017

The last day before vacation. After-testing days. The day when the fire drill messes up your plans. What do you do when class is in session, but actual teaching may not be in the cards? I have thirty fantastic ideas.

66: Why Curation Should be Your Next Class Project Apr 15, 2017

A digital curation project is a fast way to engage critical thinking in any content area. In this episode, I explain how it works. For links to all the resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://cultofpedagogy.com/curation

65: Five Ways College Teachers Can Improve Their Instruction Mar 26, 2017

Most people who teach at the college level do so without any formal training. In this episode, Norman Eng, author of Teaching College: The Ultimate Guide to Lecturing, Presenting, and Engaging Students, shares five strategies college teachers can use to be more successful in the classroom.

To read the full blog post, go to https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/teaching-college

64: Four Ways Teachers Can Support Students of Color Mar 12, 2017

In far too many cases, schools do not support students of color in ways that help them grow to their full potential. My guest, Dena Simmons, shares four specific things teachers could be doing in their classrooms to change this.

63: Teaching Students to Avoid Plagiarism Feb 26, 2017

Plagiarism is a serious problem for many teachers, and to beat it, we need to go beyond looking for new ways to threaten, catch, and punish students for it. We have to work on prevention. The 5 research-based exercises I describe in this episode will teach students how to avoid plagiarism and weave information from outside sources into their own writing in elegant and ethical ways.

62: 21st Century Learning at the Apollo School Feb 12, 2017

Many of us like the idea of personalized learning, but we don't have many models for making it happen. In this episode, I interview the founders of the Apollo School, a project-based, personalized program built inside a public school that offers a hybrid of English, social studies, and art in one block of time. You'll definitely want to see how they make it work and possibly do the same thing at your school. Thanks to Wes Ward, Greg Wimmer, and Jim Grandi for sharing their experiences with me!

61: Seven Systems that Work for Outside-the-Box Learners Jan 29, 2017

Most teachers struggle with what they might call lazy, unmotivated, or disorganized students. What really works with these learners? In this episode, I interview executive function coach Seth Perler about the systems he uses to help these kids finally reach their potential in school.

To read the full blog post that goes with this episode, including links to all resources mentioned, visit 7 Systems that Work for Outside-the-Box Learners.

60: Six Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2017 Jan 22, 2017

Here they are: My six favorite ed tech tools for this year. They are not all brand-new, but I don't think any of them are getting the attention they deserve. Each one has the potential to make a real difference in your teaching. And there may just be one or two surprises at the end...

59: Runaway Youth: How Teachers Can Help Jan 01, 2017

How significant is the runaway problem in the U.S.? What resources are out there to prevent running away and help those who do it? I interview Maureen Blaha, Executive Director of the National Runaway Safeline, to learn about how teachers can help.

58: Six Powerful Learning Strategies You MUST Share with Students Dec 11, 2016

Can studying be taught? I interview cognitive psychologists Megan Smith and Yana Weinstein about six high-power, research-based learning strategies most teachers don't know about. These can be used in instruction and should be taught to students so they can use them in their own studying. If you enjoyed reading "Make It Stick" last summer, you're going to love what you learn in this episode!

57: Nine Simple Solutions for Common Teaching Problems Nov 27, 2016

This episode is a goody bag for everyone! My buddy Mark Barnes, publisher of the Hack Learning series, shares some of the best ideas from all nine of the books in his series. If you don't walk away from this episode with something new to try, then I'll refund you the price of the podcast. Just kidding. It's free. But you get what I'm saying, right?

56: Creating a Welcoming Classroom for Special Ed Students Nov 20, 2016

So many regular ed teachers feel inadequately prepared to serve the needs of students with special needs. In this episode, special educator Jam Gamble shares five ways regular ed teachers can make their classrooms more welcoming for special ed students.

55: Your Top 10 Genius Hour Questions Answered Nov 06, 2016

Genius Hour has exploded in classrooms over the last few years, and teachers who want to try it have a lot of questions. In this episode I ask A.J. Juliani, creator of the Genius Hour Master Course, the top 10 questions teachers have about Genius Hour, and he gives me some great answers.

54: Is Your Lesson a Grecian Urn? Oct 30, 2016

I've got a bit of a rant to share with you in this episode, and it has something to do with Grecian Urns. Chances are you have one or more of these in your lesson plans, and in this episode I'm going to help you find them and get rid of them.

53: How to Approach Your Teaching Like a Master Chef Oct 16, 2016

If we want to make our content really relevant to students, we need to design our instruction the way a chef orchestrates a good meal. Rather than giving in to the educational equivalent of processed food, we could be putting more thought into preparing our lessons, from the appetizer all the way to dessert. In this episode, I interview John Stevens and Matt Vaudrey, authors of the book The Classroom Chef. They talk about how they evolved from teaching uninspired, by-the-book lessons to preparing learning experiences that truly engage students. If you're starting to feel like you're phoning in your lessons, you won't want to miss this one.

52: Is Your Classroom Academically Safe? Oct 02, 2016

So much of learning depends on whether your students feel comfortable taking risks. In this episode, I share some suggestions for making your classroom an academic safe space.

51: CommonLit's Online Library of Free Texts Sep 18, 2016

If you're always looking for short, high-quality informational and literary texts to use in your classroom, you are going to love the free online library at CommonLit. In this episode, I interview CommonLit founder Michelle Brown to talk about why she started the platform and walk through all of the wonderful features that help teachers get the most out of this growing library of texts.

50: Using Playlists to Differentiate Instruction Sep 04, 2016

If you're trying to figure out an easy way to manage differentiated instruction, this episode will be a big help. Teacher Tracy Enos explains how she uses student playlists--customized, digital lists of assignments she assigns to students based on their individual needs. A playlist might contain links to videos, online articles, or interactive lessons that live somewhere online. It could also include reading assignments from actual physical books or even written exercises that come from a station or center in the classroom. Playlists could be used for any grade level and any subject area.This is definitely a system worth considering for any classroom!

49: How Dialogue Journals Build Teacher-Student Relationships Aug 21, 2016

Dialogue journals are a simple but powerful tool for building trust with your students and sustaining that relationship all year long. In this episode I talk with teacher Liz Galarza about how she uses these journals in her classroom and the research she's doing about how they shift the power dynamic in the classroom.

48: Implementing a Classroom Management Plan that Works Aug 07, 2016

An interview with Michael Linsin, creator of the Smart Classroom Management website. Michael shares his insights about how to design and implement an effective classroom behavior plan.

47: Black Girls and School: We Can Do Better Jul 03, 2016

Are we meeting the needs of black girls in our schools? In this interview with author Monique Morris, we talk about her book Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, the 2016 selection for the Cult of Pedagogy Summer Book Study. Dr. Morris explains how far too many teachers lack the cultural competence to understand and meet the needs of black girls, the damaging long-term effects of this dynamic, and what we can do to change this.

46: The Gut-Level Teacher Reflection Jun 05, 2016

If you're trying to figure out exactly what you need to improve about your teaching, it helps to listen to your body. In this episode, I walk you through 5 questions about key areas of your teaching to help you uncover trouble spots, then create a plan of action to improve them.

45: Ten Ways to Sabotage Your Classroom Management May 26, 2016

If you’re finding that your classroom management seems to be a problem no matter what you do, there’s a good chance you might be doing something to get in your own way. Here are 10 mistakes teachers make that can undermine even the best classroom management system.

44: Bring Podcasts Into Your Classroom with Listen Current May 15, 2016

If you've ever thought about using podcasts as classroom texts, but didn't have time to find the right ones, you're going to be blown away by Listen Current, a website that curates the best podcasts of public radio and wraps each one with classroom-ready materials. In this episode, I talk to Listen Current founder and CEO Monica Brady-Myerov about what the site offers to teachers.

43: How to Make Better Use of Twitter May 01, 2016

For educators, Twitter is part of an essential 21st century toolkit, but so many people don't know how to use it well. In this episode, I share six ways to make better use of Twitter. I'll also tell you about a new online course I have created that shows you exactly how to do those six things, plus a whole lot more.

42: Kindergarten Redshirting Apr 24, 2016

Many parents opt to "redshirt" or delay their child's entrance into kindergarten. This practice is generally seen as beneficial to a child's success in school, but how does it impact their overall happiness later in life? In this episode, I interview Dr. Suzanne Jones, who studied the perceived life satisfaction of adolescent boys who were redshirted at kindergarten compared with those who could have been, but were not.

41: Student-Made E-Books Apr 11, 2016

When choosing end-of-unit or end-of-year assessments, we often fall back on essays, presentations, or tests. In this episode, I'll teach you how your students can easily create PDF e-books to demonstrate their learning, and 12 different ideas for the kinds of projects they can do with these.

40: How to Stop Yelling at Your Students Apr 03, 2016

Do you yell at your students (or your own children) more often than you want to? I'll share some techniques that can help you stop yelling, and the research on why you should.

39: How to Plan Outstanding Tech Training for Teachers Mar 20, 2016

What are the best practices in tech training for teachers? In this episode, I interview three technology integration specialists to hear what they've learned about the most effective methods for planning and delivering ed tech training in schools. Thanks to Sarah Thomas, Rodney Turner, and Craig Badura for sharing their experiences!

38: The Library that Increased Student Use by 1,000 Percent Mar 06, 2016

To adapt to changing student needs, some school libraries are reinventing themselves as makerspaces. But the principal of one Ohio middle school had something slightly different in mind. In this episode, I interview two educators who completely changed the function of their school library and saw its average daily student use grow from 10 to over 100.

37: How to Motivate Students: Five Questions for Teachers Feb 20, 2016

If we know what works to motivate students, why are so many students still unmotivated? These five questions will help you determine if your practice is really in line with research.

36: How I Teach Argumentative Writing Feb 08, 2016

Hundreds of thousands of teachers are required to teach students the art of argumentative or persuasive writing. As an experienced writing teacher, I want to share my own best practices in this area. In this episode, I'll take you step by step through my process for teaching argumentative essay writing.

35: Six Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2016 Jan 25, 2016

While working on the update of my book, The Teacher's Guide to Tech, I learned about a whole lot of tools that can make your teaching more efficient and effective. Here are six of my favorites.

34: Starting a Teaching Job in the Middle of the School Year Jan 09, 2016

So you got a new teaching job. Congratulations! The only catch is, you're starting in the middle of the year. This survival guide will help you figure out what to focus on right away so you can hit the ground running without falling down.

33: Five Powerful Ways to Save Time as a Teacher Dec 26, 2015

Teachers never seem to be able to find enough time to get their work done AND have a healthy, balanced life outside of school. And until now, I had very few solutions to this problem. But that was before I heard about Angela Watson's 40 Hour Teacher Workweek. In this episode, she shares 5 of her incredible time-saving strategies for teachers...and everyone else.

32: How and Why We Should Let Our Students Fail Dec 12, 2015

Is it better to rescue our kids every time they make mistakes, or let them experience the consequences of their actions? In this episode, I interview Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure: Why the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. We discuss how helicopter parenting can stunt a kid's growth, what parents should do instead, and the teacher's role supporting a student's autonomy.

31: The Power of Being a Dork Nov 25, 2015

Can being more dorky make you a better teacher? Can it make the world a better place? I say yes.

30: How One Teacher Manages a Self-Paced Class Nov 12, 2015

Is it possible to differentiate instruction so that students truly move at their own pace? My guest, middle school math teacher Natalie McCutchen, explains exactly how she does it--a process I believe teachers of any subject could adapt for their own classrooms.

29: Four Things I've Learned About Teaching from CrossFit Oct 29, 2015

What can CrossFit, a fitness movement that is quickly growing in popularity, teach us about learning and motivation? As a new and very low-level student of CrossFit, I'm noticing some principles we can take from their approach and apply to our own teaching to get students motivated and help them learn better.

28: Class Discussion Strategies Oct 15, 2015

Do you need some fresh ideas for class discussions? When it comes to helping students practice speaking listening skills, are you stuck? In this episode, I describe 15 class discussion strategies you can start using right away.

27: Interview with an Instructional Coach, Part 2 Oct 01, 2015

What is it like to be an instructional coach? To learn more about the challenges of instructional coaching, I asked two coaches to explain what they do, how they approach their work, and what they have learned about helping teachers improve. In this episode, I talk to Eric Sandberg, an instructional coach from Pennsylvania.

26: Interview with an Instructional Coach, Part 1 Oct 01, 2015

What is it like to be an instructional coach? To learn more about the challenges of instructional coaching, I asked two coaches to explain what they do, how they approach their work, and what they have learned about helping teachers improve. In this episode, I talk to Gretchen Schultek Bridgers, an instructional coach from North Carolina.

25: When a Student Hates You Sep 16, 2015

Despite our best intentions, sometimes teachers make decisions that alienate students beyond repair. In this episode, I share stories of mistakes I made that damaged my relationships with three different students, and what I learned from each one.

24: Five Teaching Practices I'm Kicking to the Curb Sep 03, 2015

Are any of these ineffective teaching methods still part of your practice? I have done them all, but now I know better. In this episode, I'll explain what the research says about these methods and what you should do instead.

23: How We Say Our Students' Names...and Why It Matters Aug 19, 2015

Every teacher has had students whose names are hard to pronounce. Some of us shrug this off, saying we're just no good with names, or we give our students nicknames instead. In this episode, I talk about the message we send to students when we continually say their names wrong, and I share some strategies and tools to help you get them right.

22: Three Hacks that Solve Big School Problems Aug 05, 2015

When we try to solve school problems with committee meetings, district-wide initiatives and new policies, change can be slow as molasses. But we are lucky enough to live in a new era, a time when teachers no longer have to wait for top-down solutions--you can hack so many problems yourself, using the resources that are already available to you. In this episode, I share three hacks that can solve big school problems, straight from my brand-new book, Hacking Education.

21: Make It Stick Author Peter Brown Jul 15, 2015

Are we taking the wrong approach to learning? The book "Make It Stick" presents new research that shows how some of our most common studying and teaching practices don't have any real research to support them. In this episode, I talk to one of the book's authors, Peter Brown, about some of the book's most important takeaways.

20: Dogfooding Jun 10, 2015

What is dogfooding, and why do teachers need it? In the Season 1 finale, we explore the essential practice of doing your own assignments -- to find and fix problems -- before giving them to students.

19: Goal-Setting for Teachers May 27, 2015

The list of ways a teacher can improve is a mile long. Since you can't do it all at once, here are eight paths you might take toward professional growth.

18: How Ordinary Teachers Become Activists May 09, 2015

A lot has changed in education over the last decade, and many teachers will tell you those changes have not been good for anyone, least of all students. But what can a teacher do about it? Is it possible for teachers to influence the policies that impact their work? Education activist and blogger Anthony Cody joins me for a discussion of the current problems in U.S. public education and how frustrated teachers can take action and make their voices heard.

17: Tools that Help Students Follow their Passions Apr 25, 2015

Not long ago, if you wanted to record and distribute music, publish a book, produce a film, sell your art, or reach an audience with your voice, you had to hope a large corporation would make that happen. But those days are over: A special group of technology tools now makes it possible for our students -- and us -- to pursue our talents and passions to the fullest extent possible, just like the pros. I call this collection the Passion Tools, and in this episode, I'm going to tell you all about them.

http://www.teachersguidetotech.com

16: Job Interview Advice for Teachers Apr 08, 2015

Are you preparing for a teaching job interview? In this episode, I talk to five experienced administrators about the things prospective teachers should and should NOT do in interviews. Many thanks to Chris Nordmann, Penny Sturtevant, Herbert O'Neil, George Couros, and Joe Collins for providing us with these great insights.

15: A Teacher's Coming Out Story Mar 25, 2015

After teaching elementary school for years without revealing that she was gay, Jessica Lifshitz finally decided it was time to come out at school when she got engaged. This is her story.

14: Seven Easy Ways to Support Student Writing in Any Content Area Mar 06, 2015

Helping students improve their writing skills is no longer solely reserved for English language arts teachers; educators in all content areas are expected to help students develop their abilities to write effectively. Fulfilling this goal isn't as hard as it might seem; these seven strategies (plus one bonus) are easy to implement, won't consume a lot of instructional time, and deliver big results.

13: Could You Teach Without Grades? Feb 20, 2015

This year, Starr Sackstein made a drastic change in her high school English and journalism classes: After years of feeling as if students cared more about their grades than they did about learning, she decided to stop giving grades altogether. In this interview, Starr talks to me about how she runs a no-grades classroom in a school that still requires traditional grading. She shares her strategies for helping students learn to self-reflect, describes how her teaching workload has changed, and talks about how throwing out grades has improved students' learning.

12: How Your Nonverbals Impact Your Teaching Feb 06, 2015

How important are nonverbals when it comes to your effectiveness as a teacher? In this episode, I talk with Teaching for Success CEO Jack Shrawder about the specific non-verbal behaviors that make teachers less effective and how you can adjust your voice, posture and other non-verbals to give yourself more presence and confidence in the classroom.

11: Avoiding the "Wait 'Till Your Father Gets Home" Trap Jan 25, 2015

For some teachers, it has become a habit to send the majority of discipline problems elsewhere: Either we write up an office referral, threaten to call parents, or even enlist a more intimidating colleague to deal with a problematic student. When we do this, we are giving our power away, limiting the respect our students have for us and missing an opportunity to model assertive, skillful problem solving. In this episode, I'll share some ideas for breaking this habit and reclaiming control of your classroom management.

10: In Praise of Think-Pair-Share Jan 12, 2015

Sometimes the simplest techniques are the most effective. Think-Pair-Share is a humble but powerful teaching strategy that's due for some attention. In this episode, I talk about the benefits of Think-Pair-Share, plus some tips for making it work better for you.

9: How to Connect with Your Students Dec 17, 2014

How important is the relationship you build with your students, and how can you make that relationship better? James Sturtevant, author of the book You've Gotta Connect, joins me to talk about why the teacher-student relationship is more significant to student learning than even socioeconomic status, the specific things teachers can do to build a strong, trusting relationship with students, and why sarcasm will always bite you in the butt. A must-listen for teachers interested in improving classroom management.

8: Talking about Race in the Classroom with José Vilson Dec 03, 2014

What are the most productive ways for teachers to talk to their students about the shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the incidents that have occured in its aftermath? In this episode, I talk to José Vilson, a teacher and writer whose work focuses on issues of race, culture, privilege, and education, about how teachers can approach this topic in their classrooms -- and the inner work they'll need to do beforehand.

7: Should You Give Timed Math Tests? Nov 26, 2014

When she gives her son timed math tests, a homeschooling mom notices his anxiety and wonders if she's taking the right approach. I pull together some research and some real teacher responses to answer her question.

6: Our First Call-In Advice Show! Oct 30, 2014

Welcome to our very first installment of "Ask the Cult," our call-in advice show for teachers and anyone else with questions about teaching, learning, and education. In this episode, we hear from a science teacher who wants advice on making his class more challenging for gifted and advanced students, a graduate student who needs help keeping her online bookmarks organized, and a teacher who doesn't know what to do about a co-worker who mistreats students right in front of her.

5: What is 20 Percent Time? A Conversation with A.J. Juliani Oct 16, 2014

Whether it's called 20 percent time or genius hour, more teachers are starting to carve out instructional time to allow students to pursue their own interests and passions. A.J. Juliani tells us how he did it, what problems he encountered, and what other teachers who want to try it should do.

4: What the Mother of an Autistic Child Wants Teachers to Know Jul 21, 2014

In the 10 years she's been raising a daughter with autism, Leigh has had good and bad experiences with teachers and schools. In this honest, funny, and moving interview, she talks about how she communicates with teachers, the steps she's taken to improve her daughter's social life, and the three things all teachers should know about giving students with autism a much richer school experience.

3: The Montessori Method Nov 29, 2013

What makes a Montessori school so different from a traditional public or private school? How is the Montessori philosophy -- which many only associate with the preschool years -- applied on the elementary level? How can all teachers use some of the Montessori approach in their own classrooms? We spend an hour with Benedicte Bossut, who started her own Montessori school for grades K-8.

2: Why One Teacher Left the Profession Sep 10, 2013

In Episode 2 we talk to Carrie, a former elementary school teacher who recently left teaching to pursue a different career. She talks about the events and experiences that finally led her to make this decision.

1: Best Practices for Teaching English Learners Aug 15, 2013

Kim, a passionate ESL teacher and our very first guest, talks candidly about the complexities of teaching English learners: the power imbalance that arises when the kids speak English but the parents don't, why ELL students won't look their teachers in the eye, and the well-intended mistake so many content area teachers make when working with a diverse population.

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