Teaching Today

Using one of our favorite protocols, we’ll look at the What, So What, and Now What of COVID-19 and its impact on education spaces around the world. Special guest: Veronica Thomas, Office of Digital Learning at Teachers College, Columbia University

Outreach, engagement, and age-appropriate ways to stay connected with students and families during a period of distance or at-home learning. Special guest: Lauren Ardizzone, ELA Teacher

Student-to-student discussions are an essential aspect of the learning process, but how are they possible during a time of remote or distance learning? Special guest: Dr. Marcelle Mentor, Teachers College, Columbia University

Culturally relevant curricula plays an essential role in capturing student interest and increasing engagement — especially during COVID-19, when the distance between students and teachers is greater than ever. Special guest: Dr. Marcelle Mentor, Teachers College, Columbia University

It can be easy to slip into simplifying your instruction during hard times, but students are more likely to maintain engagement when their tasks are intellectually engaging, highlight curiosity, and offer student choice. Special guest: Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley, Teachers College, Columbia University

Early childhood language acquisition, paired with foundational literacy instruction in elementary school, provides students with the skills they need to learn how to read and write. What happens when this learning is interrupted? How can we utilize early childhood literacy practices when teaching older students? And… Read more

Teachers confront students' emotional responses to reading on a daily basis, particularly as more complex texts are introduced. We're unpacking the idea of a "complex text", reflecting on why reading can elicit such emotional responses, and focusing on how teachers can support readers of all ages. Special guest: Dr.… Read more

We often see students begin to struggle with reading as expectations shift from learning to read, to reading to learn. Struggling with this shift can have implications on a student's ability to meet learning demands across all content areas, especially as they move into middle and high school. How can you recognize a… Read more

Accessing academic vocabulary can either be a student's greatest strength or their greatest struggle, and as they move into high school, command over content-specific vocabulary has a major impact on performance. What does academic vocabulary entail? Why is it difficult for students to expand their vocabulary? And is… Read more

For years, it’s been said that we need to have a serious discussion about race in this country, but that discussion is often put on hold until another tragic incident is discovered by the media. All the while, schools across the country are wrestling with generations of racial inequality. How do events like the… Read more

The New York City Department of Education recently integrated the philosophy of Advanced Literacy into their Instructional Leadership Framework (ILF), which focuses on teaching in linguistically diverse communities and instruction across content areas — all centered around four literacy hallmarks. How is this… Read more

Developing literacy skills is a challenge for students of all ages. But students with special needs, and those who are new to speaking English, experience obstacles in literacy that impact their ability to learn even more than their counterparts. What are the best ways to include English language learners (ELLs) and… Read more

Predicated on a belief in the power of play in the secondary classroom, Literacy Unbound seeks to unbind traditional approaches to the teaching of reading and writing, troubling the divide between critical and creative thinking, and demonstrating that intellectual rigor ultimately requires both. How can you use… Read more

Part professional development, part artist collaboration, and part non-for-profit publisher, the Student Press Initiative (SPI)'s mission is to revolutionize education by advancing teacher leadership in reading and writing instruction. Through publication, SPI raises the bar for what, how, and why students write. What… Read more

In the past, teaching and learning was centered around finding information and remembering it. But advances in technology have fundamentally changed our relationship to information, allowing us to have it at our fingertips, and we must consider how this shift impacts the focus of education. What skills do students… Read more

In his 2011 New Yorker article, "Personal Best", Atul Gawande said, “No matter how well trained people are, few can sustain their best performance on their own. That’s where coaching comes in.” In education, we’ve seen the role of professional coaching shift from presentations, to workshops, to one-on-one and small… Read more

Curriculum plays an important role in students becoming global citizens, critical thinkers, and caring advocates. Yet educators and policymakers continue to grapple with the concept of curriculum — identifying its components, determining the content to include, or evaluating a curriculum purchase. What considerations… Read more

Research increasingly shows that the academic performance of students of color often suffers due to differences between curriculum and culture. Culturally responsive and sustaining curriculum is a critical element in reversing this trend. How do we integrate culturally relevant material into traditional curriculum?… Read more

Meeting the needs of our students is the totality of our role as educators. To do so, we must know our students, know our curriculum, and know ourselves. What happens when we find that a curriculum isn't working for us? How can we maintain autonomy and creativity while using materials that are aligned to academic… Read more

Charlotte Danielson's Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching (commonly known as The Danielson Framework) has become the most widely used teacher evaluation tool in the United States. But is the framework being used in the way it was intended? We're joined by Charlotte Danielson as we unpack the… Read more

In education, one of our greatest shortcomings is ignoring widely available research that confirms optimal learning experiences can be achieved by implementing multi-sensory activities, pursuing meaningful tasks, and exploring a variety of skills using real-world applications. Instead of traditional learning that… Read more

Blended learning — and eLearning as a whole — has seen rapid changes in the past two decades, beginning in 1998 with the first generation of web-based instruction. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic made blended learning a household term as schools around the world transitioned their teaching and learning practices. With… Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected educational systems worldwide, leading to continued closures of schools, universities, and colleges. These closures have created social and academic disruptions for nearly 58 million children in the US alone. Without an end to the pandemic in sight, leaders are approaching the… Read more

Schools across the country are approaching the reopening of schools with many deliberations and caution, and the challenges surrounding these efforts are on the minds of everyone from public health officials to parents. In the second part of our New Normal series, we’re chatting with school principals about their… Read more

In the third part of our New Normal series, Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), joins us to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding the reopening of K-12 schools.

In a matter of weeks, COVID-19 changed how students around the world are educated, and challenged many long-held beliefs about teaching and learning. What new opportunities and challenges can we anticipate for students as a result of COVID? Joining us for this discussion is Judy Dimon, Founding Chair of HERE to HERE… Read more

Creating a positive classroom culture at the beginning of the school year is an essential component of our work as educators. But this year, returning to school has been anything but typical, and the notion of building culture has become more complicated. How can we help students feel safe, accepted, and included?… Read more

Politics, protests, and the pandemic have dominated headlines and contributed to what has been an extraordinary final stretch of 2020. Communities across the country are continuing to wrestle with COVID-19, which has reached frightening rates of infection; the aftermath of a historic presidential election with an… Read more

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of speaking with district leaders from around the country as they were developing and implementing plans for returning to school. Now, we're revisiting the conversation to see what has transpired over the past few months — how these leaders are continuing to navigate uncharted… Read more

Our panel of school principals joins us again to reflect on what they've learned since our last conversation, when they were preparing to reopen their schools for the 2020-21 school year. Amidst shifting regulations and rising COVID-19 numbers, principals have not just been tasked with maintaining safe, socially… Read more

As 2020 comes to a close, we're looking back on this challenging year and reflecting on what we've learned, what questions still remain for educators, and what new opportunities for growth await us in 2021.

It has been said that teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together. As we kick off 2021, we are joined by teachers with 1 to 15+ years of experience as they talk about their love of teaching today. In the midst of the pandemic, these teachers… Read more

Traditional ways of teaching and learning have been disrupted around the globe — for the moment, and perhaps forever. What does this mean for the future of education — the way we teach, the manner in which we teach, and the way we train and support teachers? In this episode, we're joined by the Provost and Vice… Read more

This week, we're joined by educational leaders — including AFT President Randi Weingarten and faculty from Teachers College, Columbia University — to discuss the causes of and solutions to the biggest challenges facing education today.

Teachers don't just teach subjects, they teach students. From tiny to tall, students are actual human beings with independent identities, personal autonomy, and a will of their own. Experienced educator Joshua Laub joins us for an in-depth conversation on how to support our students through the current crisis by… Read more

Depending on your perspective, the postponement of standardized tests can be seen as a blessing or a curse. For many educators, this reality presents a chance to unpack the connection between testing and teaching, and examine how we might ensure excellence, equity, and accountability in the absence of standardized… Read more

How has the pandemic impacted assessment practices in K-12 schools? We're joined by teachers from New Jersey, New York, and Texas as we unpack assessment experiences from the past year and discuss how testing informs teaching.

Equity in education requires that teachers and leaders offer every child an equal chance for success — but what does this success look like when it comes to testing? We’re joined by educational leaders Tangela Johnson and Laura Meili for a powerful and thought-provoking look at equity and assessment.

This week, we're talking with parents — Rashan Ali from Atlanta, GA; Laura Rebell Gross from Brooklyn, NY; and Tswelo Kodisang from Johannesburg, South Africa — about how they've supported their children academically and emotionally over the past year as they've adapted to learning during a pandemic.

Pre-existing disparities in access to adequate technology have been exacerbated by a shift to remote and blended learning environments over the past year, placing Black children at a further disadvantage. Black parents have worried about accessing resources or supplies that will help keep their children on track… Read more

Project-based learning encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills, and helps boost student engagement and ownership. But it can be complicated to balance student choice and agency with effective learning outcomes. Our K-12 coaching leaders are here to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of… Read more

Project-based learning embraces the belief that students must cultivate their own knowledge, and helps make learning sticky through real-world experiences, personal reflection, and peer-to-peer collaboration. We're joined by New York City teachers — from the Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering, and… Read more

Project-based learning isn’t just a vocabulary term or a buzzword — it’s a way of approaching the entire process of teaching and learning. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Liza Bearman, who serves as the Director of the Wildwood Institute for Social Leadership at Wildwood School in Los Angeles, CA, about how… Read more

Project-based learning (PBL) has been credited with revitalizing education for students, creating opportunities for them to use real-world scenarios, challenges, and problems to gain crucial skills that support their intellectual and emotional development. What role can professional development organizations play in… Read more

Beyond the functional level, literacy plays a vital role in transforming students into socially engaged citizens. How do we teach literacy in a way that is both culturally and socially responsive? We hear from our K-12 coaching experts as they unpack the importance of literacy and discuss the evolution of literacy… Read more

Today’s students use their digital expertise and the power of their voice to respond to issues of inequity in society. Therefore, it is essential that teacher educators develop their own racial literacy skills — and those of their pre-service and classroom teachers — in order to support students' digital activism.… Read more

Throughout our New Normal series, we've been following K-12 district leaders from across the country as they grapple with the challenges of leading educators and students through a pandemic. In this episode, we look ahead to the next normal and imagine what school might look like for the 2021-22 academic year.

Our panel of K-12 principals returns for a look at how their schools have been evolving since we last spoke with them in the fall, their predictions about what instruction will look like in the coming year, and their thoughts on what pandemic practices should remain even as we shift to the next normal in education.

In the wake of Black Lives Matter protests, educators and schools across the nation are navigating anti-racist, anti-bias (ABAR) work. Often used in concert and sometimes interchangeably, by definition, these terms represent an activist approach to educational curricula that attempts to challenge prejudices, including… Read more

Data is much more than test scores — it can also be a powerful tool that informs, engages, and creates opportunities for students. On a practical level, data can refocus and improve instruction, make connections that lead to insights within curriculum, and help us build upon individual student strengths. Although the… Read more

It may seem like a new development, but single-sex education is actually a throwback to older curriculum systems that date back to before the 19th century. Are single-sex classrooms beneficial to students today? We're joined by a panel of educators who weigh in on the benefits and drawbacks of same-sex classroom… Read more

The word “data” can be a trigger for many educators. However, data that tracks student engagement and academic progress gives us a picture of what’s happening, so we can create what’s possible. We're joined by educators from Crosstown High School, a project-based learning school in Memphis, Tennessee for a look at a… Read more

Data provides a blueprint for what our students know, what our students need, and what our students bring to the classroom. Data allows teachers to provide instruction that ensures their students are learning necessary skills, and it allows school leaders to better understand and support the teachers in their… Read more

We're kicking off a six-part series exploring our core principles — communities of practice, contextualized practice, critical reflection, cultivating strengths, culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogy, and cycles of inquiry — which inform, define, and shape our K-12 coaching practices. In this first episode of… Read more

In part two of our series exploring our core coaching principles, we're looking at contextualized practice — a way of working that allows us to design each project to the culture, context, and concrete goals of unique individuals and communities.

In part three of our series exploring our core principles, we're looking at critical reflection — a crucial practice that encourages metacognition and self-awareness, and results in action that uses past successes and missteps to transform professional practice.

In part four of our series exploring core coaching principles, we're looking at the process of cultivating strengths, which stems from the belief that improvement in growth areas increases when we leverage areas of strength first.

In part five of our series exploring core coaching principles, we're looking at cycles of inquiry — a powerful component of transforming and improving professional practice. As educators, we must maintain a commitment to the inquiry process — identifying challenges, posing questions, implementing interventions, and… Read more

In the final episode of our series exploring core coaching principles, we're focusing on culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogy — a crucial practice that explores the cultural implications and power dynamics present in education, and requires mindfulness and vulnerability from educators as they work to unpack and… Read more

The need to engage — and re-engage — students has never been more present. This week, we're delving into the crucial role student engagement plays in building 21st century skills, how engagement practices have been impacted by the pandemic, and suggestions for approaching engagement in the new school year.

Dr. Anissa Moody joins us to discuss the importance of social-emotional intelligence when dealing with trauma, how to re-establish relationships with students, and strategies for recognizing and addressing student needs.

Darius Adamson is back to shed insight on how teachers and school leaders can effectively engage students in the learning process — something research shows leads to an increase in attention and focus, motivates students to practice higher level critical thinking skills, and promotes meaningful learning experiences.

Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz returns to share her insight on engaging scholars at all levels. Designing authentic and engaging instruction is challenging, but essential — when done well, intellectual engagement creates a ripple effect that helps develop students' creative and critical thinking skills. How can you capture,… Read more

Our colleagues Courtney Brown & Dr. Cristina Compton are back to unpack leadership and teacher teams, and offer their strategies for maximizing teamwork in school communities. Teams don't just appear — they're the result of effective leadership, trust, and a collective commitment to student success. The feelings of… Read more

There is a natural — and often overlooked — link between leadership development and adult learning. Effective leaders recognize that adults are practical, hands-on learners who come equipped with prior knowledge and many years of experience — and adjust their leadership and professional development accordingly. This… Read more

When teachers work together in teams, they coach each other, learn from one another, and increase their expertise. This team dynamic — in which everyone plays a role and is valued — provides educators with a safe space to refine their practices and in turn, improve teaching and learning. But how do schools structure… Read more

Discussions are an important component of 21st century learning in all disciplines; they help students process and communicate information, and help teachers better understand which concepts students are connecting with. 21st century learning specialist G. Faith Little joins us this week to unpack the benefits of… Read more

Questioning is a key formative assessment strategy that helps students digest the content they're being taught and generates useful feedback for teachers. When used effectively, questioning can inform adjustments to your instruction, and identify necessary supports for students who may be struggling. 21st century… Read more

Experienced instructional coaches Melissa Bryant and Ashlynn Wittchow revisit our New Normal series — in which we take a look at the instructional interruptions and innovations that have surfaced over the past two years — and explore the successes and challenges of returning to in-person classrooms this fall.

As school districts have returned to in-person teaching and learning this fall, district leaders have continued to make tough calls, balancing a number of safety and instructional concerns within their communities. This week we continue our New Normal series with two district leaders — Dr. Michelle Aquino of New… Read more

During an(other) unpredictable year, our team and community of schools have remained dedicated to breaking down the problems, policies, and promising practices that define teaching today, continuing to expand our creativity and innovations to meet fellow educators and students where they are. In our last episode of… Read more

We're back! This week, we're sharing the promising practices we'll be leaning on in 2022 to help make the year more manageable and restorative for our team and our school communities.

Being a leader comes with tough challenges, and leadership in difficult times certainly brings its own unique set of obstacles. In this episode, The Main Idea's Jenn David-Lang joins us for a conversation about the diverse and complex skills needed for 21st century leaders.

Social-emotional health plays an integral role in education, and continues to impact both teachers and students as we navigate various stages of the pandemic. In this week's episode, we're joined by school leaders from New York, Connecticut, and Georgia who discuss how they're offering social and emotional support to… Read more

When it comes to social-emotional support, school leaders support teachers. Teachers support students. But what about the school leaders — who's supporting them? Cheryl Green returns this week to discuss the stress of being a leader coupled with the stress of leading during a pandemic.

School counselors lead, advocate, and collaborate to promote equity and access for students of all ages. As the realities of our world have shifted, their roles have expanded, playing a tremendous and crucial part in bridging the social, emotional, and academic needs within schools. We're joined by three school… Read more

As essential workers, teachers and healthcare professionals have been among the most impacted groups throughout the pandemic. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Ademola Adewale, an assistant clinical professor of Emergency Medicine at AdventHealth Hospital, and Darius Adamson, Executive Area Director with Orange… Read more

An equitable approach to assessment is critical for planning curriculum and instruction, and for authentically documenting what students know. Dr. Monica White of the NYC DOE Innovation Zone and Dr. Tangela Williams of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools join us this week to speak on how equitable assessments can broaden… Read more

Our team is back together this week to shed some light on data — a topic that often inspires fear and resistance. And for good reason — without the tools to make data meaningful for instruction, it can feel like a purely evaluative measure that restricts and reduces all the work you do as an educator. How can we make… Read more

After a two-year pause, standardized testing has returned. What have we learned about our instruction, our students, and our methods in the absence of these tests? Dr. Rommie Vasser, Principal at Rose Park Magnet Middle School in Nashville, TN, joins us this week to reflect on how his past experiences with testing… Read more

Across the country, we’re seeing a new wave of literary censorship as parents, outside interest groups, and even politicians are attempting to regulate what students are allowed to read. Dr. Marcelle Mentor returns to the podcast this week to offer her perspective on where censorship stems from, as well as the… Read more

Our policy series kicks off with a look at the challenges involved when people with limited educational experience drive decisions that dictate what teaching and learning looks like. While we can believe these policymakers may be well-intentioned, we must also acknowledge the unintended consequences that arise in our… Read more

Policies impact every aspect of education, but they’re often established with input from a limited number of voices. What role do educators play in interpreting and implementing policies that trickle down from the national level? Rani Corak of Teachers College, Columbia University and Dr. Basil Smikle, Director of the… Read more

In the third installment of our education policy series, we're joined by elected local leader Ethan Ashley and education advocate Justin McCorkle as we discuss the role school boards play in representing community needs in public education, setting hyper-local education policy, and defining the future of education for… Read more

Education policies directly impact teaching and learning, but often missing in policy decisions is the voice of educators. How can they become more involved and affect the trajectory of policies? Two former classroom teachers — Jasmine Bowles of Georgia’s Clayton County Public School Board and Mikayla Arciaga of the… Read more

Our community has been exploring equity and culturally relevant, responsive, and sustaining pedagogy through shared reading as a form of professional development throughout the school year. In this week’s episode, we explore two of the four texts we studied as we challenge ourselves to incorporate CRSP in our daily… Read more

In part two of our Exploring Equity series, we look at two additional books our community studied as we challenge ourselves to incorporate CRSP in our daily lives and work. Listen to our senior leaders discuss key takeaways from Cultivating Genius by Gholdy Muhammad, and Advancing Racial Literacies in Teacher… Read more

Educators often feel burdened by mandates and frameworks, as they usually signal changing expectations and a revolving door of initiatives. Can a new framework actually reduce this burden and help teachers to synthesize expectations in practical ways? In this episode, we’re joined by Leticia Pineiro, a Director of… Read more

Broadly speaking, the function of teachers is to help students learn by imparting knowledge to them and cultivating the learning environment. However, teachers fill a complex set of roles, which vary from one society to another and from one educational level to another. Do we fully understand their roles? We’re joined… Read more

Teacher leaders guide a broad range of efforts, from modifying school-wide or content area curriculum, to supporting teachers in collecting and interpreting student achievement data, to improving instructional efficacy throughout a school. This week, we’re joined by three teacher leaders — Jennifer Castillo, Rachel… Read more

School Principals lead teachers and staff, set goals, and ensure students meet their learning objectives. They oversee day-to-day operations that range from handling disciplinary matters, to managing a budget, and hiring instructional staff. In the final installment of our A Mile in My Shoes series, we’re joined by… Read more

How can we support teachers in the early years of their career? Targeted support increases the likelihood that new teachers will stay the course long enough to become more effective educators, which becomes a winning scenario not only for teachers, but for students, school districts, and the teaching profession. After… Read more

Dive into the first set of our upcoming professional learning courses and hear from the designers themselves — all of whom are accomplished coaches in our school and district partnerships across the world and tuned in to the most pressing issues facing educators today. Here they discuss the inspiration for their… Read more

We’re back with the second set of our upcoming professional learning courses, chatting with the designers themselves — both of whom are accomplished coaches and tuned in to the most pressing issues facing educators today. Here they discuss the inspiration for their courses and what educators need to know about… Read more

We have turned a corner in education, and some things are beginning to look like they did pre-pandemic — is that a good thing? What have we learned about teachers, students, academic loss/gain, and social-emotional learning over the past few years? How can we apply these lessons learned to the upcoming school year and… Read more

Curriculum refers to an interactive system of instruction and learning with specific goals, contents, strategies, measurement, and resources. Many schools receive a pre-packaged curriculum from their district or state. The challenge may come with implementation and trying to make the curriculum your own. In this… Read more

Creating your own curriculum gives you more flexibility, including the ability to create assignments that are hands-on and relevant to your students. But as with any process, there are pros and cons. In this episode, we're joined by Amanda Murphy and Annie Ward, who share their experiences with curriculum design and… Read more

We’ve been in school, out of school, online, and working with blended models of learning over the past few years. The upcoming school year is poised to be the return to “normal” school, and educators are preparing differently. In this episode, our colleague Dr. Cristina Compton joins us along with educators Leah Clark… Read more

In this episode we’re joined by Garrett Peters and Anna Tabet, two New York City school leaders, who discuss the academic, social, and instructional implications for the upcoming year. As school launches in full force, this conversation focuses on how schools are preparing new students, new teachers, and new learning.

In 2002, Dr. Ruth Vinz, founded the Center for the Professional Education of Teachers with the help of a generous donation. Her vision to bridge the gap between theory and practice in a manner that perpetuates the professionalism of educators has endured for 20 years and impacted countless teachers, leaders, and… Read more

The start of the school year can be overwhelming for anyone, but especially for new teachers who are experiencing the heavy weight of their responsibilities for the first time. New teachers have to balance building relationships with students, short and long term planning, navigating professional responsibilities, and… Read more

Culturally relevant, responsive, and sustaining education includes cultivating a welcoming and affirming environment for student learning. This sounds good on paper, but can be difficult to bring to life in the real world. This week, we’re talking to our colleague Dr. Cristina Compton and Dr. Sherrish Holloman,… Read more

Teachers go through years of education and hundreds of hours of internships to become certified or licensed to teach in their area of study, but there’s often very little training that goes into becoming a teacher leader. Teacher leaders often jump — or are thrown — into their roles without realizing how much support… Read more

Cooperating teachers volunteer to host a student teacher, but many discover that teaching through modeling, giving feedback, and collaboration with their apprentice, usually over the course of a semester, is not as easy as it looks. In this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Marcelle Mentor and Dr. Kelly DeLuca — the… Read more

There is a deep divide between selecting a high-leverage curriculum and implementing it. This divide is professional learning. We can’t just assume that anyone can pick up a packaged curriculum and implement it with fidelity on their own. It takes time, energy and support to analyze, adapt and adjust for your… Read more

Despite what the media may depict, teaching is not all about summer vacations and chatting it up in the lounge between classes. It’s challenging day in and day out, so much so that after the pandemic, we’re seeing educators leave the field in record numbers. Today we’re talking with Alison Cohen, a former high school… Read more

Conflicts that emerge with young people can be emotionally, physically, and academically harmful. When adults are in situations where they are responsible for resolving conflicts, it’s easy to slip into classic power dynamics that reinforce bias and oppression, making it even harder to seek true resolution. In this… Read more

Highly effective discussions require a host of invisible skills that students may or may not pick up organically over time. Without careful instruction or scaffolding, class discussions are often more like Q&A sessions than they are a thoughtful exchange of ideas. We’re talking with Dr. Sherrish Holloman and Kelsey… Read more

Class discussions are dynamic spaces for students to be meaning makers and critical thinkers, and offer unique opportunities for processing ideas, building new concepts with peers, and internalizing key learning points. But the ephemeral nature of discussions is a challenge, because although discussions ends, the… Read more

Interesting books are coming out every day, but we don’t always have the time to read everything that’s worth knowing about, and it's hard to know which books to invest in. As founder of The Main Idea, Jenn Lang tackles this challenge by distilling the most important information about a book — in only eight pages.… Read more

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to assessment for learning is the degree to which we’re able to gather information that accurately reflects what our students know and can do in the moment. It takes practice and careful planning to design meaningful assessments, and use the information in the moment to… Read more

We look back at some of the best shortcuts, insights, motivations, and aha moments that we published to help educators meet their professional goals this year. Mentioned in this episode: Centering Students for Literacy Engagement… Read more

Whether we’re starting from scratch or resetting expectations, the new year always presents an opportunity to embrace the humanity of our students and the important goals we’re aspiring to. This week, Roberta and Cristina share their experiences of returning to school after a holiday break, and the strategies they’ve… Read more

Whether it’s the result of a single traumatic event, or one that's prolonged, the impact of stressful situations can spread to students' cognition, emotional regulation, and ability to connect with others. In this episode we’re talking with Adam Wolfsdorf and Kristen Wedlock, authors of the book Navigating Trauma in… Read more

Whether you entered the spring semester with the same students and staff, or are starting fresh, developing and maintaining a positive community is critical to maximizing the potential of students and adults. If you haven't been focusing on communities of practice, you may feel it's too late — or you may have… Read more

Teachers have a lot of power to determine what and how they’re developing grading systems that reflect students’ knowledge, skills, and progress — but the process is complicated, and can sometimes cause harm. In this episode, we’re talking with Ashlynn Wittchow about systems of grading, and assessing the benefits and… Read more

Cultural and language diversity have an impact on how students are able to demonstrate what they know and understand — but how do implicit or institutional biases impact how we interpret and evaluate student learning? Dr. Sherrish Holloman returns this week to talk with us about the importance and complexity of… Read more

Given its complexity, conversations about grading for equity often dwell in highly theoretical spaces. Although these spaces can be conducive to nuanced discussion surrounding equity, they can also become distanced from practices used in real classrooms. To achieve more equitable grading practices, theory and practice… Read more

Coaching for equity is personal, and more complex than simply providing new information about a teaching strategy or protocol. At CPET, we ground this important work in four entry points that allow for educators to create a cultural shift within a community toward diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Sherrish… Read more

How can you locate effective teaching tools without spending hours combing through the internet? With website after website of education resources, it can be hard to tell which have been vetted and will be most useful for your practice. This week, we're chatting with two members of our coaching team — Dr. Cristina… Read more

Connecting real-world scenarios to classroom content creates wonderful learning opportunities for students — but it also requires that teachers make many decisions about how to organize, sequence, and assess their instruction. Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley and Dr. Cristina Compton — both of whom lead CPET's project-based… Read more

Writing projects can feel like a distraction, unless we look at the ways in which projects increase learning for students, and the ways in which we can integrate them into our calendars without losing teaching time for skills or content that we need to cover. This week, we're joined by participants from all levels of… Read more

Designing projects for an individual class can be a daunting experience, but what about for a whole district, and in the wake of the pandemic? At the height of exhaustion, many school and leaders within the Scarsdale Public Schools district were looking for ways to reignite a passion for learning in students and… Read more

Because the classroom space encompasses so many routines and expectations, it can be daunting to begin conversations around implementing and sustaining positive change. Making a change — whether it's required or voluntary — can be difficult for both teachers and students. We can often become creatures of habit,… Read more

As teachers juggling many expectations, we may struggle to know whether our students are understanding what they are reading — unlike writing, reading comprehension is an entirely internal process. We may also struggle to keep up with the research surrounding best practices for improving our students’ reading… Read more

What is the best way to teach children to read? This question has plagued teachers, administrators, and literacy specialists for decades in the K-12 space. This question is often a highly controversial one, as literacy issues can become caught up in politics — both within the field of education and depending which… Read more

Let’s be real: teacher appreciation week should be EVERY week. In this special episode, we want to honor and to celebrate the challenging work that teachers do every day to educate and to inspire their students. We’ve brought our CPET colleagues together to share stories about the teachers who have had a profound… Read more

Books have the power to introduce us to new places, cultures, and perspectives. But right now students across the country are facing empty bookshelves in their classrooms and school libraries, as books that fairly address issues of race, gender, and culture in age-appropriate ways are at risk of being banned from… Read more

As school districts respond to the concerns about a literacy crisis in the U.S., many are rolling out big initiatives to increase reading performance. This often comes with big changes to curriculum, expectations for educators, and a lot of pressure to implement concepts they may not understand. In this episode, we’re… Read more

In a time when students are inundated with media and technology all around them, it can be difficult for teachers to engage students in reading a book that takes place almost 80 years ago. Teachers are often looking for the best approaches to spark students’ interest and their understanding of the importance of… Read more

Our classrooms are made up of students with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. In some cases, our students are learning a new language in addition to discipline-specific content. Multi-language learners require intentional support to improve their fluency both reading and writing. What do those strategies… Read more

Since its release, ChatGPT has provoked discussion within the arena of the classroom and beyond. ChatGPT is a revolutionary AI language model in many respects, capable of advanced and human-sounding prose. As a result, many teachers and administrators expressed concern when the AI-bot was first released, with many… Read more

Project-based learning can be an overwhelming approach to teaching and curriculum design, and transforming practice requires time, which is one of the most difficult resources for teachers to come by. In this spotlight episode, we're talking with Dr. Cristina Compton, about one of her signature courses, The Power of… Read more

Happy New Year! It’s September, and we're celebrating the start of a new school year — a time for reflecting, goal setting, and anticipating our new students. With the return to school, we teachers often return to the advice and wisdom passed down to us about how best to start the school year: "Don’t smile until… Read more

Establishing and forging meaningful relationships with students at the start of the school year can be challenging — students often have diverse backgrounds, needs, and personalities, and they need to feel a sense of trust in order to be vulnerable about their learning needs, their personal opinions, and their… Read more

Adopting and adapting a new curriculum is a complex and multi-faceted process. It can pose a significant challenge as it involves navigating various competing needs, such as state standards, standardized exams, district and school-specific goals, and the diverse needs of students. The question arises: which of these… Read more

Station teaching can transform traditional classrooms into dynamic learning environments — the key is to familiarize yourself with the promising practices and potential pitfalls of this approach. In this episode, we're talking with co-teaching specialists Dr. Laura Rigolosi and Jacqui Stolzer about how educators can… Read more

Engagement is a lever for achievement — when students are highly engaged, they are more likely to learn and persevere through challenges. How can educators effectively measure and assess student engagement in the classroom? We're joined by Nona Ullman and Melissa Payette of LessonLoop — an organization that guides… Read more

Educators have an important job: getting students — the next group of leaders — ready for the future. Our guests this week — Lisa Dughi, CEO of NAF, a national education non-profit that works to prepare students for a life of upward mobility and success; and Collette Smith, Founder of Believe N You, which works with… Read more

Questions come naturally to young children: Why is the sky blue? Where do butterflies go in winter? As they grow older, students need invitations to cultivate curiosity and teachers who are able to teach the skill of questioning. The Question Formulation Technique builds this lifelong learning skill, teaching students… Read more

Math teachers are pulled in several directions as they plan and implement their lessons — how do they divide their precious, limited teaching time between teaching discrete and necessary skills, empowering students to use math in the real world today and in their future, and preparing students for “the test?" In this… Read more

Arriving in an entirely new place after fleeing dangerous or unstable circumstances in their home countries, newcomers and asylum-seeking students are navigating a complex set of obstacles. From dealing with past trauma to acculturation struggles, gaps in formal education, taking on family responsibilities, and simply… Read more

Teachers possess the remarkable ability to ignite curiosity, nurture potential, and empower students to take steps toward their goals. With unwavering patience and a deep understanding of each student's unique strengths and struggles, they tailor their approach to ensure every student has a way to stretch and grow in… Read more

Most educators, if not all, would answer the question, “Should education be equitable?” with an immediate, “Of course!” Most educators also face barriers to creating a truly equitable space for all students. What steps can educators — from custodians to school secretaries to librarians to teachers to administrators —… Read more

In today's rapidly evolving world, the skills required for success are constantly shifting. The 21st century demands a new set of durable skills — critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, grit, and curiosity. Today, we welcome Dr. Padhu Seshaiyer, Professor and Director at George Mason University,… Read more

Stress and anxiety is on the rise — and schools often can’t or don’t know how to address stress and promote the health and wellness of teachers and students, for many reasons. In this episode, we welcome our guest, Pamela Gunther, who shares her inspiring journey of starting a company that creates engaging, active… Read more

In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of writing and the importance of fostering authentic learning experiences for students. Diego Medina and Scarleth Tejada — students and published authors at the Global Learning Collaborative in New York City — join the podcast to discuss their experience with the… Read more

Understanding the day-to-day experiences and challenges faced by teachers in their classrooms is crucial for providing relevant and effective professional development. At the end of every episode, we say, “Your voice matters; send us your education questions, concerns, and promising practices and we’ll address them!”… Read more

We explore the daunting challenges faced by early-career teachers as they strive to teach young children to read. Despite their formal education, many feel ill-equipped to meet the diverse needs of their students, especially with the added complexity of the science of reading. LaMonica Williams, the Senior Director of… Read more

The episode explores Literacy Unbound — an initiative at the Center for Professional Education of Teachers (CPET) — which aims to reimagine traditional approaches to teaching reading and writing through play, creativity, and multiple modalities. Our panel discusses how to bring the practices of an arts-infused,… Read more

Graduate students in education often leave the educational domain with less confidence and a fractured sense of self. Our guest in this episode, Dr. Emily Affolter, shares from experience and recent research the importance of respecting individual needs, fostering flexibility, and moving away from rigid, binary… Read more

Understanding the day-to-day experiences and challenges faced by teachers in their classrooms is crucial for providing relevant and effective professional development. At the end of every episode, we say, “Your voice matters, send us your education questions, concerns, and promising practices and we’ll address them!”… Read more

Understanding the day-to-day experiences and challenges faced by teachers in their classrooms is crucial for providing relevant and effective professional development. At the end of every episode, we say, “Your voice matters, send us your education questions, concerns, and promising practices and we’ll address them!”… Read more

Establishing and forging meaningful relationships with students at the start of the school year can be challenging — students often have diverse backgrounds, needs, and personalities, and they need to feel a sense of trust in order to be vulnerable about their learning needs, their personal opinions, and their… Read more

The start of the school year can be full of hope and optimism, but our experiences as teachers highlight the need for flexibility and adaptability as we navigate the unpredictable nature of the classroom. Our guests, instructional coaches Maria Underwood and Dr. Laura Rigolosi, discuss the challenges of managing… Read more

Questions come naturally to young children: Why is the sky blue? Where do butterflies go in winter? As they grow older, students need invitations to cultivate curiosity and teachers who are able to teach the skill of questioning. The Question Formulation Technique builds this lifelong learning skill, teaching students… Read more

Teachers are socialized to view themselves as "superhuman.” They are celebrated when they work long hours, sacrifice personal time, and go "above and beyond" in their roles. In this episode, Dr. Shamari Reid, Assistant Professor of Justice and Belonging in Education at New York University and Dr. Marcelle Mentor,… Read more

The complexities of navigating the teaching profession go beyond delivering content or curriculum and require a deep understanding of students' perspectives and diverse needs. In this episode, Hunter Gehlbach, Professor & Director of the PhD program at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, invites us to consider how… Read more

Public education should both equip and empower students to be successful in their lives and contribute to their communities, but how is the current system delivering on this promise? In this episode, we welcome Mr. David Adams, CEO of the Urban Assembly, a nonprofit that promotes economic and social mobility by… Read more

Moving from Q&A to Q&D is both an art and a science. In this episode, CPET coaches Dr. Jen Gowers and Kelsey Hammond, join us to think out loud about what makes vibrant discussions a challenge to facilitate, how we can meet that challenge, and how we might handle surprising moments in our classroom discussions. The… Read more

What does it mean to shift the cognitive load from the teacher, empowering students to grapple with content and develop their critical thinking skills? Where can we find authentic moments of writing in every classroom from math to physical education? In this episode, Dr. Alice Lee shares her experiences championing a… Read more

Secondary literacy isn’t confined to ELA classes—it spans all content areas, requiring a shared understanding and commitment from teachers across disciplines. Matthew Mazzaroppi, Deputy Superintendent at New Visions High School District joins us to discuss the importance of collaboration, expertise, and community… Read more

In this episode, we dive into the Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) model and its impact on educational practices. We are joined by CPET colleagues, and co-teaching dynamic duo, Jacqui Stolzer and Dr. Laura Rigolosi as we dig into various co-teaching models, their effectiveness depending on the type of student engagement… Read more

Welcome to our annual wrap-up episode of Teaching Today! We're excited to bring you a special compilation featuring our three most-listened-to conversations from the past year, plus a bonus clip that captured international attention. Thank you again for these conversations: Nona Ullman, Melissa Payette, Lisa Dughi,… Read more

Selecting a curriculum is a big decision for any school or district. In this episode, we define curriculum and discuss the challenges and benefits of adapting and implementing new curriculum in educational settings. We welcome Courtney Brown back to the conversation as we address the importance of understanding the… Read more

In this episode, we discuss the importance of recognizing and valuing multilingual learners, with a focus on the connection between language and identity. Maria Underwood, Senior Professional Development Advisor at CPET, and Vince Moua, CPET Professional Development Coach, and Teachers College Zankel Fellow, share… Read more

This episode features Dr. Katie McMullen and Jonathan Beltran Alvarado sharing their experiences teaching in Singapore, Lebanon, and Colombia. They explore how educators can successfully navigate cultural differences and work with diverse student and teacher populations in international schools. The discussion covers… Read more

What role do schools and administrators play in supporting teachers to engage students in discussions about civic issues? How can structured curricula and coaching help educators facilitate constructive dialogue across political and social differences? In this episode, Elizabeth Clay Roy, the CEO of Generation… Read more

Ever wonder why speaking your native language feels like putting on comfortable house clothes? This fascinating episode dives into the transformative power of affinity spaces - environments where people connect through shared language, culture, and experiences. Dr. Marcelle Mentor and Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang discuss… Read more

In this episode, we discuss how the study of the brain can help us better support our students to learn. We are joined by Brooklin Williams, Katherine Elam, and Malik Bolden who share the importance of empathy and understanding in teaching and learning, the need to recognize and support students' emotional responses,… Read more

In this episode, we dive into the art of creating captivating, immersive experiences that bring texts to life in any classroom setting—especially for multilingual learners! Join our inspiring panel of educators: Adel Bruni Ashley, Gregory Petershack, Jen Gowers, Shenhao Bai. They reveal the behind-the-scenes magic of… Read more

Teachers struggle to implement social justice pedagogy due to limited support, restrictive laws, and scarce training—all while trying to build student advocacy skills! In this episode, Maria Luisa Underwood unpacks findings from quantitative research with teachers based on their experience implementing the framework… Read more

Writing projects can feel like a distraction, unless we look at the ways in which projects increase learning for students, and the ways we can integrate them into our calendars without losing teaching time for skills or content that we need to cover. Today, we revisit our conversation with participants from one of our… Read more

Did you know it takes 2-3 years to see real results from educational innovation? How can teachers and leaders invest in the time needed for long-lasting change? This enlightening episode, featuring Dr. Annalies Corbin, founder of the PAST Foundation, uncovers the essential ingredients that make educational changes… Read more

In this episode, we continue our discussion focused on multilingual learners, diving deep into why linguistic mobility isn't just academic—it's the key to true community inclusion! Maria Underwood, Senior Professional Development Advisor at CPET, and Vince Moua, CPET Professional Development Coach, and Teachers… Read more

🌟 Join us for an inspiring conversation about creating inclusive classrooms where every voice can shine! In this episode, our guest Katherine Hamilton, Vice President of Programs at Ensemble Learning, joins us as we dive into the complex and rewarding world of supporting multilingual learners in the classroom. We… Read more

What can the iconic movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" teach us about student engagement? This episode explores the critical disconnect between students and educators, examining why students mentally and physically check out of their education. Guests Colleen Keating-Crawford, Sydney Tweedley, and Izzy Fitzgerald from… Read more

Too little curriculum or too much? Most teachers have experienced one extreme or the other. Dr. Jacqui Stolzer joins us to discuss her research on curriculum ideologies—four frameworks that help teachers identify the values embedded in their curriculum work, navigate professional tensions, and ask the critical… Read more

Feeling overwhelmed by Gen AI in education? You're not alone. Dr. Julianne Ross-Kleinmann and Yaa Yaa Whaley-Williams from Ulster BOCES join us to discuss the real digital divide, why banning AI doesn't work, and what technology can never replace—the human heartbeat of teaching. Whether you're AI-curious or… Read more

Fifty balloons. Stories of cupcakes. A student shouting profanities before storming out. These are the moments teacher prep programs can’t prepare you for. Dr. Adam Wolfsdorf joins us to discuss "subversive moments"—when classroom control completely evaporates and you have to make split-second decisions while somehow… Read more

In this episode, we explore ConnectINK, an AI-powered writing coach that's different from every other AI tool you've encountered: it will never write for your students. Instead of generating content, ConnectINK asks questions. "Who else was there?" "What did that feel like?" "Can you describe another event related to… Read more

Should first-graders learn to read analog clocks? It's a small question with big implications about what we choose to teach—and why. In this episode, we're in conversation with Dr. Tony Wagner, author of Mastery, exploring how technology has outpaced pedagogy and what that means for today's classrooms. We discuss the… Read more

Why is systemic change at the high school level such a challenge? In this episode, we sit down with Jenny Curtin, Director of Education at the Barr Foundation, to explore what real transformation looks like—and why adding more programs isn't the answer. Jenny shares how listening deeply to students reveals gaps… Read more

Tired of the polarizing debate about AI in writing classrooms? Dr. Kelsey Hammond offers a more nuanced path forward. Rather than creating endless guidelines about when students should or shouldn’t use ChatGPT in their writing process, she explores how writing itself can become a tool for understanding our… Read more

What if strategies designed to support students with disabilities could transform learning for everyone? In this episode, Dr. Rhoda Bernard, Founding Director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education and author of Accessible Arts Education, shares how predictability, structure, and universal design… Read more

What happens when students walk into your classroom asking "Can I get out of this?" Professor Carlo Rotella, author of "What Can I Get Out of This? Teaching and Learning in a Classroom Full of Skeptics," joins us to explore how student skepticism—about literature, interpretation, and even their own belonging—can… Read more

Welcome to our annual wrap-up episode of Teaching Today! We're excited to bring you a special compilation featuring our three most-listened-to conversations from the past year plus a special thanks for our international listeners. Thank you again for these discussions: Colleen Keating-Crawford, Izzy Fitzgerald, Sydney… Read more

We all know students need "21st century skills"—but what does that actually look like on a Tuesday morning in your classroom? In this conversation, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang and Dr. Kelsey Hammond go beyond buzzwords to explore why discussion isn't as intuitive as we think, how our classrooms haven't kept pace with how… Read more

In this episode, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang talks with CPET instructional designers about two essential online courses for today's teachers. Courtney Brown discusses "Centering CRSE," a course that helps educators build culturally responsive practices into their daily practice. Learn how to use "mirrors, windows, and… Read more

Join Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang, Dr. Cristina Compton, and G. Faith Little for a conversation that challenges us to look honestly at our classroom practices. In this episode, you'll hear a refreshing reframe of Project-Based Learning that moves beyond surface-level activities to authentic, real-world application where… Read more

In this episode, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang sits down with Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley and Dr. Jen Gowers to discuss Literacy Unbound, an initiative designed to transform the way students engage with complex, "hard to read" texts. The conversation explores how to move away from rigid, traditional literary analysis toward a… Read more

What if your most disengaged students—the ones with heads on desks and hoodies over their eyes—actually want to do their best work? Research shows they do. In this episode, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang and Dr. Cristina Compton sit down with Dr. Kyra M. Caldwell Templeton, Program Director of Student Engagement at Atlanta… Read more

For many teachers, parent-teacher conferences rank among the most nerve-wracking moments of the school year. But what if they didn't have to be? In this episode, host Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang sits down with New Teacher Network leaders Courtney Brown and Pam McGowen to talk about what makes family engagement so… Read more

Seventy-one years after Brown v. Board of Education, our schools are still grappling with segregation — not by law, but by the weight of history, housing, and systems that were never built with equity in mind. In this episode, host Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang sits down with Dr. Maria Luisa Underwood, CPET's lead… Read more

Math scores are lagging. Teachers are overwhelmed. And somewhere along the way, too many students stopped believing they're "math people." This episode is about changing that. Join us for a conversation with Dr. LaToya Byrd and Dr. April Mouton of Illustrative Mathematics — on problem-based learning, what effective… Read more

Have you ever said or heard), I'm just not a math person? You're not alone — and according to our guests, that belief didn't happen by accident. In this episode, Dr. Gregory Benoit and Dr. Erin Barno join us to explore what it really means to teach mathematics ambitiously and equitably — moving beyond procedures and… Read more

What does it really mean to reflect — not just on what happened, but on why it matters and what comes next? In this episode, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang reunites with three of CPET's original team members — Courtney Brown, Dr. Cristina Compton, and Dr. Marcelle Mentor — to revisit 3 of the 6 principles that have grounded… Read more

In the landscape of professional learning, it is easy to settle for "random acts of kindness" or one-size-fits-all workshops—but real, sustainable change requires a deeper grounding. In this episode of Teaching Today, Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang is joined by Dr. Kelsey Hammond and Dr. Sherrish Holloman to explore three of… Read more

Episode 199 is a homecoming. Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang gathers with some of the people who helped build Teaching Today from the ground up — Dr. Sherrish Holloman, Dr. Cristina Compton, Brian Veprek, and original CenterEd Teaching host Dr. Matt Kautz — to celebrate nearly 200 episodes of free, educator-centered… Read more

In 199, we explored Teaching Today's origin stories with hosts and co-hosts who got things started and kept them going! Next time, we'll celebrate our 200th episode with Dr. Ruth Vinz, the founding director of the Center for Professional Education of Teachers (CPET). This episode is a callback conversation from… Read more

In our milestone 200th episode, CPET founding director Professor Ruth Vinz returns to Teaching Today for a conversation about what endures in teaching—and what she’s learned along the way. Joined by Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang and Dr. Cristina Compton, Ruth reflects on 25 years of CPET, the porousness of spaces that… Read more