Learning specialist Sarah Riggs Johnson and math teacher Nate Wolkenhauer share a tiered system of learning supports applicable to all students. They discuss creating no-pressure relationships with students, fostering accountability and trust in math education, supporting students in utilizing accommodations during tests, and enhancing math understanding through verbalization and individualized learning supports. The episode provides valuable insights for educators looking to help struggling students in any subject.

The rights of parents to choose the best school for their children — also known as school choice — may seem simple on the surface, but it's anything but, and it has the potential to impact teachers and students all over the country. In this episode, I talk with Cara Fitzpatrick, author of The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America. We discuss why school choice is actually pretty complicated, we dig into some of the key groups that have historically pushed for it, and we explore some things concerned citizens can do to ensure that families can still get their children the best education possible. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to WeVideo and The Modern Classrooms Project for sponsoring this episode.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read a transcript and get a link to Cara's book, visit cultofpedagogy.com/pod and choose episode 228.

Two teachers, a 3rd grade teacher and a high school English teacher, share their classroom-tested approaches to teaching effective annotation techniques. They discuss personalized and collaborative methods to enhance comprehension, transitioning students to independent annotation, developing core competencies through collaborative annotation exercises, and the impact of teaching annotation as a practice of deepening learning and assessment.

If your school is lucky enough to have a full-time certified librarian, it's likely they are not being utilized to their full capacity. In fact, yours may be one of a growing number of schools that are eliminating librarians altogether, and that is a terrible idea. In this episode, I sit down with four accomplished librarians — K.C. Boyd, Barbara Paciotti, Lauren Mobley, and Karina Quilantan-Garza — to explore all the ways a certified school librarian can make teachers' work easier, more efficient, and more effective, and to make a strong case for why every school needs one. Thanks to WeVideo and The Modern Classrooms Project for sponsoring this episode. To read a full transcript of this conversation, visit cultofpedagogy.com/pod and choose episode 226.

Educator Kimberly Eckert discusses innovative solutions to the teacher shortage problem, including job-embedded degrees at Reach University and programs like Educators Rising. They explore grassroots initiatives, curriculum pathways, and tailored training for aspiring educators. The episode highlights efforts to support diverse backgrounds and promote collaborative approaches in education.

Teachers share their experiences of crying in front of students due to frustration, shame, or loss of control. The podcast explores emotional triggers, strategies for managing classroom challenges, and the significance of maintaining positive relationships with students.

Explore why students give the blank stare in class and how educators can address this issue with research-based teaching strategies. Topics include cognitive psychology, pre-testing, chunking information, avoiding the curse of knowledge, beginner's mind, dual coding, conversations, and visual aids.

As our student population grows ever more diverse, many schools haven't been quite as successful as they'd like to be when trying to connect with students' families. If current efforts aren't working, it's time we tried a different approach. In this episode I talk with Nawal Qarooni, author of the new book Nourishing Caregiver Collaborations about the specific approaches teachers can take to more authentically involve families in their children's education  Thanks to Listenwise and Khan Academy Kids for sponsoring this episode. For links to Nawal's book and a transcript of this conversation, go to https://cultofpedagogy.com/pod and choose episode 222.

A teacher shares his experience with a photography project that captures the personalities of teachers, fostering bonds within the staff. They discuss the benefits of photography and creating supportive teacher communities. They also explore the steps to create similar photography projects and celebrate teachers through a gallery show.

Education researcher Jenn Binis joins the podcast to discuss strategies for improving standardized testing, emphasizing harm reduction over removal. They explore curriculum design, instructional changes, and reducing assessment biases to shift focus towards meaningful educational pursuits. The conversation advocates for practical solutions and involving local teachers in decision-making processes for systemic change.