The Balance, by Dr. Catlin Tucker

In this episode of The Balance, I talk with Shira Woolf Cohen, co-founder of Innovageous and author of Leading Future-Focused Schools: Engaging and Preparing Students for Career Success. With nearly three decades in education and workforce development, Shira shares why the gap between what students learn in school and the skills needed in today’s workplace demands urgent attention. We explore what it means to cultivate a future-focused mindset, why every teacher is a “career teacher,” and how schools can embed career-connected learning across grade levels and subject areas. Shira offers strategies for building on student strengths, examples of what this work looks like in practice, and actionable steps leaders can take to begin designing future-focused schools. Connect with Shira Woolf Cohen and learn more about her work. Leading Future-Focused Schools: Engaging and Preparing Students for Career Success http://innovageous.com https://www.instagram.com/innovageous/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovageous https://www.facebook.com/InnovageousSolutions/

In this episode, I’m digging into a challenge I hear about a lot: the tension between fidelity to an adopted curriculum and the need for teacher creativity. Too often, teachers feel pressured to follow lessons lockstep, leaving little room to respond to their students’ needs or bring their own expertise into the design. That rigidity can strip away joy and engagement for both teachers and students. I’ll share why schools adopt curriculum, the benefits and challenges these programs bring, and concrete shifts teachers can make to move from scripted compliance to creative engagement. We’ll also explore how leaders and instructional coaches can shift their messaging and support so teachers feel empowered to adapt curriculum with purpose. If your team is navigating the challenges of curriculum adoption, this episode will give you practical strategies and fresh ways to think about fidelity, differentiation, and engagement. If your team or teachers need support, feel free to contact me. Related Blog:  From Scripted Compliance to Creative Engagement: Rethinking How We Use Adopted Curriculum

AI is transforming education, but I believe strong prompts are the key to unlocking its potential. In this episode, I share the REFINE acronym I developed to give educators a structured approach to writing effective AI prompts. I walk through each step—assigning AI a role, setting clear expectations, framing the context, specifying inclusions, defining nuance, and evaluating outputs—to show how this process keeps teachers in the driver’s seat. Whether you’re designing lessons, assessments, or scaffolds, REFINE can help you create more effective, inclusive, and responsive learning experiences with AI. Related blog: https://catlintucker.com/2025/08/refine-ai-prompting/

In this episode of The Balance, I chat with Sunil Gunderia, Chief Innovation Officer at Age of Learning, the company behind ABCmouse. Sunil is driving efforts to design AI-powered tools that personalize learning for young children while keeping safety and effectiveness at the center. We discuss how AI can support rather than replace teachers, the importance of guardrails and evidence-based best practices, and the role of personalized learning programs in helping young learners build strong foundations in reading and math. Sunil also shares how programs like My Reading Academy are helping thousands of pre-K students develop confidence, resilience, and a love of learning.

Strong classroom communities don’t happen by accident—they’re built through intentional, daily practices that prioritize connection. In this second episode of the Starting Strong series, Dr. Catlin Tucker explores how getting to know your students and creating a culture of belonging can transform your classroom environment. She shares practical strategies for learning names quickly, surfacing student identities, and building peer-to-peer relationships that last beyond the first week. Whether you're a new or veteran teacher, this episode offers tools to help you lead with relationships. Learn how you can go deeper with Catlin’s new self-paced course, Starting Strong. Episode Resources Blog: Back-to-School: Prioritizing Relationships and Building Community Learn how you can go deeper with Catlin’s new self-paced course, Starting Strong. Click here to register today

Before diving into lesson planning, classroom setup, and organizing all the things, there’s one essential step too many teachers skip—reflection. In this first episode of the Starting Strong series, Dr. Catlin Tucker explores why thoughtful reflection on last year’s wins, challenges, and habits can lead to more intentional, energized teaching. She shares three practical strategies to help educators pause, process, and reset before launching into planning mode. Whether you’re a veteran teacher or new to the classroom, this episode will help you build a stronger foundation for the school year ahead. Learn how you can go deeper with Catlin’s new self-paced course, Starting Strong.

I discovered Evalaurene Jean-Charles on Instagram and was instantly drawn to her joyful, honest, and unfiltered reflections on life as an educator. Her posts tackle hard truths about teaching and school systems, but always with a sense of hope, purpose, and joy. In the second episode of our conversation, Eva and I explore what it really takes to build the classroom culture we want; one where students feel safe, empowered, and ready to take ownership of their learning. From consistency and routines to compassion and courage, Eva reminds us that if we want something different for our classrooms, we have to be willing to do things differently. Resources @‌BlackonBlackEd on IG @‌BlackonBlackED on Tik Tok Join the Liberation Library: https://black-on-black-ed.kit.com/products/liberationlibrarycommunity Join the Ten Toes Down Summer Mastermind: https://black-on-black-ed.kit.com/products/the-ten-toes-down-summer-mastermind

I discovered Evalaurene Jean-Charles on Instagram and was instantly drawn to her joyful, honest, and unfiltered reflections on life as an educator. Her posts tackle hard truths about teaching and school systems, but always with a sense of hope, purpose, and joy. In this first part of our two-part conversation, Eva shares why self-awareness is essential, not just for students but for educators navigating the emotional complexity of classroom life. We talk about tuning into what we’re feeling, how it shows up in our practice, and how cultivating that awareness helps us teach in ways that feel good, do good, and bring us joy. Resources @‌BlackonBlackEd on IG @‌BlackonBlackED on Tik Tok Join the Liberation Library: https://black-on-black-ed.kit.com/products/liberationlibrarycommunity Join the Ten Toes Down Summer Mastermind: https://black-on-black-ed.kit.com/products/the-ten-toes-down-summer-mastermind

In this final episode of the four-part series, I explore how the Station Rotation Model can nurture self-regulation, metacognition, and agency in multilingual learners. I share practical routines—like weekly goal setting, thinking routines, and strategy choice boards—that help students reflect, monitor progress, and advocate for their needs. These routines don’t just support language acquisition; they cultivate confident, strategic learners ready to lead their own learning. If you're designing stations that prioritize learner agency and scaffold independence over time, this episode is for you. Related Blog Post with Resources: Cultivating Self-Regulated and Strategic Multilingual Learners with the Station Rotation Model (Part 4)

In this episode, I explore how intentional design can help multilingual learners thrive at the online and offline stations in a rotation model. I share seven practical strategies—from using visuals and sentence frames to building predictable routines and peer supports—that build student confidence and autonomy. You'll hear how we can move from co-regulated learning to true self-direction by gradually releasing responsibility and fostering a safe, inclusive environment. If you're striving to design station tasks that are both accessible and empowering, this episode is for you. Related Blog Post Designing for Independence: Supporting Multilingual Learners at the Online and Offline Stations (Part 3)