The Balance, by Dr. Catlin Tucker
catlinthebalance
Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her doctorate in learning technologies from Pepperdine University. Currently, Catlin is working as a blended learning coach, education consultant, and professor in a Masters of Arts in Teaching program. Catlin has published several books on blended learning, including The Shift to Student-led, The Complete Guide to Blended Learning, UDL and Blended Learning, and Balance with Blended Learning. She is active on Twitter @Catlin_Tucker and writes an internationally-ranked blog at CatlinTucker.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 16, 2024 • 12min
Updates & A Station Rotation Tip: Using a Checklist to Keep Kids on Task
In this mini-episode, I share some exciting professional and personal updates and describe a simple yet effective strategy for keeping students on-task during a station rotation lesson. Instead of assigning a "deliverable" at every station that teachers feel they need to grade, let's explore a checklist that asks students to reflect on their work at each station. Not only does it help students stay focused, but it provides valuable formative assessment data!
Apr 9, 2024 • 51min
The Leader's Algorithm with Pablo Muñoz
In this episode, I chat with Pablo Muñoz about his career and book, The Leader's Algorithm. He has 30 years of public education experience as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent of schools. He shares his insights on leading complex educational systems.
You can connect with Pablo Muñoz and learn more about his work.
pablo@themunozcompany.com
themunozcompany.com
themunozcompany.com/pablo-munoz
themunozcompany.com/the-leaders-algorithm
linkedin.com/in/pablo-muñoz-b30b2ab1
Mar 13, 2024 • 12min
Cultivating Student-led Meaning-Making in Classrooms
In this mini-episode, I explore the value and process of cultivating meaning-making in classrooms. Meaning-making is the process by which students interpret, understand, and make sense of the information, experiences, and world around them. In this episode, I share strategies teachers can use to help students construct knowledge on their own and in collaboration with peers.
To read more, check out my blog on this topic.
Here is Judy Willis's article "Understanding How the Brain Thinks" that I reference in this episode.
Mar 8, 2024 • 35min
[ReAir] The Shift to Student-led with Dr. Katie Novak
[ReAir] In this episode, Dr. Katie Novak and I discuss our newest book, The Shift to Student-led. In it, we identify ten teacher-led, time-consuming, often frustratingly ineffective workflows and reimagine them from a sustainable, student-led perspective using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and blended learning. The goal is to help teachers empower students to share the responsibility for learning so they can create more balance in their lives!
Feb 27, 2024 • 13min
Designing a Station Rotation: Go Horizontal with Your Agenda
In this mini-episode, I share a strategy I call "going horizontal with your agenda." The purpose of this strategy is to help teachers conceptualize how they can shift from a linear whole-group lesson to a station rotation. The goal is to reimagine the individual learning activities in their linear agenda as separate stations in a rotation.
Part I: Station Rotation Design Tip – Go Horizontal with Your Linear Agenda
Part II: Station Rotation Design Tip – Use AI to Go Horizontal with Your Linear Agenda
Feb 13, 2024 • 17min
Excerpt from Shift Writing into the Classroom
In this mini-episode, I read excerpts from the introduction of my new book, Shift Writing into the Classroom with UDL and Blended Learning. In this excerpt, I explain why Dr. Novak and I wrote it, who the book is for, and how it is structured so you know what to expect.
I hope this sneak peek into the book helps to dispel the misconception that a book on writing is only for English teachers. We want to help ALL teachers leverage writing as a powerful vehicle for learning in their subject areas.
10 snips
Jan 30, 2024 • 60min
Developing the Skill of Learning with James Anderson
In this episode, I talk with James Anderson about his new book, Learnership. James coined the word "learnership" to bring together the idea of craftsmanship and learning. He makes the point that learning is not simply a product of good teaching; learning is the result of what learners do. In this conversation, we discuss Jame's growth mindset continuum, student agency, and how we can support students in developing the skills of learning.
Connect with James Anderson on X @MindfulByDesign
Connect with James Anderson on LinkedIn
Jan 23, 2024 • 28min
Ask Catlin: Student Agency
I answer your questions about student agency in this Ask Catlin episode. You'll also hear about my favorite and least favorite holiday.
If you want to learn more about the student agency, check out my collection of blogs on student agency.
If you have questions about education, blended learning, or work-life balance, please send them to me via X @Catlin_Tucker or Instagram @CatlinTucker.
Jan 16, 2024 • 15min
Keep, Start, Stop Feedback Strategy
In this mini-episode, I introduce a strategy called Keep, Start, Stop for collecting student feedback at the mid-point of the school year. The goal is to identify what is working and what might need to be reimagined to ensure the rest of the school year is as positive and productive as possible. Teachers can also use this strategy to provide students with quick feedback in conferencing sessions.
[Template] Keep, Start, Stop Feedback
Jan 10, 2024 • 39min
Fostering an Inclusive School Culture with Henry Turner
In this episode, I chat with Henry Turner, an award-winning principal, about his work leading change at his school. We discuss his work fostering an inclusive school culture on his campus and his book, Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School.
You can connect with Henry Turner on X.
You can find Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School on Amazon!
