Educator Jennifer Gonzalez shares tips on instructional strategies, classroom management, education books, educational technology, curriculum design and delivery. Find more useful stuff for educators at http://www.cultofpedagogy.com.
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37:35324 views · 5d ago · 37:35
Whole books have gradually lost their place in many classrooms, as packed curricula and an increasing reliance on short texts and excerpts leave little time for reading complete books. In this episode, literacy expert Jen Serravallo explains why whole-book reading matters and shares practical ways teachers can make room for it again, even when they're required to follow a prescribed curriculum.
56:17407 views · 14d ago · 56:17
How do we know whether students can actually use what they've learned? Traditional tests can tell us a lot, but they don't always show us whether students can apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful ways. In this episode, I'm talking with author and educator Jay McTighe about performance tasks, which not only give us a richer picture of student learning but can also be powerful learning experiences in their own right.
49:10681 views · 1mo ago · 49:10
When teachers push back against coaching, professional development, or a new initiative, they often get labeled as "resistant." But that label can keep us from seeing what's really going on. In this episode, author Elena Aguilar shares insights from her new book, How to Coach Resistance.
52:15632 views · 1mo ago · 52:15
Guest: Jal Mehta
Schools are constantly trying to improve, but too often, big improvement efforts don't lead to the changes people hoped for. In this episode, I talk with Jal Mehta and Max Yurkofsky, authors of A Chance to Solve Their Own Problems, about what gets in the way of meaningful school improvement, what needs to be in place for it to work, and how leaders can create the conditions that allow educators to solve problems together.
33:42645 views · 2mo ago · 33:42
In Part 4 of our Back to Basics series on unit planning, we're taking our sample unit and building in more differentiation. I'm putting out this series as an introduction to my new online course, Mastering the Lesson Plan. These four episodes will give you the big picture, but the course takes a much deeper dive into each step of the process and gives you practical tools you can use to plan stronger instruction. To learn more about the course, visit ( .
34:04771 views · 2mo ago · 34:04
We've reached part 3 of our Back to Basics series on unit planning! Last episode, we built the assessment plan for our sample unit that included diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments. Now it's time to choose the learning activities that will move students toward success on those assessments: the daily lesson plans. I'm putting out this series as an introduction to my new online course, Mastering the Lesson Plan.
26:31566 views · 2mo ago · 26:31
It's part 2 of our Back to Basics series on unit planning! Last episode, we looked at the overall process and started by setting measurable objectives for a sample unit. Now we're going to design a unit assessment plan that includes diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments. I'm putting out this series as an introduction to my new online course, Mastering the Lesson Plan.
21:18470 views · 3mo ago · 21:18
I'm kicking off a four-episode Back to Basics series that will offer a practical overview of how to effectivley plan a unit of instruction. This week we'll start with the big picture, an overview of the process I use for planning a unit, starting with setting measurable objectives and getting a sense for how you will assess them at the end of the unit. In the next episode, we'll zoom in on that process of designing the assessment plan.
52:37404 views · 3mo ago · 52:37
Character education often gets lip service in schools — we say it matters, but rarely build a real system to make it happen. What if students could regularly practice noticing and naming character strengths like self-efficacy, depth, and generosity in each other through anonymous nominations? On the podcast this week, high school English teacher Marcus Luther returns to share a system he created that does exactly that.
53:55669 views · 4mo ago · 53:55
Guest: Jenn White
What often sets the best PD experiences apart are a few intentional choices in how that learning is designed. In this episode, I talk with Jenn White and Josh Kurzweil of Berkeley LTC ( about three simple but powerful practices they use when designing professional learning for adults: Pre-During-Post, Curated Q&A, and Poster Sessions.
1:51:19911 views · 5mo ago · 1:51:19
When Pernille Ripp moved from the U.S., where she had taught for over a decade, to her native country of Denmark, she was immediately struck by how different school was. In this episode, we'll explore why Danish schools are so good for teachers and students, and which practices we might be able to adopt in the U.S.
26:401K views · 6mo ago · 26:40
It can ruin even the most carefully designed lessons: An activity you had planned takes way longer than you thought it would. Or worse, it takes way less time. And sometimes it can be both, with some students finishing a task in five minutes while others need half an hour. Getting classroom pacing just right is an art that takes practice and technique.
33:23807 views · 7mo ago · 33:23
When a student behaves in a way that disrupts their own learning or someone else's, our response is often limited to a reprimand or a punishment. While this usually stops the undesirable behavior for a while, it doesn't often solve the problem long-term. What has longer-lasting impact is viewing the misbehavior as a sign that a student is missing an important skill, and if they are taught that skill, the behavior should naturally improve.
29:44286 views · 7mo ago · 29:44
Guest: Cindy Lopez
Students are coming to school with more needs than ever, and a lot of those needs aren't strictly academic: anxiety, withdrawal, behavior issues, and learning differences that don't always have quick or obvious solutions. These are problems that often send us to the internet in search of answers, but the nuances of each individual situation can make it hard to find exactly what we need.
52:15430 views · 7mo ago · 52:15
There's been no shortage of conversation about the science of reading over the past several years. But writing barely comes up, even though the two are deeply connected. That's what drew Melanie Meehan and Maggie Roberts to write their new book, Foundational Skills for Writing. The book breaks the larger task of writing into smaller skill categories, including transcription skills, oral language, and executive functioning.
37:01367 views · 8mo ago · 37:01
Have you ever watched students sit completely silent in math class, only to come alive the moment they're asked to share an opinion? That's what inspired my guest Chris Luzniak to start bringing debate into his math teaching — and the results have been remarkable. In this episode, Chris walks us through how he turns ordinary math questions into debatable ones, how he gets students making and defending arguments, and why he thinks this approach matters now more than ever.
54:031K views · 8mo ago · 54:03
When our students face challenges in the classroom, some teachers double down on control and rigor: tighter rules, firmer consequences, higher demands. Others lean toward grace and flexibility: easing up, giving extensions, and softening expectations because they know our students are carrying a lot. But what if the answer isn't either/or? Warm Demander pedagogy is an approach that pairs genuine care and deep relationship-building with unwavering high expectations.
44:54535 views · 9mo ago · 44:54
Teaching students to write well has always been challenging, and newer developments have made it even more difficult: The internet offers unlimited text to plagiarize, standardized testing has pushed us to teach more formulaic writing, and AI constantly offers to do our writing for us.
1:07:55907 views · 10mo ago · 1:07:55
We're kicking off the year like we always do, with a round-up of six educational tech tools we think are worth a look. On the list this year: a site that offers fantastic STEM interactives, an AI-powered collaborative writing platform, a free, web-based sound editor, a tool that can turn any text into an infographic, a library of beautifully produced documentaries on current events, and an incredible project that connects makers with people who need assistive devices.
1:10:08519 views · 11mo ago · 1:10:08
We're living in a time when having a difference of opinion is a potential minefield of hurt feelings, emotional outbursts, and severed relationships. If this has caused you to avoid certain topics in your classroom, the growth discourse framework used by the School of Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) may offer a way to re-engage in these conversations.
1:20:32716 views · 11mo ago · 1:20:32
Neurodivergent educators, like those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other forms of cognitive diversity, are essential voices in our schools. They bring innovation, empathy, and authenticity. Yet they often work within systems that weren't built with them in mind, and this can make the job of teaching especially challenging.
42:291K views · 1y ago · 42:29
If we're doing our jobs right as educators, students will gradually become independent, self-directed learners capable of monitoring, directing, and actively participating in building their own learning. But what if that's not happening?
44:361K views · 1y ago · 44:36
To learn more about Grammar Gap Fillers, visit ( .
51:46575 views · 1y ago · 51:46
Concept maps are graphic organizers or visual representations of knowledge. They're simple, they're low-tech, and they're incredibly powerful tools for learning. In this episode, cognitive scientist Dr. Kripa Sundar explains why concept maps are so impactful, then shares a handful of specific practices that will help you make the best use of them. Also joining us is Dr.
1:01:17949 views · 1y ago · 1:01:17
Guest: Shane Safir
1:00:23860 views · 1y ago · 1:00:23
Project-based learning can be a powerful instructional framework, but it is often structured in ways that exclude students who need a different approach. Too often, PBL becomes a space where accommodations and differentiation fall by the wayside. The good news is that we don't have to abandon PBL or dramatically overhaul it to make it work for diverse learners.
6:56697 views · 1y ago · 6:56
Answering student questions is faster in the moment, but redirecting is better in the long run. The next time a student asks you a question, pause before answering and see if you can point them toward finding the answer themselves.
46:58507 views · 1y ago · 46:58
Sometimes the best instructional materials are sitting right in our classrooms. At a time when AI threatens to make human writing obsolete, using students' own work as a teaching tool offers a wonderfully authentic alternative. In this episode, educator Marcus Luther ( joins me to share four ways he uses student exemplars to teach craft lessons, build student confidence, practice giving feedback, and foster a much-needed sense of belonging.
📰 Mentioned news: Article on thebrokencopier.substack.com
1:00:551K views · 1y ago · 1:00:55
Guest: Gholdy Muhammad
We're living in troubling times. When you're surrounded by so much chaos and confusion, it can be hard to figure out where to put your focus and energy. At a time like this, it might not make sense to talk about joy, but that's what were going to do in this episode.
58:33450 views · 1y ago · 58:33
The practice of collecting supplies and distributing them to all students over the school year has become a common practice in elementary schools. Unfortunately, not all parents are happy with it, and much of the trouble stems from a few key misunderstandings. In this episode, my guest Julie Lause explains why schools use these systems and how they ensure that time in class is used effectively and every student gets the best education possible.
49:02667 views · 1y ago · 49:02
If the thought of decorating your classroom fills you with anxiety, or if you're just ready to try something different, I have good stuff for you. In this episode, educator and author Tom Rademacher shares two simple activities he did at the beginning of every school year to get to know his students AND fill the walls of his classroom with beautiful, personal, meaningful student products: The One Word Wall and the What You Bring project.
3:35554 views · 1y ago · 3:35
If you want to help the new teachers at your school this year, you may need to go a past “I’m here if you need me.” If you're a new teacher, get the New Teacher Checklist to help you keep track of all your to-dos in the first few weeks of school
32:46828 views · 1y ago · 32:46
As a life-long reader, English teacher Dan Tricarico wanted to bring the love of reading to his high school students, but the constant, irresistible presence of digital media made for tough competition. Rather than seeking out a high-tech solution, he brought back simplicity in the form of daily silent reading, and to his surprise, most of his students really took to it.
5:54356 views · 1y ago · 5:54
Although most teachers understand that not all students have the same home life, sometimes we forget how big those differences can really be, and how humiliating it can be for a student to be asked to publicly share details about their lives outside of school. In this EduTip we'll talk about some situations where this comes up, and what you can do to prevent it from happening.
1:01:53754 views · 1y ago · 1:01:53
Guest: Amy Tondreau
Most special education efforts have focused on giving students with disabilities better access to the curriculum — but access alone isn't enough. In this episode, I talk with Amy Tondreau and Laurie Rabinowitz, authors of the book Sustaining Cultural and Disability Identities in the Literacy Classroom, about disability-sustaining pedagogy, a framework that helps students embrace disability as a cultural identity.
5:28391 views · 1y ago · 5:28
If you want to have the kind of classroom where students do more than just sit and listen, it's likely that your plans may include activities that require some social risk-taking. One way to help your students get more comfortable taking these small social risks is for you to be the first dork, the first one to do the thing that no one else wants to do because they're afraid of looking weird or being vulnerable.
1:27:591K views · 1y ago · 1:27:59
While the shift to restorative practices should be improving student behavior, that's not happening in every school. Some teachers say the discipline systems at their schools have completely broken down, creating an environment where students do whatever they want with no consequences. This has made teachers feel frustrated, angry, unsupported, and in some cases, unsafe. What has gone wrong?
3:53787 views · 1y ago · 3:53
If I give my students an exit slip to check their grasp of a particular skill, and a third of them don't do well, just moving forward with my original teaching plan is a missed opportunity. Ideally, my next steps should involve some kind of targeted response. Let's talk about what that looks like.
1:09:481K views · 1y ago · 1:09:48
Since ChatGPT's arrival in late 2022, the top concern I've heard from teachers is that students will stop doing their own writing and rely entirely on AI. While that worry is real, more teachers are recognizing that AI is here to stay and are looking for ways to work with it rather than against it. My guest today, Tony Frontier, offers one of the most insightful takes I've seen on this issue.
4:50405 views · 1y ago · 4:50
Lots of teachers give students some kind of questionnaire at the beginning of a school year to get to know them, but what do you do with that information after you get it? By putting responses into a spreadsheet, you'll have a relationship-building tool you can use all year.
1:02:591K views · 1y ago · 1:02:59
Guest: Dr. Pooja Agarwal
Retrieval practice is the act of trying to recall something you learned from memory by doing things like taking a test or using flashcards instead of just looking at, rereading, or reviewing the information. When we study with retrieval, we learn and remember things much better than we do by other review methods. So how do we add more to our classrooms? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr.
1:19:15960 views · 1y ago · 1:19:15
We talk a lot about differentiating instruction, measuring growth, and preparing students for the real world, but how do you actually do that in a system still driven by grades? Maybe you need a new model altogether. In this episode, we're exploring an approach to school called competency-based learning. I'm joined by three educators — Susie Bell, Heather Messer, and Beth Blankenship — who show us what this model actually looks like in classrooms.
54:32714 views · 1y ago · 54:32
Grammar has never been an especially popular area of study, and teaching it has frustrated many English teachers throughout time. It seems like no matter how hard we try, the concepts just don't stick as well as we'd like them to.
4:30687 views · 1y ago · 4:30
Research shows that adding physical or hand gestures to a learning experience, especially ones that have some meaning to them, can significantly boost how well students understand and remember the content.
27:08850 views · 1y ago · 27:08
This episode is for everyone and anyone. In it, I'll share five techniques that will encourage any person you're talking to to go a little more in-depth, share a little bit more, and most importantly, feel seen, heard, and understood.
3:36270 views · 1y ago · 3:36
If you're doing an activity that requires students or participants to volunteer to participate, this is a fun way to choose them.
27:31570 views · 1y ago · 27:31
Recent executive orders have launched an attack on teaching for diversity, equity, and inclusion. How do you teach at this precarious time in history when so much work has been done to weave these values into so many of our materials and practices? The more I think about it, the more I think you may not have to change as much as it might seem.
35:04398 views · 1y ago · 35:04
You can create the most spectacular lesson plans, but if all of your students aren't in the room when those plans are executed, catching them up can be kind of a nightmare. And despite the fact that this has been a problem for generations, few teachers have ever figured out a foolproof plan for solving it. My guest today has an approach that can help.
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