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Podcast Episode Episode Description In this episode of The Balance, I chat with educator and author Trevor MacKenzie about how inquiry-based learning creates accessible entry points and personalized pathways that build student agency, curiosity, and deeper engagement. Trevor shares practical strategies, unpacks the phases of the inquiry process, and offers guidance for aligning inquiry with […]
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Podcast Episode Episode Description In this episode, I talk with Dr. Brandee Ramirez about what it takes to lead AI implementation across a school district. She shares how her work focuses on supporting all stakeholders—teachers, students, families, and staff—in building confidence with AI tools and understanding their practical value. Dr. Ramirez unpacks the difference between […]
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Related Podcast Episode “Technology is a distraction.”“It just makes my job harder.”“My students can’t focus when they’re online.” I hear comments like these in almost every professional learning session involving technology. I don’t think teachers are frustrated with technology itself. They’re frustrated with the way it’s being used, especially when it fails to create meaningful […]
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Podcast Episode Episode Description In this episode of The Balance, I sit down with Ruba Abi Saab, Instructional Coach and Teaching and Learning Coordinator at Al Rayan International School in Accra, Ghana. Ruba shares how concept-based inquiry shapes her work with teachers and students, encouraging deeper thinking, empathy, and purposeful action. We talk about her […]
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Related Podcast Episode When state testing season arrives, classroom routines can quickly fall apart. Schedules shift, instructional time is cut, and students often sense the disruption. It’s easy for learning to take a backseat, but it doesn’t have to. In this blog, I’ll share six strategies that encourage students to explore, create, reflect, and connect—even […]
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This is the second blog in a series focusing on strategies teachers can use DURING instruction to actively engage students, facilitate meaning-making, and create more dynamic and responsive learning experiences. The first blog in the series, “MTSS: Setting the Stage for Strong Tier 1 Instruction,“ can help teachers prepare for effective Tier 1, so check […]
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This is the first blog in a series that explores high-leverage instructional practices that can enhance Tier 1 instruction, helping teachers design more accessible, inclusive, and equitable learning experiences. Each blog will focus on a different phase of lesson design—before, during, and after instruction—providing concrete strategies that can be applied, whether you are building a […]
In my previous blogs on MTSS, I have provided an overview of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports as it relates to instruction. I’ve highlighted how differentiated small group instruction can improve the effectiveness of Tier 1 instruction, reducing the need for Tier 2 support and Tier 3 intervention. I have also presented strategies teachers can […]
Related Podcast Episode Every teacher has faced a similar challenge: delivering a whole-group lesson to the entire class and watching the mixed reactions on the students’ faces. Some grasp the concept immediately, while others struggle to comprehend it and clearly need additional support. Approximately 20% of students in a classroom will need more than Tier […]
Related Podcast An increasing number of schools nationwide are shifting to more inclusive instruction, keeping students with special needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), and diverse learning profiles in mainstream classrooms. This shift toward inclusive classrooms is driven, in part, by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that requires public schools to […]
Guest Blog by Jeff Hennigar The evolving needs of our students demand innovative solutions. With Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as our goal, we can create inclusive learning environments to help all students be successful in school. While powerful AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT can enhance teaching practices, they often lack the structure and […]
By Noelle Gutierrez I recently collaborated with teachers on station rotation lessons, and a few asked how I have incorporated social-emotional learning into the stations I’ve developed. Teachers can include various SEL activities in their stations that focus on the CASEL Framework‘s five competencies, and Catlin provides several strategies for each of the five competencies […]