Best Differentiated Instruction Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 239: Wavio 40:10

1d ago40:10

40:10

Guest host Aimee Yocom is joined by Dana Kravchick to talk about the Wavio Pulse tracker, developed specifically for MCP. They discuss how Wavio came to be, how it can be used in the classroom, and what the future holds for the platform Show Notes Wavio and The Wavio Pulse Tracker Khan Lab School Zach's tracker Connect with Dana: Email at dana@mywa…

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The Salad Bowl Game: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 7:25

1d ago7:25

7:25

The Salad Bowl Game is one of our family's favorite games to play when we're all together, and it's also a great game for building students' vocabulary in writing, as well as any other content area. Give it a try with friends when you have some time, and have some great laughs and learning in classrooms with students. Send us a text Please subscrib…

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#101 – Free, Fun, and Still Rigorous: End-of-Year Math Activities That Just Work 7:40

4d ago7:40

7:40

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! ✏️ Looking for free math activities for high school that are actually fun and meaningful? You’re in the right place. In this episode, I’m sharing my top 3 FREE, low-prep, high-impact math activities to keep your students learning (and moving) through the end of the year. These …

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378: Improve Student Evidence Analysis: Meet Mr. Skeptical 8:45

5d ago8:45

8:45

When it comes to evidence in their argument papers, students have a tendency to mic drop way too soon. "Here's my evidence, BOOOOOOOM!" you can almost hear them saying. Because right after the evidence, they move on. Oops. That's not what we want, and I bet you've written "be sure to analyze this evidence and explain how it proves your point" a few…

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#100 🎉 15 Real Moments from 15 Years of Teaching: What They Taught Me 23:00

6d ago23:00

23:00

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! What better way to celebrate 100 episodes than by keeping it 100% real? In this milestone episode, I’m looking back on 15 real, raw, and totally relatable teaching moments from the past 15 years of my math classroom. From launching tennis balls across fields (oops) to learning …

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Episode 238: What About the High Achievers? 51:07

8d ago51:07

51:07

TR is joined by Jocelyn Hieatzman to talk about how high achieving students can learn from discomfort as they thrive in a Modern Classroom Show Notes MCP Podcast Episode 56: Veteran Teachers (Jocelyn's first appearance on the podcast) Canvas LMS Jocelyn's Unit 2 Lesson 2 exemplar Jocelyn's Canvas tutorial Connect with Jocelyn by email at jocelyn_hi…

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Meet the Featured Writers in This Year's Author Spotlight Series: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 5:10

8d ago5:10

5:10

Introducing the 10th Annual Author Spotlight Series on the Two Writing Teachers blog, featuring daily interviews with children’s authors and illustrators who share their creative journeys and writing processes. Listeners get a preview of the week’s lineup, including stories of resilience, identity, and collaboration from Tim Donohue, Tyler Gordon, …

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Classroom Mastery with Clarissa Larsen 30:23

9d ago30:23

30:23

In this episode, Craig interviews Clarissa Larson, a passionate and dedicated sixth-grade teacher from Central Washington. Clarissa shares her journey into teaching, the impact of her mother on her career, and her innovative teaching strategies. Topics include the importance of classroom management, the benefits of starting as a paraeducator, build…

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Science Of Learning, PBL, And Inquiry: A Salon Conversation 54:24

10d ago54:24

54:24

Drew Perkins is joined by Andrew Watson, Dr. Cindy Nebel, and Fox Demoisey to discuss the intersections between the Science of Learning, project-based learning, and inquiry. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

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#99 – How Snorkl Transformed My Math Class: AI-Powered Practice that Builds Deeper Understanding 13:54

11d ago13:54

13:54

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🤔 What are the best AI tools for teaching math? If you’ve been asking this, I have a game-changing classroom story for you! In this episode, I’m sharing my new favorite AI tool—Snorkl—and how it completely transformed my lesson on graphing trigonometric functions. I’ll take you…

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377: Teaching Students to Write an Argument Introduction with Easy Puzzle Pieces 10:04

12d ago10:04

10:04

Sure, there's no one right way to write an argument paper. It can be three paragraphs, nine, or even seventeen. It can be loaded with research. It can be full of voice and personal anecdotes. It can be intensely academic, with a formal objective perspective and thirty-two sources cited with MLA. We want our students to understand the rich palette o…

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#98 – You’re the MVP: A Big Thank You + Easy End-of-Year Ideas to Celebrate YOU 10:13

13d ago10:13

10:13

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🥳 It’s Teacher Appreciation Week—and this episode is all about YOU. Whether you’re coasting into summer or barely hanging on (no shame), I want to say THANK YOU for the work you do every single day. In this special episode, we’re keeping things light, fun, and helpful with: ✔ H…

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Episode 237: 5th Grade Collaboration 56:05

16d ago56:05

56:05

TR is joined by a fifth grade teaching team to talk about how they work together to use the MCP model in their different classes Show Notes Connect with Abby, Amy, and Madeline by email Abby: [email protected] Amy: [email protected] Madeline: [email protected] Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week Calling all …

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Support Family Advocacy and Empowerment: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 34:05

16d ago34:05

34:05

In this special episode, Melanie turns the tables as she interviews Stacey about her forthcoming book, which helps parents understand how to make the school system work for their child with disabilities. Hear about the personal passion that fueled this project, get an overview of the book’s three-part structure, and demystify the language of specia…

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376: Gamifying Argument Basics 11:46

19d ago11:46

11:46

I have to admit my kids have got me fully invested in "Is it Cake?" At some point in England last year, someone begged for us to watch the show while we ate green pesto pasta on the couch after a long day of hiking in the New Forest, and I said sure. It was the beginning of our "Is it Cake?" era. We've gasped, we've squinted, we've cheered. We all …

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#97 Teachers Deserve their Time Back with Rae Hughart 38:14

20d ago38:14

38:14

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Teaching doesn’t have to be exhausting. What if small shifts could give you back your time, reduce burnout, and make learning more engaging—without adding extra stress? In this episode, I’m joined by Rae Hughart, educator, speaker, and founder of Teachers Deserve It. Rae is pas…

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Episode 236: Gifted Education 51:44

23d ago51:44

51:44

TR is joined by Alex Clough to talk about gifted learners and how to help them thrive in a modern classroom. Show Notes Differentiation Doesn't Work, by James Delisle Differentiation Does, in Fact, Work, by Carol Tomlinson NAGC and the NAGC Annual Convention SENG: Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted and the SENG Annual Community Conference and…

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Three Ways to Differentiate: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 4:53

23d ago4:53

4:53

In this Tip for Tomorrow, Melanie provides three ideas for differentiating that can work across grade levels and across genres. Send us a text Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform. You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. Melanie Meehan: meehanmelani…

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375: Try this Engaging Swift-Inspired Prompt with any Text 9:34

26d ago9:34

9:34

I miss the Eras tour. Even though it hasn't been that long. My daughter is requesting Wicked songs and Katy Perry in the car all of a sudden, instead of our usual Taylor Swift-a-thon. But I haven't forgotten the joys of the Swiftiverse. And today I want to share a prompt you could use with any poem, short story, or novel that comes from Taylor's mu…

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#96 Fun Math Activities To Get out and Enjoy the Spring Weather 7:44

27d ago7:44

7:44

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if you could take math outside and still hit your learning goals? Say goodbye to packets and hello to sunshine ☀️—because spring is the perfect time to take your math lessons outdoors without sacrificing rigor. In this episode, I’m sharing two of my favorite math project…

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Episode 235: Is AI the Solution? 1:03:08

30d ago1:03:08

1:03:08

TR is joined by Carlos Canela to talk about how educators can use AI responsibly and the importance of connection, even in an AI-forward classroom Show Notes Carlos' Padlet with AI resources for teachers MCP's Instagram Black Male Educators Convening (BMEC) conference Knowlej Padlet Canva Magic School Diffit TextFX Large Language Models discussed i…

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Maintain & Nurture Writing Skills During Summer Break: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 8:19

1M ago8:19

8:19

Let’s revisit the Spring 2017 blog series "Keep Learning Going Throughout the Summer," which explored various strategies to maintain children's writing skills during the summer break. Stacey highlights key ideas from the 2017 co-author team, including creating personalized writing spaces, gamifying the writing process, and using books to inspire wr…

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Making Science Practical and Applicable with Moriah Houseman 31:34

1M ago31:34

31:34

In this episode, Craig Randall speaks with Moriah Housman, a passionate middle school science teacher at the Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. They discuss Moriah's journey into teaching, her unique classroom strategies, and an engaging lab activity that sparks curiosity and higher-order thinking among her students.…

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374: 5 Top Poetry Activities Worth Trying 14:35

1M ago14:35

14:35

It's poetry month, and that means it's time for me to share as many poetry activities, poetry projects, and poetry workshops as I can muster over here! Today, I'm going to walk you through a toolkit of creative poetry options for your ELA classroom. We'll start with one of my favorite introductory activities for any poetry unit, poetry collage, and…

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Anti-DEI And Enlightenment Liberal Principles 1:13:14

1M ago1:13:14

1:13:14

Drew Perkins talks with Tim Minella, Senior Constitutionalism Fellow at The Goldwater Institute, about their work to eliminate DEI in higher education. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

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Why Open-Source AI Is the Future and needs its 'Linux Moment'? | Manos Koukoumidis 1:19:38

1M ago1:19:38

1:19:38

Manos is the CEO of Oumi, a platform focused on open sourcing the entire lifecycle of foundation and large models. Prior to that he was at Google leading efforts on developing large language models within Cloud services. He also has experience working at Facebook on AR/VR projects and at Microsoft’s cloud division developing machine learning based …

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#95 Hands-On Math Activities + Projects Students Love 11:16

1M ago11:16

11:16

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if your next math review or intro lesson didn’t feel like a worksheet… but like a real, creative challenge your students couldn’t wait to do? If spring fever has hit your classroom, it’s time to switch gears and bring in hands-on math activities that are engaging, meanin…

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Episode 234: Learned Helplessness 1:07:09

1M ago1:07:09

1:07:09

Toni Rose is joined by Ernest Rodriguez to discuss learned helplessness and the importance of SEL and vulnerability in a student-centered classroom Show Notes Hot Yoga On Purpose, with Jay Shetty Gimkit Connect with Ernest by email at [email protected] Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week Toni Rose Deanon and Lauren Kimlinger, MCP implemen…

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The Evolving Landscape of Writing Instruction: The Writing Roundtable 45:44

1M ago45:44

45:44

In our second Writing Roundtable episode, renowned literacy expert Lester L. Laminack joins us to discuss his Ferris wheel of education concept, providing a fresh perspective on educational trends. Lester examines the current state of writing instruction, investigating how recent developments influence students' writing experiences and skills. List…

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Creating a Supportive Learning Environment for Neurodivergent Students with Thaint Elliot 30:43

1M ago30:43

30:43

In this episode, Craig speaks with Thaint Elliot, a dedicated reading interventionist, about her experiences and methodologies in creating a supportive and efficient learning environment for neurodivergent students. They also delve into broader educational challenges and potential solutions for public school systems.…

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DEI: Expansive or Restrictive? A Salon Conversation 57:47

1M ago57:47

57:47

Drew Perkins is joined by educators and DEI practitioners Carlos Hoyt, Daryl Sinclair, and Nunana Nyomi for a salon-style conversation about the complexities and nuances of DEI. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

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373: The Most Popular Books to Teach 9th and 10th Graders (Tournament Results) 22:27

1M ago22:27

22:27

This winter, inspired by cool bookish tournament projects by Melissa Alter Smith of Teach Living Poets and Jared Amato of Project Lit, I decided to launch my own English teacher-y tournament. I wanted to know - of the hundreds of amazing books out there - which were working BEST in the classroom for the teachers in our community? After polling over…

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#94 Unlocking AI for Math Teachers: Easy Ways to Start Today 9:16

1M ago9:16

9:16

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if AI could save you hours of planning each week? AI can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode, I’m sharing three easy, no-stress ways to start using AI in your math classroom right now. We’ll explore how to: ✨ Use AI to simplify lesson planning an…

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Episode 233: Driver Education 1:01:28

1M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

TR is joined by Debbie Fry to talk about how she uses the MCP model in her Driver Education, P.E., and Health classes Show Notes MCP Podcast Episode 231: Physical Education Connect with Debbie by email at [email protected] Contact us, follow us online, and learn more: Email us questions and feedback at: [email protected] Listen t…

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Three Ideas for Writing Test Prep: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 6:24

1M ago6:24

6:24

Fun test prep may seem like an oxymoron, but in this tip for tomorrow, Melanie shares a few ways you can bring movement, collaboration, and agency into getting students ready to take assessments. Send us a text Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform. You may contact us directly if you want u…

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Unlocking Student Potential with Jill Stedman 29:27

2M ago29:27

29:27

In this episode, Craig Randall interviews Jill Stedman, a seasoned social studies teacher from the Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. They discuss Jill's innovative teaching methods, including her use of Madeline Hunter's instructional strategies, Project Zero routines, and the thought-provoking unit on fast fashion and its impact on the Chinese ec…

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Powerful Questioning, Powerful Pedagogy 1:01:00

2M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

Drew Perkins talks with Bruce Robertson about his new book, Power Up Your Questioning: A Practical Handbook for Teachers. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

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372: Teaching Long Way Down? Flash Verse, Colorful Character Analysis, and Outside-the-Box Discussions 32:26

2M ago32:26

32:26

If you’re teaching Long Way Down (and ready for some Long Way Down lesson plan ideas!), let me just start by saying “YAY!” It’s a reader-maker, an incredible book you can teach in a short time with a high impact. Today, I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite ideas and resources for you to pair with this book. We'll talk about discussion format…

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#93 Spring into Something New: Why Now is the Best Time to Try PBL 9:04

2M ago9:04

9:04

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 Have you ever thought about trying something new in your classroom but worried about the timing? Spring might be your perfect opportunity to experiment with project-based learning (PBL)! In this episode, I’ll show you why the final stretch of the school year is actually the b…

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Episode 232: Workforce Readiness Training 55:30

2M ago55:30

55:30

TR is joined by Sam Meisenburg, co-founder of Study Snacks, to talk about the importance of, and methodologies for, teaching cybersecurity and AI concepts to high schoolers Show Notes Study Snacks Transparent bird feeder Brave Browser Onion Router and the Tor Project Duck Duck Go (alternative search engine, more private than Google) Connect with Sa…

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Foundations of Written Expression: Digging Deeper Dialogue 32:59

2M ago32:59

32:59

In this episode, Stacey interviews Melanie about her upcoming book (co-authored with Maggie Beattie Roberts), tentatively titled THE WRITING BRAIN: FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS OF WRITTEN EXPRESSION. The book emphasizes developing foundational writing skills through research- and evidence-based instructional methods. We discuss the five guiding principles f…

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Building Strong Foundations Early with Macee McGill 26:16

2M ago26:16

26:16

In this episode, Craig Randall speaks with first-year teacher Macee McGill about her teaching strategies, classroom management, and the importance of planning. Macee shares her journey into teaching, insights into her classroom techniques, and how she manages behavioral challenges to create an engaging and effective learning environment.…

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371: Top Middle School Book Recommendations (A Teacher's Perspective) 28:06

2M ago28:06

28:06

Today's guest, middle school teacher Susan Taylor, has repeatedly gone the extra mile to build a reading program that makes an impact. Not only does she guide her students towards the best books available, she guides her teaching network the same way, through her podcast, Wonder World Book Cafe. Today, we're going to go rapid fire through her favor…

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Breaking The Generational Cycle Of Poverty 1:08:34

2M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

Drew Perkins talks with Dr. Abraham George about his work to help children transcend India's caste system through education and his Shanti Bhavan School. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

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#92: 3 Ways AI Can Help with Lesson Planning and Differentiation 13:11

2M ago13:11

13:11

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Wish you had more time to personalize lessons, create engaging activities, and support all learners—without adding hours to your prep? AI might just be the tool you need. In this episode, we’re breaking down three powerful ways AI can help with lesson planning and differentiati…

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